Penn State commit Keon Wylie reflects on high school career, talks college prep
Published: Dec. 13, 2021, 5:15 p.m.Penn Trafford defeats Imhotep in the PIAA Class 5A title game
By Dan Sostek | dsostek@pennlive.com
When the clock struck midnight on Keon Wylie’s career at Imhotep Charter on Friday, the high school senior maintained some good perspective.
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The star defensive end, a Penn State commit, had just seen his Panthers fall in overtime to Penn-Trafford in the PIAA 5A state championship game at HersheyPark Arena, with the Warriors scoring late in regulation, kicking a field goal in extra time and stopping the Imhotep offense on a fourth and long.
But he was proud of his program, and proud of himself.
“I think I had a pretty okay career,” Wylie said. “It’s just unfortunate. I wanted to wrap it up with a state [championship]. But I guess if it was meant to be it would’ve happened. It wasn’t meant to be.”
“I know [Imhotep] will be here again.”
The game, in which Wylie had 5 tackles, meant the final time he’d suit up in the Imhotep black and red. But the future Nittany Lion will trade it in for the blue and white next fall.
“It’s just like [moving on] from Pop Warner,” Wylie said. “You eventually go to high school. Then you go to the next level. It was fun while it lasted. But now I gotta go, try to provide for my family at the next level, and get to the next level after that.”
Wylie finished this season with 9 sacks and 10 tackles for loss, and ended the year ranked a 4-star recruit, No. 17 at his position and No. 10 in the state of Pennsylvania.
Things have changed a little bit within the program since he committed. Former defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who was one of his lead recruiters, left the team to take the head coaching job at Virginia Tech.
Since speaking with Wylie on Friday night, Penn State has already tabbed Pry’s replacement—former Miami head coach Manny Diaz—but even before that, Wylie remained in the loop.
“We had a Zoom meeting, and they said they had a shortlist of people they wanted. But after that, there weren’t any real names. But I’m still in contact with them.”
Now with Diaz in the mix, Wylie hopes to make an immediate impact.
At 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, he still has room to grow into his frame, which he plans on working on before he arrives to campus.
“I’m just gonna get my body right,” Wylie said. “Work on things I know I need to improve on. Get my weight up, so I won’t be too far behind, and just get the job done.”
“Hopefully come in, and don’t have to redshirt.”
-- Follow Dan Sostek on Twitter @dan_sostek
