Top 2028 DE George Parkinson IV Plans Penn State Visit

The highly-touted prospect will check out the Nittany Lions during their annual Blue-White Weekend

Published on Mar. 3, 2026

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George Parkinson IV, a top defensive end prospect in the Class of 2028, has announced a series of spring visits to colleges across the country, including a stop at Penn State on April 25 during the Nittany Lions' annual Blue-White Weekend. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound sophomore from Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania has already received numerous scholarship offers and is considered one of the top players in his class.

Why it matters

Parkinson's visit to Penn State is significant as the Nittany Lions look to rebuild their program under new head coach Matt Campbell. Landing elite in-state prospects like Parkinson will be crucial to Penn State's future success, and the coaching staff is making him a priority recruit.

The details

In addition to Penn State, Parkinson has planned visits to Tennessee, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Michigan, Oregon, Texas A&M, and LSU this spring. He will be accompanied on many of these trips by his longtime friend and fellow 2028 defensive line prospect RJ Cruz III. As a sophomore, Parkinson recorded 53 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, and 23 quarterback hurries.

  • Parkinson will visit Tennessee on March 21.
  • He will visit Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan over a three-day stretch starting on March 26.
  • Parkinson will visit Oregon the weekend of April 2.
  • He will visit Texas A&M on April 11 and LSU on April 16.
  • Parkinson's visit to Penn State is scheduled for April 25, during the Nittany Lions' annual Blue-White Weekend.

The players

George Parkinson IV

A highly-touted defensive end prospect in the Class of 2028 from Malvern Prep in Pennsylvania.

RJ Cruz III

A 2028 defensive line prospect from Owings Mills, Maryland who is a longtime friend and travel partner of Parkinson's.

Matt Campbell

The new head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions, who is making Parkinson a priority recruit.

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What they’re saying

“Some things that really stood out to me at Penn State was the engagement of new staff and the new facilities. Right when we walked into the building we were greeted by many coaches and had lunch with our positional coaches, which is something that hasn't happened before.”

— George Parkinson IV (on3.com)

“We've known each other for a few years now. It started at a football camp at the Eagles' stadium when we were like 12. Since then, we've hung out a lot and our dads are close friends now, too. We both train at Garage Strength [in Reading, Pa.] and also have the same defensive line trainer.”

— RJ Cruz III (on3.com)

What’s next

Parkinson's visit to Penn State during the Blue-White Weekend will be a key opportunity for the Nittany Lions' coaching staff to make a strong impression and continue building a relationship with the highly-touted 2028 prospect.

The takeaway

George Parkinson IV's extensive spring visit schedule, which includes a stop at Penn State, underscores his status as one of the top defensive line recruits in the 2028 class. The Nittany Lions are making him a priority target as they look to rebuild their program under new head coach Matt Campbell.