3-star CB Troy Vincent flips to NC State. That could be countered if current Vanderbilt commits accept Franklin's offer and flip to Penn State. Among those offered to date: 4-star safety Emmanuel Smith, 3-star cornerback Amani Oruwariye.
2014 Penn State Football - The Beginning of a New Era
- Thread starter SoxJox
- Start date
Paterno must be rolling over in his grave at this kind of aggressive recruiting by Penn State. Wake me up when it's Signing Day.SoxJox said:
Here's a quick synopsis of the staff named to date.There certainly aren't any headliners in here. But most have been together with Franklin for a while, so there's at least some factor in staff familiarity and continuity.
Franklin just added Temple WR coach Terry Smith to his staff. Smith, a Penn State alum, spent one year at Temple after spending 11 seasons as head coach at Gateway HS just outside of Pittsburgh. He is the stepfather of former Penn State DB Justin King and his family has deep roots in Western Pa. This is a major hire for the recruiting aspect.
Penn State secures verbal commitment from 3-star QB Trace McSorley, per reports
"McSorley is the fourth former Vanderbilt commit to flip to the Nittany Lions since James Franklin took over as head coach earlier this month."
"McSorley fell just short of winning a fourth straight Virginia Class 5A state championship last season, leading the Falcons to a runner-up finish. He threw for 2,690 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 764 yards and 13 more scores."
"McSorley is the fourth former Vanderbilt commit to flip to the Nittany Lions since James Franklin took over as head coach earlier this month."
"McSorley fell just short of winning a fourth straight Virginia Class 5A state championship last season, leading the Falcons to a runner-up finish. He threw for 2,690 yards with 30 touchdowns and six interceptions and ran for 764 yards and 13 more scores."
Franklin seems to be ignoring the scholarship limits. Maybe he's going to run off a few guys. Ficken is No. 1 on my list.
Here's an article with what appears to be a complete accounting of where Penn State stands scholarship and roster wise.terrynever said:
Here's a very nice summary of commits to date.
Funny..Marcus Allen + Mark Allen. Echoes of USC?
If Gesicki lands, that means Penn State will have netted the top TE recruit in the country 2 consecutive years (following Breneman in 2013). And that just adds to a TE company that already includes Jesse James (So./So.), Kyle Carter (Jr./So.) and Brent Wilkerson (So./Fr.). There's still a question about whether MAtt Lehman - a VERY good TE - will receive a 6th year of eligibility.
And if O'Conner follows through on his commitment, Penn State will have collected the #1 (Hackenberg) and # 3 nationally-ranked pro-style QBs in the country the past 2 years. McSorley's recent flip from Vanderbilt is very good insurance.
I believe Noah Beh is going to be the star of this class in the "non-skill" positions. And on the other side Troy Reeder is my sleeper. A guy that plays lacrosse and fills a linebacker position? That to me suggests an awesome combination of speed, agility, and strength.
THE CLASS SO FAR
Funny..Marcus Allen + Mark Allen. Echoes of USC?
If Gesicki lands, that means Penn State will have netted the top TE recruit in the country 2 consecutive years (following Breneman in 2013). And that just adds to a TE company that already includes Jesse James (So./So.), Kyle Carter (Jr./So.) and Brent Wilkerson (So./Fr.). There's still a question about whether MAtt Lehman - a VERY good TE - will receive a 6th year of eligibility.
And if O'Conner follows through on his commitment, Penn State will have collected the #1 (Hackenberg) and # 3 nationally-ranked pro-style QBs in the country the past 2 years. McSorley's recent flip from Vanderbilt is very good insurance.
I believe Noah Beh is going to be the star of this class in the "non-skill" positions. And on the other side Troy Reeder is my sleeper. A guy that plays lacrosse and fills a linebacker position? That to me suggests an awesome combination of speed, agility, and strength.
THE CLASS SO FAR
- Marcus Allen, DB, Wise (Md.): A three-star defensive back, Allen committed to PSU on May 10. He's since undergone surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle, but his status at Penn State has not changed.
- Mark Allen, RB, DeMatha (Md.): Allen, a three-star prospect, committed to Penn State last October. He was left with a strong impression after attending a PSU camp and committed a day after receiving a scholarship offer.
- Troy Apke, WR, Mt. Lebanon: Apke is both talented and highly productive as a three-star wideout from western Pa. Apke chose PSU on April 13 despite a strong family tie to Pitt in his father, Steve, a former linebacker.
- Tarow Barney, DT, Northwest Mississippi CC: Barney had offers from Kansas State and Arizona State, among others, before committing on Nov. 24. Barney, who stands at 6-3, 295 pounds, filled a need as the second DL commitment in the '14 class.
- Noah Beh, OT, Scranton Prep: Beh is a 6-7, 245-pound two-way player that PSU eyes as a future offensive tackle. He'll have weight to gain and a transition to make, but shows promise as the Lions' first OL commitment.
- Brendan Brosnan, OT, Maine South (Ill.): Brosnan committed to Penn State on Jan. 14 before stepping on campus. The 6-6, 275-pound three-star prospect had previously given a pledge to Franklin at Vanderbilt.
- Jason Cabinda, LB, Hunterdon Central (N.J.): Cabinda received an offer from PSU in September, nearly three months after committing to Syracuse. The 6-1, 220-pounder accepted on Oct. 22, becoming PSU's second linebacker recruit.
