All I ever hear from OSU fans are "Urban gets who Urban wants." And if a recruit just happens to pick PSU, it's because Urban did not want him. I'd love to get all 3 just to shut them up.
2018 Recruiting Thread
- Thread starter MilesBarkley
- Start date
Urban not only usually gets whoever he wants, he usually doesn't even have much of a fight for them. This is why, what Franklin is doing, is so significant. For the past 2 years now, it has become an actual fight for Meyer, to get some of these elite kids, where he usually had them from "hello". The next step is for Franklin to actually pull some of these kids from Meyer, and while the progress there has been meticulous, it is indeed happening. This news is another step in that direction. Ohio State can pull the numbers and contrast them if they'd like, and they can even cherry pick the numbers, but the overall picture is changing, and that much is clear as day. No, they have not signed YET, but this is how the game works at the very, very top of the elite level, and right now PSU is #3 in the nation and a top 10 class is locked in. Believe me, this is a real problem for Meyer.
Come on. You're a good poster, but it's disappointing to see a Penn State fan supporting a lazy media narrative.
The following Penn State players already on the roster were landed by James Franklin who had offers (according to Rivals) from Ohio State and Meyer:
Ryan Bates
Saeed Blacknall
Fred Hansard
Sterling Jenkins
Juwan Johnson
Michal Menet
Shane Simmons
Garrett Taylor
Lamont Wade
Manny Bowen
Mike Gesicki
Steven Gonzalez
Zech McPhearson
I'm sure there are some more that I'm missing. That also doesn't include the recruits from the 2018 class with Ohio State offers.
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anon_xdc8rmuek44eq
Guest
Meyer recruited the sh*t out of Gesicki and even after BOB bailed he couldn't reel him in.
Franklin has battled pretty evenly with most schools. We have a ton of kids with Alabama offers, even. We're crushing Michigan this year on common offers, think its like 11-2 last time I checked. Notre Dame is the only school that has had our number a little bit. That will change.
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anon_1eeb2b426hv3y
Guest
Right?!?! Most just seemed like level-headed fans for the wrong team. I like fans like those posters--makes for great banter.
I'll be happy with one and expect at least one. I'd be super-happy with 2, especially if one is Parsons. 3 would require a trade off somewhere/somehow. Numbers don't work otherwise.
What I meant by "THEY have not signed yet", was, Parsons, Oweh, and Smith have not signed yet. Just clarifying that, not arguing your point. I did not mean that Franklin has not begun to take the next step. The above players illustrate your point that it has started. I am saying that if we can consistently win our share against Meyer, then that's the final step. I do agree with you, that we have started that process.
Franklin at Penn State is probably a tick above or below 50% on commonly offered kids vs Meyer/OSU
The last 2 years represent the first time in a long that PSU has been able to compete in recruiting without having one hand tied behind its back. We began operating at a disadvantage when Paterno started slowing down on the recruiting trail due to age and we continued to operate at a disadvantage when the sanctions hit. What Franklin has done in the last couple of years used to be, and should continue to be, PSU's standard when operating at 100% with respect to recruiting. We should be recruiting head to head with the top programs in the country.
WPB_lion, not sure if you attended the PSU Alumni event back in early 2000's in Palm Beach Gardens that Joe spoke at? About 500 alumni were in attendance? Anyhow, I asked a question towards the end about recruiting more in FL as there are many good players that would be great additions and would fit the PSU culture..I stated to Joe I coach down here and never see PSU recruiting etc...the entire audience clapped-which I was a little embarrassed and felt bad for Joe a little...he said "Coach the NCAA is very strict on how many flights a kid can make and that we are hard to get too etc."
Anyhow...like most things change is good. I wasn't a big proponent of Franklin and especially the first two seasons when basic clock management was an issue
Franklin has figured it out and is comfortable now, hired great Coordinators and position coaches and is genuine and sincere in his recruiting...he is a breath of fresh air-we are lucky and its going to be unbelievable these next few years...enjoy it while we can.
Things dont last forever that's all...no implication. Simple there are 4 stages of the life cycle for everything and anything-Birth-Growth-Maturation-Declination.
Think about it-What stage are we in with Franklin now? I think early phase of Growth stage. Alabama for example is in Maturation stage.
