After a long and winding journey, three-star quarterback Bekkem Kritza finally signed with Penn State.
Kritza, the No. 37 quarterback in the country, committed to Penn State on Nov. 11, 2023, as one of the longest-tenured commitments in this 2025 class. As the only quarterback in Penn State’s class as of now, he visited campus 12 times over the years. The QB was Penn State’s 13th signee on signing day Wednesday.
At 6-foot-5 and 195 pounds, Kritza hailed from Colorado when he made the commitment to Penn State, but he moved back home to Florida for his senior season and started the year at Miami Central. He lost the starting quarterback job at Miami Central and wound up transferring to Chaminade-Madonna Prep midseason, where he led an upset win over St. Thomas Aquinas in his early October debut.
Despite the adversity-filled path to becoming a Lion, things have worked out for Kritza. He’ll be leading Chaminade-Madonna in the state semifinals this weekend against Trinity Christian Academy.
He’s a talented thrower of the football who has struggled with accuracy at times, but coach James Franklin was excited to get Kritza officially on this recruiting class.
“Once you get on campus, we’ll be there to support you every step of the way,” Franklin said Wednesday. “It’s not always going to be easy. It’ll be challenging. But you’re built for that, and it’s going to be awesome to watch you grow and thrive here under the Penn State umbrella.”
All-time Penn State passing leader Sean Clifford, currently with the Green Bay Packers, welcomed Kritza to Happy Valley.
“Welcome to the Penn State family,” Clifford said. “Can’t wait to see you become the next great Penn State quarterback.”
Penn State signed 26 players Wednesday, including five from WPIAL schools — Imani Christian defensive lineman Dayshaun Burnett, Aliquippa running back Tikey Hayes, North Catholic offensive lineman Brady O’Hara, Latrobe linebacker Alex Tatsch and Central Catholic defensive back Xxavier Thomas.
Burnett, a four-star and the No. 11 player in Pennsylvania, is expected to become an edge rusher.
Franklin called Hayes, a three-star prospect and the No. 12 player in Pennsylvania, one of the more underappreciated running backs in the country. He is also the nephew of cornerbacks coach/associate head coach Terry Smith, who leads PennState’s recruiting efforts in the Pittsburgh area.
Originally recruited as a tight end, O’Hara will enroll as an offensive lineman. He’s a three-star and the No. 15 player in Pennsylvania.
Tatsch, a four-star recruit and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania, had an injury that limited him to five games this year but is expected to be a big part of the future linebacking corps.
Thomas visited PennState 17 times and never went anywhere else in the process, according to On3. He’s ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 14 player in Pennsylvania.
Another notable signing was LaVar Arrington II, the son of “Linebacker U” legend LaVar Arrington. He is a four-star linebacker from Charter Oak High School (Calif.). Arrington is ranked as high as the No. 9 linebacker and the No. 127 overall prospect in the 2025 recruiting cycle, according to 247 Sports.
The elder Arrington was a two-time first-team All-American who racked up 173 tackles, 39 tackles for loss and 19 sacks in his PennState career. Arrington was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2022.
Penn State signed 23 recruits who were rated four stars or higher by 247Sports, On3, ESPN or Rivals. The class has players from 10 different states. There are 13 offensive players and 13 defensive players.