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Four-star DT Steven Faucheux sets return visit to PSU

Four-star DT Steven Faucheux following his workout at Penn State last June.
Four-star DT Steven Faucheux following his workout at Penn State last June.

Penn State is set to host four-star defensive tackle Steven Faucheux for an unofficial visit next month, April 7.

Last year, the West Chester, Ohio, native, earned an offer from head coach James Franklin in May. He also took three unofficial visits to Penn State, the first of which was in March to watch spring practice. He then returned in June to camp with defensive line coach Sean Spencer, then again in September for the game against Georgia State.

“My last contact was with Coach Spencer,” Faucheux said. “We exchanged some texts just last week. He and Coach Franklin also visited my school back in January. Coach Galiano also reached out right after he moved into his new position. I wouldn't say that we've talked a lot, but some of that is on me.

“I feel like I have a good feel for Coach Franklin, Coach Pry and Coach Spencer. I feel good about all of them. I feel like they’ve been straight up with me, so now, I’m looking forward to meeting Coach Galiano when I visit.”

Since he’s been on campus a few times already, Faucheux, who checks in at 6-foot-4, 269 pounds, already feels comfortable with Penn State’s facilities and academics. However, there are a few things that he’d like to see and do when he returns in a few weeks.

“I actually have looked at the campus and talked with a finance professor on one of my previous visits,” Faucheux said, when asked if he’s taken a tour of University Park and met with any academic advisors. “So, at this point, I just want to see where I feel like I fit in best. They signed a strong 2018 class, so I want to see what the wild dogs look like now with the guys they added.

“But more than anything, I just want to get a little time with the coaches and maybe a few players if I get a chance. I feel like I have narrowed down my choices a lot. I mainly just want to focus on where I fit best now."

Since the summer of 2016, Faucheux has earned 18 verbal scholarship offers. Alabama, Florida, Louisville, Tennessee and West Virginia are a few of the more notable programs. He’s also been able to visit Auburn, Cincinnati, Clemson, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee. His most recent visit was to Clemson and he’s planning to return to Tennessee March 27.

“There's probably six to eight schools in the mix for me,” he said. “I’m not ready to state which schools yet, but I will say that, at this point, PSU is in the top part of that list.

“Some schools are coming at me pretty hard right now. Some have reached out a lot but still haven't offered. I feel like I've already narrowed down my list of schools that I'm interested in, but I just want to see how some things go before I scratch more schools off my list."

So, when might Faucheux be ready to make a commitment?

“Right now, I'm thinking that I want to commit this summer but I don't have a date in mind. I'll commit when the decision looks pretty clear, but I will say that it probably won’t be before June. I definitely want all of this out of the way before the season starts. I just want to make sure that I go to a place that I feel good about and they feel good about me, too.”

In addition to his four-star rating, Faucheux is currently the ninth-ranked prospect in Ohio and the 15th-ranked defensive tackle for the Class of 2019. However, some schools are recruiting him play strong-side defensive end, which is the position he played last season. He plans to play defensive end again his senior year.

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