Penn State Nittany Lions received its fourth
commitment with Joey
Schlaffer becoming the fourth member of the 2023 recruiting
class on Saturday. The announcement came before the kick-off of its game against
Illinois Fighting Illini.

Reading (Pa.) Exeter tight end Schlaffer said to
Lions247, “I’m committing to Penn State now because I’m
finally 100% confident in my decision.”

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“Penn State checks all the boxes for me
academically, they have what I’m looking for, it’s close to family but still a
good enough distance away from home. State College is also the No. 1-rated
college football town in the country. It just feels like home”

After watching him in person, tight ends coach Ty
Howle from the Nittany Lions made him an offer in September. The Nittany Lions
received the first choice on the 247Sports Crystal Ball a few days later, and
Schlaffer took approximately a month to make his decision.

“I’d say I’ve been talking about it for 2-3 weeks
now,” he said. “It wasn’t automatic after they offered, but I think I came to
the decision pretty quickly after they did.”

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Schlaffer
is the younger sibling of former Penn State offensive lineman Michal
Menet. Menet was a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions and is now a
member of the Arizona Cardinals‘ practice squad.

“[Menet] obviously has nothing but the absolute
best to say about Penn State,” said Schaffler. “I’ve been visiting ever since
he was a recruit, so I know how they run things and it’s very admirable and
respectable. They have a family, they really do.”

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Schlaffer is the No. 11 prospect in Pennsylvania
and the 347th overall prospect in the country. He’s caught 28 catches for 533
yards and four touchdowns in seven games this season. As a sophomore in 2020,
Schlaffer caught 19 catches for 444 yards and six touchdowns in eight games.