Penn State will receive a public answer from one of its priority offensive targets on the 2021 recruiting trail Wednesday night when Moliki Matavao reveals his decision. The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Liberty High School standout is scheduled to announce a college choice at 9 p.m. ET.
Matavao placed Penn State in his group of contenders, alongside schools such as Georgia, Oregon and UCLA. The Nittany Lions extended a scholarship offer in April 2019.
He is among remaining priorities for Penn State tight ends coach Tyler Bowen. Fellow four-star tight end Jack Pugh picked Wisconsin this week days after checking out State College for an unaccompanied campus tour.
The NCAA’s ongoing coronavirus-caused pause on in-person recruiting has reshaped the national landscape and it’s been particularly impactful as Penn State has pursued Matavao. He has been unable to follow through on visit plans to Happy Valley and a commitment will come before doing so. If he picks another university, there is still a possibility that he could visit State College later in the year.
That outcome appears likely as Wednesday night nears. Oregon is the unanimous leader in his 247Sports Crystal Ball. Despite the lack of a campus trip, Penn State pushed to assert itself as a legitimate option in this process.