Penn State Lands First 2028 Commit as 16-Year-Old CB Deonte Flemings Pledges to Campbell

The in-state sophomore said trust in Matt Campbell’s new staff drove the unusually early pledge.

Overview

Flemings, a 6-3, 190-pound cornerback from Erie’s McDowell High School, announced his commitment late Saturday after a campus visit.
He becomes Penn State’s first 2028 pledge and the first non-2026 commitment since Matt Campbell took over.
The 16-year-old cited Campbell’s honesty and a family-oriented approach, saying the staff is already “ready to compete.”
Assistant Deon Broomfield offered Flemings about a week before the decision; the prospect lists eight offers, with Sacramento State first in October.
Reporting has highlighted Campbell’s rapid roster rebuild through the portal and high school recruiting, including figures that point to dozens of transfer additions.