- Mike Gesicki, TE, Southern Regional (N.J.): Gesicki is a four-star prospect and the nation's top-ranked tight end, according to 247sports.com. Gesicki said he "felt at home" at PSU and committed on Oct. 17.
- Chris Godwin, WR, Middletown (Del.): Godwin is a four-star recruit and the top player in the state of Delaware. He's a big receiver with excellent speed and good hands who committed on April 23.
- Grant Haley, DB, Lovett School (Ga.): Former Vanderbilt commit flipped to PSU on Jan. 20. Haley lacks ideal size at 5-10 and 170 pounds, but makes up for it with elite speed (4.44 40-yard dash).
- Trace McSorley, QB, Briar Woods (Va.): An athletic dual-threat quarterback, McSorley flipped from Vanderbilt to PSU. He won three state titles in his career and accounted for 43 total TDs as a senior.
- Michael O'Connor, QB, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy: One of the nation's top pro-style quarterbacks, O'Connor is a polished four-star recruit. He has prototypical size (6-5, 223) and says he's eager to compete with Christian Hackenberg.
- Troy Reeder, LB, Salesianum (Del.) School: Reeder is a standout football and lacrosse player, not to mention a physically mature middle linebacker. The 6-3, 232-pounder gave his verbal pledge on Feb. 26.
- Nick Scott, RB, Fairfax (Va.): Scott, a three-star prospect, committed to Penn State after attending a Feb. 23 junior day. The 5-11, 188-pounder is a versatile athlete expected to play running back at the next level.
- Chance Sorrell, OT, Middletown (Ohio): Sorrell is a long, athletic 6-6 and 263 pounds and is listed as a tight end and offensive tackle. A former Vanderbilt commit, he's expected to play on the O-line for Penn State.
- Johnathan Thomas, RB, St. John's Prep (Mass.): PSU stayed on Thomas even after he suffered a torn ACL on Sept. 28. He comes from the same alma mater as former coach Bill O'Brien and has the mix of size and speed to be a three-down back.
- De'Andre Thompkins, WR, Swansboro (N.C.): Thompkins is a four-star wideout who ranks No. 73 on the ESPN 300. A 5-11, 167-pound dynamo with good burst, Thompkins committed on April 20, three days before Godwin.
- Lloyd Tubman, DE, Seneca Academy (Ky.): One of five players to flip commitments from Vanderbilt so far. A talented pass-rusher, Tubman has three-star ratings from Rivals and Scout and four stars from 247 Sports.
- Antoine White, DT, Millville (N.J.): The Lions' first D-line prospect, White is a three-star recruit and the nation's No. 42 defensive tackle. He chose PSU over 14 other schools, including Maryland and Michigan State.
- Chasz Wright, OT, Milford Academy (N.Y.): One of two junior college recruits in the class, Wright has already enrolled in classes. He's a three-star prospect who stands at 6-7 and 300 pounds.
- Daquan Worley, DB, Coatesville: Worley is an excellent two-way player as a running back and cornerback for the Red Raiders. Worley was in the midst of a terrific season, having eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, when he suffered a torn ACL in October.
- Quarterbacks (2); running backs (3), wide receivers (3), tight ends (1), offensive linemen (4), defensive linemen (3), linebackers (2), defensive backs (3).
- New Jersey (3), Pennsylvania (3), Delaware (2), Maryland (2), Virginia (2), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Mississippi (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1).
Well, this relates to the conclusion of the last, oh so brief BO'B era, but this article ("Penn State's Administrative Dysfunction Pushed Coach Bill O'Brien Back To NFL") at first blush appears to be an even-handed, balanced assessment of the state of affairs at BO'B's departure, and the residual that remains today.
"Dig a little deeper, and you'll see O'Brien's decision -- made at the eleventh hour, after much hand-wringing -- was based as much on the appeal of the Texans' offer as it was the lack of leadership presented by Penn State."
I do hope Joyner is offered the door in the very near future. I imagine that will happen very soon after the new President is named, but even there Penn State has had a wild ass time trying to find someone who can fill it without a circus ensuing.
"Dig a little deeper, and you'll see O'Brien's decision -- made at the eleventh hour, after much hand-wringing -- was based as much on the appeal of the Texans' offer as it was the lack of leadership presented by Penn State."
I do hope Joyner is offered the door in the very near future. I imagine that will happen very soon after the new President is named, but even there Penn State has had a wild ass time trying to find someone who can fill it without a circus ensuing.
The article you link is as much about John Bacon and his insightful book "Fourth and Long ..." that he shamelessly promotes in this link as it is about O'Brien and Joyner. Bacon was the first guy to write extensively about the bad feelings between Joyner and the 2012 team -- mainly because Bacon got full access to the team from O'Brien. He was the only outside journalist who has ever had that kind of access to a Penn State football team. No wonder he tells O'Brien's side of the departure in a complimentary fashion to the ex-coach.SoxJox said:
You are right about Joyner being gone not long after the BOT finally selects a new President. It shouldn't be hard to find a smart, business-oriented AD out there somewhere. Maybe even someone with Penn State ties. I suspect there is someone in the athletic department who does most of the detail work. Joyner is a figurehead. Bacon's revelation that Joyner went on a deer hunting trip right after the season ended is pretty amazing.
Joyner obviously had no problems with O'Brien looking for a new job. The two guys were very uncomfortable with each other. So once Obie walked away, Joyner had a big choice to make and once again he went outside the program to find a coach. I've got no problem with that, even though Franklin keeps scaring me with statements like the one he made yesterday -- "We're going to be the most aggressive recruiting staff in the country." Recruiting can be dirty business. Is Penn State going to be more aggressive than Florida State or South Carolina or any of those deep South programs that lower their standards to get anyone in who can play great football?
