I don't know if it is the holiday spirit getting into me or if we are just getting down to the end of the recruiting season and Jimmy is closing in on his targets but this is the most positive update I have posted in months. Let's start with arguably the biggest name out there and certainly the most talked about Damar Hamlin. I have moved him back up to the top category because I believe that ND was previously in the poll position and with them out I think it is finally Penn State's turn to be number 1 with Damar. I think for a long time we have been number 2 even as number 1 with him kept rotating between OSU, Pitt, and ND. I've always maintained that him being in the commits photo back at the Lasch Bash was huge and hopefully I will be right. I think the consistency of our place within his recruiting and the fact that Pitt just can't overcome some of its own deficiencies that we win out here (look at the tweet below to show how impressed he was with their bowl defense). Now I don't think he will commit on the 22nd when he visits because he has a scheduled OV with Pitt on the 29th but Pitt fans are very fond of reminding us that he was at every home game and a number of practices this season and what are they going to show him that they haven't already. Plus the 22nd is when nearly all of our other top targets and commits will be on campus and all that star power will be a quite bit more tempting then what he'll see in Oakland on the 29th.
Khaleke Hudson also makes his return to Commit Watch. I think he will commit on the 22nd when he visits as well. It appears that any damage that was done when we supposedly told him he couldn't commit a while back has been repaired and a number of Crystal Balls that him going to WVU have been switched back to PSU and I would expect more to follow. The new entry to the entire board is Aaron Mathews. A skilled athlete who could end up at a number of positions. This is a great stick-it-to-you to Pitt and is as good as flip from their current commit list as we are probably going to get this class. Rumor is he has a gf that goes to Penn State and that he has been waiting for this offer for some time. I expect him to commit with Hudson on the 22nd. No matter what some posters on this board will tell you there is more to his offer than he can just play, and trust me if you've seen his film you will agree he CAN play, but there really is something to building a relationship with the coaches at some of the football factory high schools of PA and the psychological impact of getting 12 of the top 15 prospects in the state in a given cycle. That is Ohio State over Ohio level of domination. Before you can offer a kid for those reasons though you must believe in him also and this staff does. It will be a pleasure to have Aaron come to Penn State.
Possibly the best player I expect to commit on the 22nd when he visits is Brendan Ferns. I really like the work the staff has put in with him since his high school season has ended. As far as I can find he has not yet set an OV to WVU. If he comes to Happy Valley without one scheduled on the 22nd then you can be all but sure he will leave as a commit to Penn State.
The last big target that I think we can get but am unsure of at the moment is Nixon. He said recently "It’s actually been going on since my sophomore year, so I’m ready for it to end. It’s just a fluid situation for me. I have no idea when I’m going to decide now. If I get real comfortable with a school once recruiting stops, I may commit (in December). But most likely it will come down to two schools and I’ll visit them in January." I believe those two schools at this point to be Florida and Penn State. Florida wasn't in the picture over the summer but is now and could be the home state favorite. Franklin and Gattis have been all over Tre and I hope it has been enough. Getting him to Happy Valley on the 22nd would be huge.
Jordan Fuller is definitely still on the table and recently was named by Miles Sanders as one of his top targets along with Tre Nixon. Jordan has already taken an OV to ND and recently said "My focus has gotten smaller. They change every day, pretty much. It's tough. But we're discussing between Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Rutgers."
One potential flip is Kyzir White a JUCO S who is committed to WVU.
