Aeneas Hawkins has verbally committed to Penn State.
The Archbishop Moeller four-star defensive tackle had once been viewed as all but a lock to pick hometown Cincinnati, as it was a heavy favorite among the schools in his top seven and also the alma mater of his father. Yet, a month or so after an unofficial visit to PSU in July for the "Lasch Bash," he pledged to head coach James Franklin and his program on Thursday morning and then released a video announcing his choice with The Players Tribune.
The 6-foot-3, 265-pound prospect is the Lions' 23rd commitment in the recruiting Class of 2018, which sits inside the top three nationally in composite rankings.