Just appreciate and enjoy everything we got all the time...
WPB_lion, not sure if you attended the PSU Alumni event back in early 2000's in Palm Beach Gardens that Joe spoke at? About 500 alumni were in attendance? Anyhow, I asked a question towards the end about recruiting more in FL as there are many good players that would be great additions and would fit the PSU culture..I stated to Joe I coach down here and never see PSU recruiting etc...the entire audience clapped-which I was a little embarrassed and felt bad for Joe a little...he said "Coach the NCAA is very strict on how many flights a kid can make and that we are hard to get too etc."
Anyhow...like most things change is good. I wasn't a big proponent of Franklin and especially the first two seasons when basic clock management was an issue
Franklin has figured it out and is comfortable now, hired great Coordinators and position coaches and is genuine and sincere in his recruiting...he is a breath of fresh air-we are lucky and its going to be unbelievable these next few years...enjoy it while we can.
I was there and it was March 9, 2002 (I know because I have a picture of myself with Paterno hanging in my office and it has the date in the corner of the picture). It was an awesome event.
As a side note, McQueary's initial testimony was that the Sandusky incident occurred just a few days prior to March 9, 2002 and I remember when the news of the scandal first hit in 2011, I saw the date of the picture hanging in my office and thought to myself that the incident must have been fresh on Paterno's mind when the picture was taken. However, it later turned out that the Sandusky incident actually occurred one year prior.
Back to your question to Paterno, I remember the question because that question is on the mind of every Floridian PSU fan. My recollection of his answer was something along the line of that it is very difficult for PSU to beat FSU, Florida and Miami for Florida recruits if the Florida recruit has to take more than 2 flights to get to PSU. PSU (like every school) has finite resources for recruiting and PSU made the choice to spend these resources elsewhere unless the recruit expresses interest first.
Yes thanks for refreshing my memory, he did elaborate on all those points.
I agree with this sentiment! I've done a lot of reflecting on some stuff like this recently, maybe it was turning 30 that made me think about this, idk, but so many talented people in all walks have such short windows of being at the top of their game. It makes you respect it so much more when someone does it over time and is not just a flash in the pan. 20 year dynasties are great and I hope this is the start of one, but they are hard to come by. Loving every second off this right now.
There's 4 stages to that too...I wont outlay that lol..but the Declination phase well that's clean up and a cigarette.For a moment there I thought you said masturbation!
Which is probably the only four-syllable word in your vocabulary, so no wonder there.For a moment there I thought you said masturbation!
I smell fear...
Twists and Turns: Sorting Out Ohio State's 2018 Defensive End Recruiting
By Andrew Ellis on September 19, 2017 at 1:15 pm @teddyheisman
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The names remain the same. A lot has changed.
The Buckeyes are hoping to sign three defensive ends in the 2018 class. Five-star Brenton Cox is already in the fold, and that is obviously a tremendous start for Larry Johnson. The remaining targets have become household names, but their recruitments are becoming more and more difficult to read.
Why is this perhaps the most important position for the entire 2018 recruiting cycle?
The depth chart is going to go through a major overhaul following this season with the departures of Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and likely Sam Hubbard. That means 2018 will feature the trio of Nick Bosa, Jonathon Cooper, and Chase Young. Each one of them was a five-star prospect in high school, but the position as a whole will need to be replenished in a big way.
Prospect Hometown Measurables Rating Pos. Rank Nat. Rank
MICAH PARSONS Harrisburg, PA 6-foot-3, 235 pounds ★★★★★ No. 1 WDE No. 5
TYREKE SMITH Cleveland, Ohio 6-foot-3, 260 pounds ★★★★ No. 4 WDE No. 62
JAYSON OWEH Blairstown, NJ 6-foot-5, 236 pounds ★★★★ No. 7 SDE No. 158
A month ago it legitimately looked like Ohio State could snag all of the above names to go along with Cox. Four defensive ends would certainly be a lot and that would potentially go down as the best haul of all time. Was the thought of this happening a bit ridiculous? Perhaps, but there was plenty reason for optimism.
Fast forward to mid-September and there's some growing concern that the exact opposite could happen and the Buckeyes may miss on each of the three.
