4-star quarterback Marcus Stokes flips commitment from Penn State to Florida

Story posted July 7, 2022 in CommRadio, Sports by Alex Rocco

Penn State’s 2023 recruiting class suffered a significant loss on Thursday afternoon.

Four-star quarterback Marcus Stokes announced on Twitter that he is decommitting from Penn State and heading to Florida.

The quarterback mentioned it was a difficult decision but was best for his future.

“I would like to thank Penn State for supporting me, loving me, and showing the same to my family,” Stokes said in a tweet. “After taking time talking with my family and staying up late nights listening to my heart, I will be flipping my commitment to the University of Florida.

Stokes attends Nease High School in Florida, the same school where former Florida quarterback and  2007 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow played.

The Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, native is the No. 22 quarterback in the nation and is the No. 397 player in the 2023 class, according to the 247sports composite rating.

Stokes committed to the blue and white in early April following his second unofficial visit to Happy Valley.

However, the opportunity to stay home ultimately was too much for him to pass up on.

"They saw me, they loved me, they offered me, I loved it (there), and I committed," said Stokes about Penn State on June 22. "I have a lot of emotions right now. Playing college football close to home means a lot to me, and I didn't realize how much it meant to me until I had the opportunity."

With the addition of Stokes, Florida has the No. 36 recruiting class in the nation, according to 247 Sports 2023 recruiting class rankings.

The Nittany Lions now don’t have a quarterback in their class, and despite losing Stokes, they still sit with the fifth-best class in the country.

Alex Rocco is a rising third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email alex.rocco1702@gmail.com.