In a way, that statement kind of excites me. And it worries me. The party line is he recruited for a fine academic school like Vandy so he knows what the guidelines are at Penn State. We shall see. It will be fun to watch as he goes head-to-head with Urban Meyer's staff over the next few years.
A Pennsylvanian going hunting in late November? I'm not so sure that's all that unusual.
But seriously, it's more evidence that the dysfunction lies with the BOT, for whom Joyner carries water (he was part of the BOT for over a decade before taking the AD job when Curley resigned).
Edit: I shouldn't broadly lump all BOT members together, as the group certainly has various loyalties.
But seriously, it's more evidence that the dysfunction lies with the BOT, for whom Joyner carries water (he was part of the BOT for over a decade before taking the AD job when Curley resigned).
Edit: I shouldn't broadly lump all BOT members together, as the group certainly has various loyalties.
If you want to get a sense of what the players will be hearing from "JaFrank" (I take dibs on coining this moniker), listen to this, an amalgamation of various motivational talks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY5rl9A_uWM
"When you are not pursuing your goal, you are literally committing spiritual suicide."
"When the message of misery visits you, what are you going to do?"
"There are things that you think you'll never need to know. That you may only need to know one time in your life..that will save your life because you had that knowledge"
"The wealthiest place on the planet is the graveyard, because in the graveyard we will find inventions that we never, ever were exposed to. Ideas, dreams that never became reality. Hopes and aspirations that were never acted upon. The question is: what are you going to do with your time?"
"You've gotta want to succeed as bad as you want to breath."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY5rl9A_uWM
"When you are not pursuing your goal, you are literally committing spiritual suicide."
"When the message of misery visits you, what are you going to do?"
"There are things that you think you'll never need to know. That you may only need to know one time in your life..that will save your life because you had that knowledge"
"The wealthiest place on the planet is the graveyard, because in the graveyard we will find inventions that we never, ever were exposed to. Ideas, dreams that never became reality. Hopes and aspirations that were never acted upon. The question is: what are you going to do with your time?"
"You've gotta want to succeed as bad as you want to breath."
Looks like Ficken may have just lost his job.
Penn State Kicks it up a Notch
Jorge "George" Powell, of Miami's Belan Jesuit HS.
Verbal commit as a walk-on.
Kohl's Kicking Camps ranks Powell as the 11th best kicker for the recruiting Class of 2014. The organization ranks him as a five-star kicker.
Although I'm not quite sure how a kicker of that quality isn't offered a scholarship.
Penn State Kicks it up a Notch
Jorge "George" Powell, of Miami's Belan Jesuit HS.
Verbal commit as a walk-on.
Kohl's Kicking Camps ranks Powell as the 11th best kicker for the recruiting Class of 2014. The organization ranks him as a five-star kicker.
Although I'm not quite sure how a kicker of that quality isn't offered a scholarship.
Flip from Cal-Berkeley. Another verbal commit in Koa Farmer, of Notre Dame HS (Sherman Oaks, CA).
Depending on what service you look at, rated as a 3- or 4-star safety. Has size that could be filled out to play linebacker.
The senior is the No. 214 prospect nationally according to 247Sports. He is the No. 13 safety nationally and the No. 24 player in California. He is the No. 31 safety nationally and the No. 41 player in the state according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Takes some of the sting of losing Troy Vincent earlier.
So, on the same day, Penn State gets verbal commits from Florida and California.
Depending on what service you look at, rated as a 3- or 4-star safety. Has size that could be filled out to play linebacker.
The senior is the No. 214 prospect nationally according to 247Sports. He is the No. 13 safety nationally and the No. 24 player in California. He is the No. 31 safety nationally and the No. 41 player in the state according to the 247Sports Composite rankings.
Takes some of the sting of losing Troy Vincent earlier.
So, on the same day, Penn State gets verbal commits from Florida and California.
Like the new kicking recruit. Anything better than Ficken. I suspect they run him off or find him a new home.
Rivals.com reports five-star tackle Damian Prince cancelled his visit to PSU, probably heading to Florida. Rivals also reports that Franklin is trying to flip a Georgia verbal, a three-star OG.
Never seen a recruiting season like this for the Nits. Recruiting all over the country. Pretty exciting. Wait till Joyner sees the travel bill!
Rivals.com reports five-star tackle Damian Prince cancelled his visit to PSU, probably heading to Florida. Rivals also reports that Franklin is trying to flip a Georgia verbal, a three-star OG.
Never seen a recruiting season like this for the Nits. Recruiting all over the country. Pretty exciting. Wait till Joyner sees the travel bill!
The facts of this situation have yet to be fully reported and/or investigated. But important to point out: the timing of the "spike" in incidents being reported is in the past - the "old" regime. What is more important is the improvements being made in the here-and-now, and being most positively reported by Senator Mitchell.canderson said:
Yeah. Saw that in the P-G today. Wonder why the spike? Seems obvious. Thing is, sexual assaults are way up on college campuses and in the military especially. Sign of the times.canderson said:
Rutgers' top 2014 recruit, Saeed Blacknall, just flipped to Penn State. WR, 6-3 and 210, a stud. Alabama, BC and Clemson had made earlier offers before he committed verbally to RU. Visited Penn State last weekend.
