Penn State Lands 4-Star DL Ellison Jordan

Penn State picked up another key piece for its 2016 recruiting class Friday as coveted defensive lineman Ellison Jordan chose the Nittany Lions.  

The tackle confirmed his college selection on social media. Penn State is on a roll right now when it comes to upgrading its defense for the future. Tom VanHaaren of ESPN.com highlighted how things are shaping up after a successful week:

Jordan is a 4-star prospect who rates as the No. 161 player in the class and one of the top 20 defensive tackles available, according to 247Sports' composite rankings. The outlet also notes his arrival moves the Nittany Lions into the top 10 of the 2016 team rankings for the time being.

What he lacks in size (6'0'', 270 lbs), he makes up for with an intriguing combination of strength and quickness. He features an explosive first step and could end up playing both end and tackle early in his college career before settling into one spot.

He joins a defensive line that's clearly become a lot more promising in recent days. The only potential downside is that it makes the path to playing time more crowded. Being able to fill multiple roles should help Jordan as he attempts to crack the rotation.

As he gains experience and adds more moves to his arsenal, his natural tools should allow him to become a well-rounded tackle—somebody capable of plugging holes against the run but also featuring enough small-area speed to get after the quarterback.

Penn State clearly heads into the weekend with a lot of recruiting momentum. Now, the question is whether it can build off of it in the weeks and months ahead to bring in a top-five class for 2016.