The case of Micah Parsons is likely the most complicated one of the bunch. The five-star was a Penn State commit all the while issuing non-stop praise to the Buckeyes on social media. When he backed off of his Nittany Lion pledge, most thought Ohio State was in line to eventually grab another of the country's top players.
Parsons was in Columbus for the Oklahoma game — his official visit — and then took to Twitter to proclaim that Dwayne Haskins should be Ohio State's starting quarterback. It's unknown how the Ohio State staff felt about the tweet, though Meyer was certainly aware of it. Either way, it would appear that there are still some concerns amongst the staff and this one is likely trending away.
The country's No. 5 prospect was in Happy Valley last weekend for an unofficial visit and things appeared to go well as Parsons hung out with several familiar faces – including four-star teammate Shaquon Anderson-Butts – who will be playing for James Franklin next year.
The crystal ball has been a bit funky lately with a Nebraska submission from Steve Wiltfong – who is always worth paying attention to – but that pick was recently moved back to the Nittany Lions. Penn State is now the crystal ball leader after the Buckeyes held that honor for several months. There are concerns on the Penn State side as well, so both coaching staffs will likely be keeping a close eye on the Harrisburg star.
The Buckeyes have commitments from three of the state's top five prospects, and they're hoping Jackson Carman and Tyreke Smith will round things out. We've talked before about Smith and how his situation is a tad different since he's not a native Ohioan. The family has West Coast ties and he's actually fresh off an official visit to USC where he was able to watch a fantastic game between the Trojans and Longhorns.
Smith is slated to be in Columbus for an official visit on Oct. 28 when the Buckeyes host the Nittany Lions. Perhaps the most concerning part is that the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder has multiple visits scheduled with Penn State including his last official visit on Dec 8. The last two crystal ball submissions – including one from the aforementioned Wiltfong – have been for the folks in State College.
RELATED Tyreke Smith using his platform
He's already taken countless trips to Ohio State, but perhaps we have been underestimating Penn State in this one. James Franklin prioritized the Cleveland (Heights) star well before the Buckeyes even offered, and Smith has taken about a half dozen trips to Happy Valley. He's scheduled to announce on Jan. 4 at the Under Armour All-America Game.
The first week of January is going to be a big one for the two Big Ten foes as four-star Jayson Oweh is also scheduled to announce his decision at the Under Armour event. Oweh burst onto the scene this past spring with some impressive testing numbers that prompted several programs to come calling. A decision was thought to be on the horizon this summer, but the Big Ten powers (and Notre Dame) are going to have to wait things out a bit.
In his 2017 season opener, Oweh recorded 11 tackles, four sacks, blocked a punt, forced a fumble, and hauled in a 61-yard touchdown.
Visual evidence:
This one is also likely to come down to the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. And again, the timing of the visits might be cause for concern. Like Smith, Oweh already has multiple trips to Penn State on the docket. He was there this past weekend and an official is set for their Nov. 18 game against Nebraska. The Ohio State official took place for the Oklahoma game.
The Larry Johnson factor is very real here as Oweh has constantly talked about being coached up to his full potential. He's still a raw prospect who hasn't even played football for two seasons. The relationship with Johnson is very strong, and the Buckeyes' defensive line coach would love to get his hands on someone with that kind of upside.
So what do we make of all this? Is there a chance Ohio State misses on all of its remaining defensive end targets?
First of all, it's important to remember Brenton Cox. He's the second highest rated recruit that's currently committed and a top-20 prospect in the entire country. Already securing his pledge is immense, but the need is clearly there to add a few more.
We are still of the opinion that Larry Johnson and Urban Meyer can land two of the remaining three targets with Micah Parsons likely being the odd man out right now. The scheduling of the remaining visits could be better, but who can blame a couple of high school kids for using their officials on the Ohio State vs. Oklahoma game?
One thing to monitor will be the staff's recruitment of other defensive ends. Right now the full focus is on the big three, but if they make a move on someone else then that may tell us that confidence is waning.
The pitch here should be simple. You get to learn from the best defensive line coach in college football—who has a prosperous history of player development—and there will be plenty of playing time available right off the bat.
Larry Johnson has about four months to make sure that message is heard loud and clear.
Twists and Turns: Sorting Out Ohio State's 2018 Defensive End Recruiting
By Andrew Ellis on September 19, 2017 at 1:15 pm @teddyheisman
Email this Article Share on Reddit Share on Twitter Share on Facebook 13
12 Comments
The names remain the same. A lot has changed.