Penn State returns to Top 20 recruiting class. They temporaily slipped out of Top 20 when Holley and Vincent left. But with recent additions, they return to #20 in 247Sports and #21 in Scouts, and #22 in Rivals.
Update to earlier post:
THE CLASS SO FAR
Quarterbacks (2); running backs (3), wide receivers (4), tight ends (1), offensive linemen (4), defensive linemen (3), linebackers (2), defensive backs (4).
BY STATE
New Jersey (4), Pennsylvania (3), Delaware (2), Maryland (2), Virginia (2), California (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Mississippi (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1).
Update to earlier post:
THE CLASS SO FAR
- Marcus Allen, DB, Wise (Md.): A three-star defensive back, Allen committed to PSU on May 10. He's since undergone surgery to repair torn ligaments in his right ankle, but his status at Penn State has not changed.
- Mark Allen, RB, DeMatha (Md.): Allen, a three-star prospect, committed to Penn State last October. He was left with a strong impression after attending a PSU camp and committed a day after receiving a scholarship offer.
- Troy Apke, WR, Mt. Lebanon: Apke is both talented and highly productive as a three-star wideout from western Pa. Apke chose PSU on April 13 despite a strong family tie to Pitt in his father, Steve, a former linebacker.
- Tarow Barney, DT, Northwest Mississippi CC: Barney had offers from Kansas State and Arizona State, among others, before committing on Nov. 24. Barney, who stands at 6-3, 295 pounds, filled a need as the second DL commitment in the '14 class.
- Noah Beh, OT, Scranton Prep: Beh is a 6-7, 245-pound two-way player that PSU eyes as a future offensive tackle. He'll have weight to gain and a transition to make, but shows promise as the Lions' first OL commitment.
- Saeed Blacknall, WR, Manalapan (N.J.): Blacknall, a four-star prospect, flipped from Rutgers to join PSU. With offers from the likes of Alabama, Clemson and Florida State, Blacknall is the No. 21 WR in the country, according to 247sports.com.
- Brendan Brosnan, OT, Maine South (Ill.): Brosnan committed to Penn State on Jan. 14 before stepping on campus. The 6-6, 275-pound three-star prospect had previously given a pledge to Franklin at Vanderbilt.
- Jason Cabinda, LB, Hunterdon Central (N.J.): Cabinda received an offer from PSU in September, nearly three months after committing to Syracuse. The 6-1, 220-pounder accepted on Oct. 22, becoming PSU's second linebacker recruit.
- Koa Farmer, S/LB, Notre Dame (Calif.): Farmer flipped a commitment from Cal to join Franklin at PSU. A four-star prospect, he's a dynamic athlete who has played on both sides of the ball and can play either safety or linebacker.
- Mike Gesicki, TE, Southern Regional (N.J.): Gesicki is a four-star prospect and the nation's top-ranked tight end, according to 247sports.com. Gesicki said he "felt at home" at PSU and committed on Oct. 17.
- Chris Godwin, WR, Middletown (Del.): Godwin is a four-star recruit and the top player in the state of Delaware. He's a big receiver with excellent speed and good hands who committed on April 23.
- Grant Haley, DB, Lovett School (Ga.): Former Vanderbilt commit flipped to PSU on Jan. 20. Haley lacks ideal size at 5-10 and 170 pounds, but makes up for it with elite speed (4.44 40-yard dash). He has three-star ratings across the board.
- Trace McSorley, QB, Briar Woods (Va.): An athletic dual-threat quarterback, McSorley flipped from Vanderbilt to PSU on Jan. 20. He won three state titles in his prep career and accounted for 43 total TDs as a senior.
- Michael O'Connor, QB, Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy: One of the nation's top pro-style quarterbacks, O'Connor is a polished four-star recruit. He has prototypical size (6-5, 223) and says he's eager to compete with Christian Hackenberg.
- Troy Reeder, LB, Salesianum (Del.) School: Reeder is a standout football and lacrosse player, not to mention a physically mature middle linebacker. The 6-3, 232-pounder gave his verbal pledge on Feb. 26.
- Nick Scott, RB, Fairfax (Va.): Scott, a three-star prospect, committed to Penn State after attending a Feb. 23 junior day. The 5-11, 188-pounder is a versatile athlete expected to play running back at the next level.
- Chance Sorrell, OT, Middletown (Ohio): Sorrell is a long, athletic 6-6 and 263 pounds and is listed as a tight end and offensive tackle. A former Vanderbilt commit, he's expected to play on the O-line for Penn State.
- Johnathan Thomas, RB, St. John's Prep (Mass.): PSU stayed on Thomas even after he suffered a torn ACL on Sept. 28. He comes from the same alma mater as former coach Bill O'Brien and has the mix of size and speed to be a three-down back.
- De'Andre Thompkins, WR, Swansboro (N.C.): Thompkins is a four-star wideout who ranks No. 73 on the ESPN 300. A 5-11, 167-pound dynamo with good burst, Thompkins committed on April 20, three days before Godwin.
- Lloyd Tubman, DE, Seneca Academy (Ky.): One of five players to flip commitments from Vanderbilt so far. A talented pass-rusher, Tubman has three-star ratings from Rivals and Scout and four stars from 247 Sports.
- Antoine White, DT, Millville (N.J.): The Lions' first D-line prospect, White is a three-star recruit and the nation's No. 42 defensive tackle. He chose PSU over 14 other schools, including Maryland and Michigan State.
