Penn State is offer No. 2 for Aliquippa DB

Aliquippa (Pa.) safety Kwantel Raines added his second total scholarship offer when he visited Penn State this week.

Although West Virginia was the first Division I program to extend a scholarship to the Class of 2018 prospect, who could also play wide receiver, it was Penn State that was one of the first colleges to start recruiting Raines.

“I’ve been talking to Terry (Smith) ever since before I got my offer from West Virginia,” Raines said, adding how he’s exchanged messages and been in contact with Smith “for a long time, because he’s from Aliquippa.”

But it wasn’t until Wednesday when Raines made his first unofficial visit to the University Park campus.

He was able to watch spring practice, which “was really fast-paced and well-organized,” he said, but he also got a chance to further speak with Smith and get to know other PSU coaches, including James Franklin and safeties coach Tim Banks.

Before leaving to go home Wednesday evening, he was called into Franklin’s office where he received the news that he wasn’t necessarily expecting but was pleased to hear.

“That was my first time going to Penn State,” said Raines. “When I went there the coaches were showing off a lot of hospitality. Like Coach Franklin, when I first came in there he came to greet me and then Coach Terry walked me in. No I didn’t think I was going to get offered that day, but then at the end, he told me to wait up instead of leaving early, so I was thinking, ‘Oh, they might try to offer me now.’ When I went into the room all the coaches were in there, like Tim Banks. He was in there. They talked to me and Coach told me that he wanted me to set a trend for 2K18 class and they offered me from there.”

Still too early to name any favorites, but with PSU and WVU as his only offers those schools are out front at the moment. Other programs, however, could be joining the race soon.

“Michigan and Pitt,” Raines said. “That’s who I think will be next.”

Following a midweek trip to Penn State, Raines will next see Maryland and West Virginia. He’ll see the Terrapins Saturday before making a trip to visit the Mountaineers either April 9 or April 16.