The Buckeyes are hoping to sign three defensive ends in the 2018 class. Five-star Brenton Cox is already in the fold, and that is obviously a tremendous start for Larry Johnson. The remaining targets have become household names, but their recruitments are becoming more and more difficult to read.
Why is this perhaps the most important position for the entire 2018 recruiting cycle?
The depth chart is going to go through a major overhaul following this season with the departures of Tyquan Lewis, Jalyn Holmes, and likely Sam Hubbard. That means 2018 will feature the trio of Nick Bosa, Jonathon Cooper, and Chase Young. Each one of them was a five-star prospect in high school, but the position as a whole will need to be replenished in a big way.
Prospect Hometown Measurables Rating Pos. Rank Nat. Rank
MICAH PARSONS Harrisburg, PA 6-foot-3, 235 pounds ★★★★★ No. 1 WDE No. 5
TYREKE SMITH Cleveland, Ohio 6-foot-3, 260 pounds ★★★★ No. 4 WDE No. 62
JAYSON OWEH Blairstown, NJ 6-foot-5, 236 pounds ★★★★ No. 7 SDE No. 158
A month ago it legitimately looked like Ohio State could snag all of the above names to go along with Cox. Four defensive ends would certainly be a lot and that would potentially go down as the best haul of all time. Was the thought of this happening a bit ridiculous? Perhaps, but there was plenty reason for optimism.
Fast forward to mid-September and there's some growing concern that the exact opposite could happen and the Buckeyes may miss on each of the three.
The case of Micah Parsons is likely the most complicated one of the bunch. The five-star was a Penn State commit all the while issuing non-stop praise to the Buckeyes on social media. When he backed off of his Nittany Lion pledge, most thought Ohio State was in line to eventually grab another of the country's top players.
Parsons was in Columbus for the Oklahoma game — his official visit — and then took to Twitter to proclaim that Dwayne Haskins should be Ohio State's starting quarterback. It's unknown how the Ohio State staff felt about the tweet, though Meyer was certainly aware of it. Either way, it would appear that there are still some concerns amongst the staff and this one is likely trending away.
The country's No. 5 prospect was in Happy Valley last weekend for an unofficial visit and things appeared to go well as Parsons hung out with several familiar faces – including four-star teammate Shaquon Anderson-Butts – who will be playing for James Franklin next year.
The crystal ball has been a bit funky lately with a Nebraska submission from Steve Wiltfong – who is always worth paying attention to – but that pick was recently moved back to the Nittany Lions. Penn State is now the crystal ball leader after the Buckeyes held that honor for several months. There are concerns on the Penn State side as well, so both coaching staffs will likely be keeping a close eye on the Harrisburg star.
The Buckeyes have commitments from three of the state's top five prospects, and they're hoping Jackson Carman and Tyreke Smith will round things out. We've talked before about Smith and how his situation is a tad different since he's not a native Ohioan. The family has West Coast ties and he's actually fresh off an official visit to USC where he was able to watch a fantastic game between the Trojans and Longhorns.
Smith is slated to be in Columbus for an official visit on Oct. 28 when the Buckeyes host the Nittany Lions. Perhaps the most concerning part is that the 6-foot-3, 260-pounder has multiple visits scheduled with Penn State including his last official visit on Dec 8. The last two crystal ball submissions – including one from the aforementioned Wiltfong – have been for the folks in State College.
RELATED Tyreke Smith using his platform
He's already taken countless trips to Ohio State, but perhaps we have been underestimating Penn State in this one. James Franklin prioritized the Cleveland (Heights) star well before the Buckeyes even offered, and Smith has taken about a half dozen trips to Happy Valley. He's scheduled to announce on Jan. 4 at the Under Armour All-America Game.
The first week of January is going to be a big one for the two Big Ten foes as four-star Jayson Oweh is also scheduled to announce his decision at the Under Armour event. Oweh burst onto the scene this past spring with some impressive testing numbers that prompted several programs to come calling. A decision was thought to be on the horizon this summer, but the Big Ten powers (and Notre Dame) are going to have to wait things out a bit.