- Chasz Wright, OT, Milford Academy (N.Y.): One of two junior college recruits in the class, Wright has already enrolled in classes. He's a three-star prospect who stands at 6-7 and 300 pounds.
- Daquan Worley, DB, Coatesville: Worley is an excellent two-way player as a running back and cornerback for the Red Raiders. Worley was in the midst of a terrific season, having eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark, when he suffered a torn ACL in October.
Quarterbacks (2); running backs (3), wide receivers (4), tight ends (1), offensive linemen (4), defensive linemen (3), linebackers (2), defensive backs (4).
BY STATE
New Jersey (4), Pennsylvania (3), Delaware (2), Maryland (2), Virginia (2), California (1), Florida (1), Georgia (1), Illinois (1), Kentucky (1), Massachusetts (1), Mississippi (1), New York (1), North Carolina (1), Ohio (1).
The facts of this situation have yet to be fully reported and/or investigated. But important to point out: the timing of the "spike" in incidents being reported is in the past - the "old" regime. What is more important is the improvements being made in the here-and-now, and being most positively reported by Senator Mitchell.
The single unreported Sandusky accusation we know of (two if you count the University janitor who never reported what he claimed he saw), there's no suggestion that this is an athletic department investigation. They're looking at the school, based on an order of magnitude increase in reported allegations. However, I'm not so sure the numbers are all that surprising: the school got kicked in the ass and is likely reporting anything that vaguely resembles a sexual assault instead of conducting due diligence on allegations.
Yeah. Saw that in the P-G today. Wonder why the spike? Seems obvious. Thing is, sexual assaults are way up on college campuses and in the military especially. Sign of the times.
Maybe because the financial impact of the sanctions had the University running scared, so they began to record each and every allegation where before a more deliberate approach was taken. I'm not buying the idea that allegations of sex crimes are on the rise; reporting is on the rise. I want to write that this is a good thing, and in probably most ways it is, but excessive vigor in reporting allegations will inevitably lead to false accusations, causing harm to another set of individuals. At any rate, if reports of sexual assaults were on the rise universally, DOE should be investigating all other schools were there is no increase.
The single unreported Sandusky accusation we know of (two if you count the University janitor who never reported what he claimed he saw), there's no suggestion that this is an athletic department investigation. They're looking at the school, based on an order of magnitude increase in reported allegations. However, I'm not so sure the numbers are all that surprising: the school got kicked in the ass and is likely reporting anything that vaguely resembles a sexual assault instead of conducting due diligence on allegations.
Yeah. Saw that in the P-G today. Wonder why the spike? Seems obvious. Thing is, sexual assaults are way up on college campuses and in the military especially. Sign of the times.
Maybe because the financial impact of the sanctions had the University running scared, so they began to record each and every allegation where before a more deliberate approach was taken. I'm not buying the idea that allegations of sex crimes are on the rise; reporting is on the rise. I want to write that this is a good thing, and in probably most ways it is, but excessive vigor in reporting allegations will inevitably lead to false accusations, causing harm to another set of individuals. At any rate, if reports of sexual assaults were on the rise universally, DOE should be investigating all other schools were there is no increase.
That's a class stocked of WRs. You'll be hard pressed to find a better class of them on all of football. Damn.
Can't edit that post for some reason. I meant to write that notwithstanding those two allegations in the first sentence. More than that, I mean to go back to talking about football in this thread.
Continuing to fill out the recruiting class. Commitment reported for 6'1, 180# 3-star DB Amani Oruwariye, from Gaither (Fla.) High School. Another Florida recruit. Nice.
Article goes on to say, "Penn State’s recruiting class entered the day ranked as high as No. 18 nationally on Rivals.com. The Nittany Lions are ranked among the nation’s top 25 in all four major national recruiting services, checking in at No. 21 on 247sports.com, No. 22 on ESPN.com and No. 23 on Scout.com.
Article goes on to say, "Penn State’s recruiting class entered the day ranked as high as No. 18 nationally on Rivals.com. The Nittany Lions are ranked among the nation’s top 25 in all four major national recruiting services, checking in at No. 21 on 247sports.com, No. 22 on ESPN.com and No. 23 on Scout.com.
Assuming all commits sign, the class of 2014 is now complete: 6'0" 181# DB Christian Campbell (Phenix City, Ala./Central) ) commits. Another from the heart of SEC territory.
Tomorrow awaits.
Tomorrow awaits.
So, minus Campbell, mentioned above, here is ESPN's summary of the class.
What I find interesting, and something that I have never really studied in any detail, is that it took 94 offers to generate 25 commits. A slightly greater than 25% success rate. I wonder how that matches up across the NCAA on average, the B1G specifically, and more generally relative to the other major conferences and/or big name powers.
Also, Penn State offered to only five 5-star (at least by ESPN's rating). None committed to the Lions.
EDIT: Not sure what happened to that link but just checked it and it lists only 5 players. Yesterday, it had the entire class. Maybe they all decommitted, Like Lloyd Tubman did yesterday.
In response, Penn State offered Torrence Brown (Tuscaloosa (AL) Academy).. 6'4" 228# 3-star athlete.
What I find interesting, and something that I have never really studied in any detail, is that it took 94 offers to generate 25 commits. A slightly greater than 25% success rate. I wonder how that matches up across the NCAA on average, the B1G specifically, and more generally relative to the other major conferences and/or big name powers.
Also, Penn State offered to only five 5-star (at least by ESPN's rating). None committed to the Lions.