Commit Watch:
4* CB Hamlin, 4* LB Ferns, 3* S Hudson, 3* ATH Mathews
Very Good Chance:
4* WR Nixon
In The Battle:
4* ATH Fuller
Work Left To Do:
3* ATH Wint, 3* G Valentin, JC DT Chavis
Have To Get Really Lucky:
5* DT Gary, 4* DE Smith, 4* OT Williams, 4* OG Davis, 4* WR Corley, 4/3* OLB Hansford
Former Interest:
3* OT Niang
My opinion on where we stand with recruits based on rumors, where the coaching staff has made serious effort, offers, tweets (sometimes) and gut feeling. My categories(and their meanings) are Commit Watch (changed from Locks as to not offend recruiting gods), Very good chance(we sit very well with the recruit and are either the leader or perceived leader), In the Battle(We have a good shot and are equal to others or just slightly behind), Work left to do(there is another perceived leader or little information known on recruits intentions), Have to get really lucky(small chance to little to none), and Former Interest(players that Penn State was previously interested in that most likely no longer have committable offers).
Khaleke Hudson also makes his return to Commit Watch. I think he will commit on the 22nd when he visits as well. It appears that any damage that was done when we supposedly told him he couldn't commit a while back has been repaired and a number of Crystal Balls that him going to WVU have been switched back to PSU and I would expect more to follow. The new entry to the entire board is Aaron Mathews. A skilled athlete who could end up at a number of positions. This is a great stick-it-to-you to Pitt and is as good as flip from their current commit list as we are probably going to get this class. Rumor is he has a gf that goes to Penn State and that he has been waiting for this offer for some time. I expect him to commit with Hudson on the 22nd. No matter what some posters on this board will tell you there is more to his offer than he can just play, and trust me if you've seen his film you will agree he CAN play, but there really is something to building a relationship with the coaches at some of the football factory high schools of PA and the psychological impact of getting 12 of the top 15 prospects in the state in a given cycle. That is Ohio State over Ohio level of domination. Before you can offer a kid for those reasons though you must believe in him also and this staff does. It will be a pleasure to have Aaron come to Penn State.
Possibly the best player I expect to commit on the 22nd when he visits is Brendan Ferns. I really like the work the staff has put in with him since his high school season has ended. As far as I can find he has not yet set an OV to WVU. If he comes to Happy Valley without one scheduled on the 22nd then you can be all but sure he will leave as a commit to Penn State.
The last big target that I think we can get but am unsure of at the moment is Nixon. He said recently "It’s actually been going on since my sophomore year, so I’m ready for it to end. It’s just a fluid situation for me. I have no idea when I’m going to decide now. If I get real comfortable with a school once recruiting stops, I may commit (in December). But most likely it will come down to two schools and I’ll visit them in January." I believe those two schools at this point to be Florida and Penn State. Florida wasn't in the picture over the summer but is now and could be the home state favorite. Franklin and Gattis have been all over Tre and I hope it has been enough. Getting him to Happy Valley on the 22nd would be huge.
Jordan Fuller is definitely still on the table and recently was named by Miles Sanders as one of his top targets along with Tre Nixon. Jordan has already taken an OV to ND and recently said "My focus has gotten smaller. They change every day, pretty much. It's tough. But we're discussing between Ohio State, Penn State, Virginia Tech, Michigan and Rutgers."
One potential flip is Kyzir White a JUCO S who is committed to WVU.
Commit Watch:
4* CB Hamlin, 4* LB Ferns, 3* S Hudson, 3* ATH Mathews
Very Good Chance:
4* WR Nixon
In The Battle:
4* ATH Fuller
Work Left To Do:
3* ATH Wint, 3* G Valentin, JC DT Chavis
Have To Get Really Lucky:
5* DT Gary, 4* DE Smith, 4* OT Williams, 4* OG Davis, 4* WR Corley, 4/3* OLB Hansford
Former Interest:
3* OT Niang
My opinion on where we stand with recruits based on rumors, where the coaching staff has made serious effort, offers, tweets (sometimes) and gut feeling. My categories(and their meanings) are Commit Watch (changed from Locks as to not offend recruiting gods), Very good chance(we sit very well with the recruit and are either the leader or perceived leader), In the Battle(We have a good shot and are equal to others or just slightly behind), Work left to do(there is another perceived leader or little information known on recruits intentions), Have to get really lucky(small chance to little to none), and Former Interest(players that Penn State was previously interested in that most likely no longer have committable offers).
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