Penn State will continue its streak of signing at least one five-star player for the fourth consecutive year, as tight end Andrew Olesh earned his fifth star by On3 Thursday, climbing 14 spots from No. 43 to No. 29. He’s also now the nation’s top-ranked tight end for the Class of 2025.

A native of Center Valley Pa., Olesh emerged on Penn State’s radar in June 2023 after camping with the staff. When he earned an offer from the Nittany Lions during a junior day visit in Jan. 2024, many thought there was a good chance he’d end up committing to Penn State at some point in the coming months. Not only was a Pennsylvania native, but Olesh’s father also graduated from the school.

However, come February, the Southern Lehigh prospect also rocketed up the rankings, going from unranked to a Top 100 recruit by On3. That grabbed the attention of some major schools, most notably Alabama and Michigan, as both programs offered within a week. Those two schools ended up being Penn State’s main competitors in June 2024 when he took official visits to those two schools, as well as Penn State and Florida. He eventually ended up committing to Michigan in July, but like all good recruiters, James Franklin, Ty Howle and Penn State’s entire recruiting staff weren’t going to give up with five months to go until he can sign.

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“The first thing that both Coach Howle and Coach Franklin made clear is that they’re going to keep recruiting him,” said George Olesh, Andrew’s father. “They said, ‘You’re our guy. You’re our number one target at the position and we’re not going to stop.’”

Olesh’s father added, “Also, when he committed, right from the start, we made it clear to Michigan that he still wanted to see how the season played out. He wanted to see how the different changes at offensive coordinator were going to look with Penn State and Michigan and Alabama, too. So, there was a lot still to be decided at that point. Penn State was never really out of the running.”

Unofficial visits to Alabama in September, followed by Oregon in October, were signs that Olesh wasn’t 100 percent locked in with the Wolverines. He followed that up with an unofficial visit to Penn State for the game against Ohio State in early November.

By that point, tight end Tyler Warren was also on pace to win this year’s Mackey Award. That, combined with regular playing time for freshman Luke Reynolds, appealed to Olesh. However, it was Penn State’s consistency down the stretch that ultimately played the biggest role.

Following two final official visits in November to Oregon and Notre Dame, Olesh eventually narrowed his list to the Nittany Lions and Ducks. His father said that he officially decided to switch his commitment to Penn State at 11 p.m. ET the night before his announcement on Dec. 6.

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“It came down to Thursday, December 5th,” said Olesh’s father. “It was a little before 11 o’clock p.m. That’s when he made the choice. Shortly after, we called Coach Franklin. He actually didn’t answer at first, but then he called us back and he was really excited. He was trying to be quiet and not wake up his family. We messed with him a little bit, too. Andrew wanted to call and talk in a somber voice. We discussed some things for a little bit and eventually coach was like, ‘So, what’s the situation?’ That’s when Andrew then played Zombie Nation with the ‘We Are Penn State’ chant. That’s how he let him know that he was committing.

As mentioned above, this is the fourth consecutive class that Penn State will finish with at least one five-star player. The Class of 2022 actually had three five-star prospects in QB Drew Allar, RB Nick Singleton and DE Dani Dennis-Sutton. Since then, they also signed OL Jven WIlliams in the 2023 class, OL Cooper Cousins in the 2024 class and now Olesh in the Class of 2025.

On3 Scouting Director Charles Power in Andrew Olesh

Charles Power: Highly skilled, athletic tight end with a game that should translate to the college and pro levels. Measured in at around 6-foot-5, 220 pounds prior to his senior season. Has good length with arms that measure a shade under 33 inches and big (10 ⅝-inch) hands. An explosive athlete who excels in the combine setting, running in the low 4.6 range at college camps. Has wide receiver skills in a tight end body. Lines up split out wide, in-line and even in the backfield for his high school team. An advanced route runner with the ability to create separation with his elite change of direction. Breaks off defenders with his ability to shift gears within his routes.

Has strong ball skills. Catches with good technique, framing the ball. Wins in contested catch situations and finishes through contact. Outstanding after the catch. Explosive with the ball in his hands and is able to weave through defenses as the second level. Shows the ability with the ball in his hands, ripping off long runs on end-arounds. Also lines up as a punt returner and took one back to the house as a senior. Competitive as a blocker. Also plays defense, working as a defensive back as a senior.

Finished with 53 catches for 972 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior. Weight can drop a bit in the season and will need to add good mass to his frame to be a true in-line tight end. Doesn’t face top competition at the high school level. Has a highly translatable skill set with his size, ability to separate, win at the catch point and pick up yards after the catch.

Recap Olesh’s commitment to Penn State

PSU pulls Early Signing Period shocker, flips Top100 TE Andrew Olesh

Top 50 TE Andrew Olesh explains why he flipped his commitment to Penn State

James Franklin on Olesh: ‘He has a chance to be a weapon for us here in the near future’

Q&A Part I: Andrew Olesh’s father does in-depth on son’s recruitment

Q&A Part II: Andrew Olesh’s father does in-depth on son’s recruitment