EDIT: Not sure what happened to that link but just checked it and it lists only 5 players. Yesterday, it had the entire class. Maybe they all decommitted, Like Lloyd Tubman did yesterday.
In response, Penn State offered Torrence Brown (Tuscaloosa (AL) Academy).. 6'4" 228# 3-star athlete.
I wonder how the holdover players feel as they see all the hoopla over the 2014 class? Franklin has already said every job is open, including QB, though we know that is bull. Franklin says a lot of stuff. I am anxious to see how he and his staff can teach and coach behind closed doors and then out on the field during an actual game. He never beat a good team in the SEC, just the teams he was supposed to beat.
I like the guy but am a skeptic at heart.
I like the guy but am a skeptic at heart.
Red Shirt Update.
The complete list of redshirt players with the updated class listing, followed by remaining eligibility is below:
-LB Ryan Ammerman (So/Fr)
-WR Deshawn Baker(Sr/Jr)
-DE Brad Bars (Sr/Jr)
-KS Sean Corcoran (So/Fr)
-DE Curtis Cothran (So/Fr)
-DT Parker Cothren (So/Fr)
-LB Hunter Crafford (So/Fr)
-QB D.J. Crook (So/Fr)
-OL Tom Devenney (So/Fr)
-DB Jordan Dudas (Sr/Jr)
-OL Austin Fiedler (So/Fr)
-DB Kasey Gaines (So/Fr)
-OL Evan Galimberti (So/Fr)
-WR Chris Geiss (So/Fr)
-PK/P Chris Gulla (So/Fr)
-WR DaeSean Hamilton (So/Fr)
-G Tanner Hartman (So/Fr)
-LB Carter Henderson (So/Fr)
-G Brendan Mahon (So/Fr)
-T Andrew Nelson (So/Fr)
-TE Tom Pancoast (So/Fr)
-LB Kyle Searfoss (SO/Fr)
-QB Jack Seymour (So/Fr)
-DE Garrett Sickels (So/Fr)
-FB Brandon Smith (So/Fr)
-OL Andrew Terlingo (So/Fr)
-RB Brian Tomasetti (So/Fr)
-WR Luke Vadas (So/Fr)
-QB Austin Whipple (So/Fr)
Article also includes a link to the current roster with redshirt update.
I look at that roster and see...Gregg Garrity (god bless his PSU father), at all of 147 pounds. Yikes.
And, Penn State now has 6 QBs on the roster.
The complete list of redshirt players with the updated class listing, followed by remaining eligibility is below:
-LB Ryan Ammerman (So/Fr)
-WR Deshawn Baker(Sr/Jr)
-DE Brad Bars (Sr/Jr)
-KS Sean Corcoran (So/Fr)
-DE Curtis Cothran (So/Fr)
-DT Parker Cothren (So/Fr)
-LB Hunter Crafford (So/Fr)
-QB D.J. Crook (So/Fr)
-OL Tom Devenney (So/Fr)
-DB Jordan Dudas (Sr/Jr)
-OL Austin Fiedler (So/Fr)
-DB Kasey Gaines (So/Fr)
-OL Evan Galimberti (So/Fr)
-WR Chris Geiss (So/Fr)
-PK/P Chris Gulla (So/Fr)
-WR DaeSean Hamilton (So/Fr)
-G Tanner Hartman (So/Fr)
-LB Carter Henderson (So/Fr)
-G Brendan Mahon (So/Fr)
-T Andrew Nelson (So/Fr)
-TE Tom Pancoast (So/Fr)
-LB Kyle Searfoss (SO/Fr)
-QB Jack Seymour (So/Fr)
-DE Garrett Sickels (So/Fr)
-FB Brandon Smith (So/Fr)
-OL Andrew Terlingo (So/Fr)
-RB Brian Tomasetti (So/Fr)
-WR Luke Vadas (So/Fr)
-QB Austin Whipple (So/Fr)
Article also includes a link to the current roster with redshirt update.
I look at that roster and see...Gregg Garrity (god bless his PSU father), at all of 147 pounds. Yikes.
And, Penn State now has 6 QBs on the roster.
- Christian Hackenberg (So/So)
- Michael O'Connor (Class of 2014, enrolled and on roster)
- Austin Whipple (So/Fr)
- Jack Seymour (So/Fr)
- D.J. Crook (So/Fr)
- Bryan McSorley (Class of 2014, not yet enrolled, so technically not yet on the roster)
The kid who wrote that story is still a student at Penn State. He's an elementary education major who has no experience with football other than watching it. Claims to have only missed one Penn State home game as a student. He is just rehashing what he reads on-line, with no attribution. What a world we're living in!SoxJox said:
I have to dig up a Joe Paterno quote about recruiting classes. "Let's see how these kids look in two or three years." Hype means nothing once they start scrimmaging with their older teammates.
Three are "run-ons" and one of those, the Whipple kid, might be better off rejoining his father at UMass.canderson said:
Some outfits have McSorley moving to safety. It's Hackenberg or bust for them. And Cael, please stop putting the Altons out there.
Well, do they do have O'Connor on campus already and primed to be the backup unless he's redshirted.Fred in Lynn said:
The wrestling loss to Minnesota really means nothing. They share the conference dual-meet title, go into tournament season a little pissed off. Need to get the heavyweight back. Sounds like Alton just got caught.
He got caught twice by Ness. He just got fortunate the first time. It was the difference in the meet. The match was effectively over, and he was about to lose by decision. Instead, he gave up the pin to a guy who is notorious for going for big moves. Just bad strategy. Really not much of a difference between Gingrich and Lawson. Gophers deserve credit for inching out team points where PSU was somewhat careless.
