Josh Kaltenberger, an incoming senior at Seneca Valley, verbally committed to Purdue University recently. Kaltenberger was being heavily recruited by several Division I schools before ultimately deciding on the Boilermakers.

Sometimes when you know, you know.

Josh Kaltenberger, who will be a senior center on the Seneca Valley football team this fall, knew right away after receiving more than a handful of Division I offers that the school he wanted was Purdue.

“Out of all the schools that had offered me and the ones that showed interest, Purdue was easily my number one choice,” Kaltenberger said. “It was really just a no-brainer for me and I asked myself, ‘Why wait?’ because I knew this was where I was supposed to go.”

The 6-foot-5, 280-pound interior lineman verbally committed to the Boilermakers on June 14 after receiving other offers from Virginia Tech, Boston College, Syracuse and a slew of others.

Two weeks ago, Kaltenberger visited Purdue for a football camp and wound up committing a few days later.

Four days after that he went back for a second unofficial visit.

“It’s a verbal commitment, there’s no paperwork signed, but I think Josh made a decision based on academics as well as athletics and obviously an opportunity to play in the Big Ten,” SV football coach Ron Butschle said. “It wasn’t just a knee-jerk reaction. I think he genuinely was interested in going to Purdue.”

Kaltenberger is ranked 21st nationally among centers, and he is the state’s 17th-best prospect in the 2020 class, according to 247Sports.

Kaltenberger fits the description of a Purdue offensive lineman with a lighter weight to go with the agility the Boilermakers look for in an offensive lineman.

“I think I’ll fit in well and I think I’ll make a great impact on their team just by blocking great and getting to the second level,” Kaltenberger said.

The current Raider was recruited as a center, but that the possibility exists he’ll be moved to guard.

Kaltenberger plans on majoring in business finance once arriving at Purdue in 2020.

“I am still looking into the possibilities I could have with that major and a lot of those jobs spark my interest,” Kaltenberger said. “I just haven’t narrowed it down to a specific one.”

With one year left at Seneca Valley, Kaltenberger said there is still work for him to do before he leaves the Raiders.

“There is definitely much to improve and I want to leave a mark as a team player in my last year at Seneca and be known as a hardworking kid,” Kaltenberger said.

Seneca Valley’s 2018 season came to close in a 34-7 loss to Pine-Richland in the WPIAL 6A championship game last November.

“I’m super happy for Josh and his family and now it’s time to get to work and hopefully get back to Heinz Field and not come in second place,” Butschle said with a laugh.