PSU lands Atlanta punter

Penn State has earned a verbal commitment from one of the nation's top punter prospects in the Class of 2016.

Blake Gillikin of Atlanta (Ga.) Westminster announced his commitment Sunday, choosing the Nittany Lions over home-state Georgia. He also considered Northwestern.

In addition to offers from PSU, Georgia and Northwestern, Gillikin also held offers from Army, Kentucky and Vanderbilt.

He first visited Penn State two weekends ago, during which he received an offer from special teams coach Charles Huff and head coach James Franklin. He had planned to take a second trip, this time with his mother, last weekend, but they had multiple flights get cancelled and they got stuck in Detroit Sunday night. They then called the trip off and returned home. He said on Friday, however, "I've seen everything I need to. Not getting up there again is not going to affect my decision whatsoever."

Gillikin visited Georgia Tuesday, after picking up an offer from the Bulldogs the week before. Also on that same Tuesday, he worked out at PSU's satellite camp at Georgia State. Afterward "(we) got to sit down and talk with Coach Franklin with both my parents," Gillikin said.

While it might come as a surprise that Gillikin chose the Nittany Lions over the in-state Bulldogs, he said it's an intriguing idea to spend his college years away from home.

"I think it'd be an interesting experience because I've lived in Atalanta my whole life and I've kind of set my sights on trying to get out and see another place and experience that in college," Gillikin said June 7. "So places like Penn State and Wisconsin are interesting to me for that reason and that's kind of one of the things that the (PSU) coaching staff was talking to me about, too."

Gillikin averaged 41.7 yards per punt for Westminster High last season and dropped 45 percent of his kicks inside the opponents' 20-yard line. He also has a 4.0 GPA and scored a 33 on his ACT.

He is ranked as the No. 4 punter in the nation by Kohl's Kicking.

Gillikin becomes the first scholarship specialist to commit to Penn State since Sam Ficken in the Class of 2011.

Blue White Illustrated will have continuing coverage on Gillikin's commitment in the coming days.

So incredibly excited and proud to announce I've committed to play football for Penn State 🔵⚪️🔵⚪️ #WeAre pic.twitter.com/is9FmFGBBD- Blake Gillikin (@blakegillikin) June 21, 2015