Penn State lands commitment from OL Owen Aliciene
Owen Aliciene was one of the many big time prospects Penn State hosted this weekend. The offensive lineman out of Avon (Conn.) Avon Old Farms liked what he saw enough to decide to commit to the Nittany Lions.
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IN HIS OWN WORDS
"It was how much coach James Franklin and his program have replicated what we have at Avon Old Farms," Aliciene said. "It was a really good thing to see. The culture there is such an asset. The family atmosphere and the emphasis on academics and life after football really resonated with me and my family. It was the best fit for me.
"They know that it's my second season playing football so they really know that I'm kind of a clean slate," he said. "They're trying to develop me into the right techniques, the right form, help me build muscle and keep elevating my game the right way. I don't have as many bad habits as I would if I started young so they really like that I'm a clean slate that they can really work on and develop.
"I'd say Cooper Cousins really took me under his wing yesterday," said Aliciene. "He showed me around and gave me a feeling of what it's like to be a player there, even though he's an early enrollee. He really appreciates all the coaches there. I got to see what goes on, which was awesome."
RIVALS' REACTION
Aliciene is a name Penn State fans should be familiar with at this point. He's visited multiple times in the past year and has maintained a strong relationship with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. Aliciene is the eighth member of Penn State's 2025 recruiting class and, along with Brady O'Hara, their second offensive line commit.
Aliciene still has a long way to go in the development process. He is very new to the game but has the tools to turn into a multi-year starter. Aliciene has the mobility, coordination, and technical understanding to thrive once he physically matures. The learning curve may be steep for him once he arrives at the next level but he has high-end potential.