James Franklin took a large step in addressing on of the biggest concerns in the 2019 recruiting class today, as Penn State received its 17th commitment in the form of one of the best defensive ends in the recruiting cycle.

Adisa Isaac, a 4-star defensive end from Brooklyn, New York, pledged his commitment to the Nittany Lions Monday just after noon, less than two days before the early signing period, which begins on Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Ranked as the No. 79 overall player in the country, Isaac is the Nittany Lions’ fourth player ranked in the top 100 in this cycle, and the third-highest ranked player in Penn State’s 2019 class to date, behind 5-star linebacker Brandon Smith and 4-star offensive guard Caedan Wallace.

The No. 4 defensive end in the 2019 class and the top player in the state of New York standing at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, according to 247Sports, Isaac chose the Nittany Lions out of 30 total offers, including his final four of Penn State, Syracuse, Texas A&M and Miami (FL).

On decision day, it was a battle between the Nittany Lions and Hurricanes. WIth Temple hiring former Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz last week, and Miami losing 15 commitments so far, it’s no surprise Isaac chose to join a top-15 class, and a program much closer to his home in New York.

Isaac joins 4-star defensive end Hakeem Beamon as the only two defensive linemen in the class at this point. The Nittany Lions are the favorites for a pair of defensive tackles, however.

Four-star D’Von Ellies and 3-star Jared Harrison-Hunte are both high priority targets for Penn State moving forward. Ellies plans to commit during the Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 19, while Harrison-Hunte is expected to commit and sign his letter of intent on Wednesday.