Andrew Pryts is one of Penn State’s more recent and more highly rated commitments in the class of 2016, and for those reasons among others, he is this week’s recruit of the week.

Standing at 6-foot-1, 199 pounds, Pryts is one of the more naturally gifted athletes in this class. During his career at Hickory High (Hermitage, PA), Pryts played on both sides of the ball, but will be expected to play safety at the next level. His body of work on the field and his leadership off of it helped his team to an 11-1 record this year.

As a senior, Pryts put up huge numbers on both offense and defense, according to Max Preps. As a running back, he put up 138 yards on just 29 carries, scoring seven total touchdowns. Both of those marks were good for second on the team. As a receiver, he was also ranked second on the team in catches and yards with 31 and 551, respectively, while tying the team lead with eight touchdown grabs. As a big play threat on offense, his longest run went for 40 yards while his longest reception was a massive 79 yard haul. On the defensive side of the ball, Pryts had 44 solo tackles from the secondary to complement his three interceptions. If his statistics aren’t enough, his highlight tape paints a good picture of Pyrts and his unique skill set.

Not only is Pryts one of the most versatile prospects in Penn State’s class, but he’ll be a second generation Penn Stater upon his arrival. His father, Ed Pryts, was a linebacker for some very talented Penn State teams from 1978-1981, and it would seem as if Andrew’s legacy status played a big role in getting him to commit to Penn State.

His recruitment was one of great intrigue for Penn State fans mainly because it seemed like he wanted to forge his own legacy at another university for the longest time, as opposed to following in his father’s footsteps. After fielding big time offers from the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, and Michigan, many thought he would commit elsewhere. Ohio State seemed to be Penn State’s biggest competition until Pryts’ rather inconspicuous commitment to Penn State in August. His commitment was one of incredible importance for James Franklin and his staff, not only because he’s one of the most highly rated players in the class, but also because of his father. It’s vital to recruit well among in-state players and legacies, because in most cases, those players should be automatic commitments.

Now that he’s firmly committed, Pryts will arrive in Happy Valley next year to (hopefully) follow his father’s success and lead a new generation Penn State football players.