Woodruff Football Star Running Back Aiden Gibson Commits to Penn State
By: Garrett Mitchell
Aiden Gibson is bound for Happy Valley.
Woodruff’s star running back and consensus four-star recruit chose the Nittany Lions in a reveal celebration at Tap 3 on Tuesday, picking Penn State over his other four finalists, South Carolina, North Carolina, Louisville, and Rutgers.
“I think it was a great decision for me,” explained Aiden. “Ultimately, it was about what they can do for me offensively and how hard they recruited me, even though they came in late (during the recruiting process.”
It has been a long recruiting process for Gibson, who began receiving college offers as a sophomore in 2024. He has always stated that he wanted to commit before his senior season, so removing any doubt about his college destination was important to him.
“It was important for me to commit before the season so I wouldn’t have too much on my mind and can play ball with my guys,” he said.
Aiden has been a generational player for the Wolverines and the program’s highest-rated recruit in Woodruff’s legendary litany of star players. Already the all-time leader in all-purpose yards in program history, Gibson enters his senior season just 448 yards away from the all-time career record for rushing yards. Gibson needs 18 rushing touchdowns to set that career mark, and just eight total touchdowns for the career record of total touchdowns scored.
Woodruff head coach Brett Sloan knew when he first met Aiden as a rising freshman that he was a special player. Coaching him, says Sloan, means knowing you go into every Friday night game wondering what Gibson can do to top what he has already accomplished.
“It has been an absolute honor to be Aiden’s head football coach,” Sloan said. “He is a phenomenal player who brings energy to every football practice and game. Aiden is one of the most versatile players I have ever coached, and I can’t wait to follow his football career after high school.”
As for why Aiden chose Penn State, he says it was the best fit for him, with a program known for developing elite running backs and giving them a chance to shine in the NFL.
“Penn State stood out to me the most because they are ‘RBU’ (running back university), but the head coach (Matt Campbell) leans his head and hat on running the football, and that’s somebody you would love to be around as a running back,” said Gibson.
When his football-playing days are over, Gibson wants to be a coach. That, he says, is another factor in his decision. He feels that the Penn State coaching staff, including head coach Matt Campbell, can help prepare him for a career after football.
“I think (the Penn State coaches) are going to coach me hard and lead me to the best things that are in front of me,” added Aiden. “I believe they can get me ready to be a coach in the future.”