Ona lighter note, at least the men's lacrosse team started their season out roight with a 22-7case of wompass inflicted on Michigan on the 8th.
And the Lady Lions opened the hurt locker door for OSU yesterday.
And the Lady Lions opened the hurt locker door for OSU yesterday.
And in a redemptive move, Tom Bradley lands at West Virginia.
And if anyone was wondering where he's been: "During his two seasons out of coaching, Bradley worked with the Steelers broadcast network and, most recently, served as a CBS Sports football analyst."
And if anyone was wondering where he's been: "During his two seasons out of coaching, Bradley worked with the Steelers broadcast network and, most recently, served as a CBS Sports football analyst."
And looks like another scholarship slot might be opening up, as redshirt Freshmnan OL Tanner Hartman plans to transfer
The article also goes on to say: "By my count this brings Penn State down to 78 scholarship players and the program will need to be at 75 by the time camp begins in August."
To be honest, I've lost count there are so many twists and turns. But I doubt that Penn State is over the limit - either now or projected
The article also goes on to say: "By my count this brings Penn State down to 78 scholarship players and the program will need to be at 75 by the time camp begins in August."
To be honest, I've lost count there are so many twists and turns. But I doubt that Penn State is over the limit - either now or projected
THON '14 is in its final throes (Live Stream)...ending at 4:00 PM. Let's see if they top last year's record of $12,374,034.46.
Edit: .46...not .36
Edit: .46...not .36
THON need s more national attention. It's IMO one of the greatest things being done on any campus in this country.
Early returns on 2015 verbal commits puts the PSU class second to Texas A&M in 247Sports rankings. Alabama third. Penn State has eight four-star verbals so far.
This is a strong indicator of the difference between this Penn State coaching staff and its predecessors. These guys are all over social media every day, tweeting out videos of winter workouts, spring practice. Paterno must be on perpetual spin cycle in his grave.
This is a strong indicator of the difference between this Penn State coaching staff and its predecessors. These guys are all over social media every day, tweeting out videos of winter workouts, spring practice. Paterno must be on perpetual spin cycle in his grave.
A quick clip interview with Franklin.
http://btn.com/2014/04/01/video-gerry-dinardo-sits-down-with-james-frankin/
(Sorry, for some reason I can't get this video to embed.)
http://btn.com/2014/04/01/video-gerry-dinardo-sits-down-with-james-frankin/
(Sorry, for some reason I can't get this video to embed.)
Penn State 2015 recruiting class consensus No. 1 in the country
Most recent commitment of 4-star DT Adam McLean (Quince Orchard, MD) moves Penn State to #1 in 247Sports, Scout, and Rivals.
9 of 12 commits to date = 4-stars
The Nittany Lions remain in high standing for four-star cornerbacks Jordan Whitehead and John Reid, four-star quarterback Brandon Wimbush, four-star linebacker/running back Josh Adams and four-star offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins. Penn State is the favorite to land all five players, according to the 247 Sports Crystal Ball.
THE CLASS SO FAR
Adam McLean, DT, Quince Orchard (Md.): McLean was a strong Penn State lean, but getting a four-star defensive tackle of his quality this early is a major grab. He has decent size (6-2, 290), but what jumps out are his motor and athleticism.
Josh Barajas, LB, Andrean (Ind.): Barajas has the size (6-3, 212), speed and instincts to be a difference maker inside or outside at the next level. A four-star prospect, he was a big pull for Franklin after leaning early toward in-state Notre Dame.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Whitehall: Barkley flipped his pledge from Rutgers following PSU's Junior Day on Feb. 15. A four-star running back, Barkley stands at 5-11 and 190 pounds and has excellent quickness with a listed 40 time of 4.48.
Ryan Bates, OT, Archbishop Wood: Bates is a 6-5, 280-pound tackle who held offers from many of college football's heavy hitters. Franklin was able to lock the four-star prospect up early in the cycle while on campus for Junior Day.
Ryan Buchholz, DE, Great Valley: A 6-6, 230-pound athletic specimen, Buchholz was a PSU "lean" after getting a scholarship offer on Feb. 5. He's a three-star prospect with a projectable frame that Franklin covets.
Kamonte Carter, ATH, Gaithersburg (Md.): Carter was high on Penn State throughout and committed on Junior Day. A 6-4, 235-pound defensive end, Carter is a four-star prospect and the No. 14 player in Maryland, according to 247 Sports.
Jake Cooper, LB, Archbishop Wood: Cooper is a three-star prospect who stands at 6-2, 220 pounds and is the teammate of Ryan Bates. A rangy, athletic player, Cooper's ranked the No. 25 inside linebacker in the country by 247sports.com.
Steven Gonzalez, OG, Union City (N.J.): Gonzalez is a powerful and athletic guard who stands at 6-3, 300-pounds. He's the No. 3 guard in the country, according to 247sports.com, who gave a pledge to Franklin after a March 28 unofficial visit.
Juwan Johnson, WR, Glassboro (N.J.): A four-star prospect and the first '15 commit from New Jersey, Johnson is a fluid, explosive athlete with excellent size (6-4) and run-after-catch ability. He committed on March 16 at the end of a campus visit.
Jarvis Miller, DB, Suffield (Conn.): Miller was a surprise as Franklin's first commitment of the cycle. A 6-2, 188-pound two-way player, Miller is expected to play safety at PSU. He grades out as a three-star player by both Rivals and 247 Sports.
Brandon Polk, WR, Briar Woods (Va.): Polk is a state track champion and do-it-all wideout who was a high school teammate of 2014 recruit Trace McSorley. A four-star prospect, he's a 5-9, 152-pound dynamo who's been clocked at 4:36 in the 40.
Andre Robinson, RB, Bishop McDevitt: Robinson caught himself by surprise with the early commitment to Penn State. A four-star running back, he's a compact, powerful and quick runner who can make an early difference for Franklin.
BY POSITION
Defensive linemen (2), linebackers (2), running backs (2), wide receivers (2), offensive linemen (2), defensive backs (1), defensive tackle (1).
BY STATE
Pennsylvania (5), New Jersey (2), Connecticut (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (2), Virginia (1).
Most recent commitment of 4-star DT Adam McLean (Quince Orchard, MD) moves Penn State to #1 in 247Sports, Scout, and Rivals.
9 of 12 commits to date = 4-stars
The Nittany Lions remain in high standing for four-star cornerbacks Jordan Whitehead and John Reid, four-star quarterback Brandon Wimbush, four-star linebacker/running back Josh Adams and four-star offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins. Penn State is the favorite to land all five players, according to the 247 Sports Crystal Ball.
THE CLASS SO FAR
Adam McLean, DT, Quince Orchard (Md.): McLean was a strong Penn State lean, but getting a four-star defensive tackle of his quality this early is a major grab. He has decent size (6-2, 290), but what jumps out are his motor and athleticism.
Josh Barajas, LB, Andrean (Ind.): Barajas has the size (6-3, 212), speed and instincts to be a difference maker inside or outside at the next level. A four-star prospect, he was a big pull for Franklin after leaning early toward in-state Notre Dame.
Saquon Barkley, RB, Whitehall: Barkley flipped his pledge from Rutgers following PSU's Junior Day on Feb. 15. A four-star running back, Barkley stands at 5-11 and 190 pounds and has excellent quickness with a listed 40 time of 4.48.
Ryan Bates, OT, Archbishop Wood: Bates is a 6-5, 280-pound tackle who held offers from many of college football's heavy hitters. Franklin was able to lock the four-star prospect up early in the cycle while on campus for Junior Day.
Ryan Buchholz, DE, Great Valley: A 6-6, 230-pound athletic specimen, Buchholz was a PSU "lean" after getting a scholarship offer on Feb. 5. He's a three-star prospect with a projectable frame that Franklin covets.
Kamonte Carter, ATH, Gaithersburg (Md.): Carter was high on Penn State throughout and committed on Junior Day. A 6-4, 235-pound defensive end, Carter is a four-star prospect and the No. 14 player in Maryland, according to 247 Sports.
Jake Cooper, LB, Archbishop Wood: Cooper is a three-star prospect who stands at 6-2, 220 pounds and is the teammate of Ryan Bates. A rangy, athletic player, Cooper's ranked the No. 25 inside linebacker in the country by 247sports.com.
Steven Gonzalez, OG, Union City (N.J.): Gonzalez is a powerful and athletic guard who stands at 6-3, 300-pounds. He's the No. 3 guard in the country, according to 247sports.com, who gave a pledge to Franklin after a March 28 unofficial visit.
Juwan Johnson, WR, Glassboro (N.J.): A four-star prospect and the first '15 commit from New Jersey, Johnson is a fluid, explosive athlete with excellent size (6-4) and run-after-catch ability. He committed on March 16 at the end of a campus visit.
Jarvis Miller, DB, Suffield (Conn.): Miller was a surprise as Franklin's first commitment of the cycle. A 6-2, 188-pound two-way player, Miller is expected to play safety at PSU. He grades out as a three-star player by both Rivals and 247 Sports.
Brandon Polk, WR, Briar Woods (Va.): Polk is a state track champion and do-it-all wideout who was a high school teammate of 2014 recruit Trace McSorley. A four-star prospect, he's a 5-9, 152-pound dynamo who's been clocked at 4:36 in the 40.
Andre Robinson, RB, Bishop McDevitt: Robinson caught himself by surprise with the early commitment to Penn State. A four-star running back, he's a compact, powerful and quick runner who can make an early difference for Franklin.
BY POSITION
Defensive linemen (2), linebackers (2), running backs (2), wide receivers (2), offensive linemen (2), defensive backs (1), defensive tackle (1).
BY STATE
Pennsylvania (5), New Jersey (2), Connecticut (1), Indiana (1), Maryland (2), Virginia (1).
Isn't the ranking more to do with the number of signees at this point as opposed to the level of them? Not saying they aren't doing great, but I thought it was moreso just volume giving the ranking.
Could very well be. But by just about any measure, 9 of 12 4-stars is impressive, especially with that last marker in the report: being favored to win the race for an additional four 4-stars. I mean, the 2015 recruiting class is limited to 20, so that could potentially be 13 of 20 being 4-stars - perhaps more.canderson said:
Stick 1 5-star in there and it's the Big Bang Theory, pas deux.
I think SoxJox pretty well summed it up. Their limitations will most likely be due to the incoming scholarship cap. Fortunately, this is the last year for that, although they have one more to go on the total count, I believe. The point systems the major recruitment websites use, e.g., Scout, has them quite a bit ahead right now. It is not just volume, but quality. As mentioned, they will be lapped when they reach their limit (what that might be, I have no idea).