In his 2017 season opener, Oweh recorded 11 tackles, four sacks, blocked a punt, forced a fumble, and hauled in a 61-yard touchdown.
Visual evidence:
This one is also likely to come down to the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions. And again, the timing of the visits might be cause for concern. Like Smith, Oweh already has multiple trips to Penn State on the docket. He was there this past weekend and an official is set for their Nov. 18 game against Nebraska. The Ohio State official took place for the Oklahoma game.
The Larry Johnson factor is very real here as Oweh has constantly talked about being coached up to his full potential. He's still a raw prospect who hasn't even played football for two seasons. The relationship with Johnson is very strong, and the Buckeyes' defensive line coach would love to get his hands on someone with that kind of upside.
So what do we make of all this? Is there a chance Ohio State misses on all of its remaining defensive end targets?
First of all, it's important to remember Brenton Cox. He's the second highest rated recruit that's currently committed and a top-20 prospect in the entire country. Already securing his pledge is immense, but the need is clearly there to add a few more.
We are still of the opinion that Larry Johnson and Urban Meyer can land two of the remaining three targets with Micah Parsons likely being the odd man out right now. The scheduling of the remaining visits could be better, but who can blame a couple of high school kids for using their officials on the Ohio State vs. Oklahoma game?
One thing to monitor will be the staff's recruitment of other defensive ends. Right now the full focus is on the big three, but if they make a move on someone else then that may tell us that confidence is waning.
The pitch here should be simple. You get to learn from the best defensive line coach in college football—who has a prosperous history of player development—and there will be plenty of playing time available right off the bat.
Larry Johnson has about four months to make sure that message is heard loud and clear.
Micah Parsons says he's "feeling great" about Penn State
By Brian Linder
blinder@pennlive.com
Posted on September 19, 2017 at 4:18 PM
Micah Parsons' Army All-American Bowl jersey hadn't been on an hour Tuesday when he fielded the question about Penn State.
Recruiting site 247Sports' "crystal ball," -- a prediction of where a player will commit -- recently pegged Parsons a favorite to land at Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a 50 percent to 40 percent advantage over previous favorite Ohio State.
That prediction came after Parsons visited Penn State for Saturday's win over Georgia State.
And, Parsons was asked Tuesday, just how he was feeling about the Nittany Lions.
"I'm feeling great," he said, cutting his eyes to teammate, Shaquon Anderson-Butts, a Penn State commit, and smiling. "You never know, sometimes crystal balls can be true ... and sometimes they're not.
"But you'll find out soon."
Parsons committed to Penn State Feb. 27, 2016, but backed off that pledge in April. He has, repeatedly, said, since, the Nittany Lions were still in the mix for him.
And Tuesday he reiterated that he plans to choose a school soon, and enroll early. He said he'd still be able to play in the Army game, slated to air live on NBC on Jan. 6
"I'd leave for school right after that," he said.
Anderson-Butts said Tuesday there is a "1,000 percent chance," Parsons will commit to Penn State.
Parsons didn't go that far, but he said his weekend visit was "amazing."
"It was crazy," he said. "They were chanting, 'We want Parsons!'
"It was just another great visit."
By Brian Linder
blinder@pennlive.com
Posted on September 19, 2017 at 4:18 PM
Micah Parsons' Army All-American Bowl jersey hadn't been on an hour Tuesday when he fielded the question about Penn State.
Recruiting site 247Sports' "crystal ball," -- a prediction of where a player will commit -- recently pegged Parsons a favorite to land at Penn State, giving the Nittany Lions a 50 percent to 40 percent advantage over previous favorite Ohio State.
That prediction came after Parsons visited Penn State for Saturday's win over Georgia State.
And, Parsons was asked Tuesday, just how he was feeling about the Nittany Lions.
"I'm feeling great," he said, cutting his eyes to teammate, Shaquon Anderson-Butts, a Penn State commit, and smiling. "You never know, sometimes crystal balls can be true ... and sometimes they're not.
"But you'll find out soon."
Parsons committed to Penn State Feb. 27, 2016, but backed off that pledge in April. He has, repeatedly, said, since, the Nittany Lions were still in the mix for him.
And Tuesday he reiterated that he plans to choose a school soon, and enroll early. He said he'd still be able to play in the Army game, slated to air live on NBC on Jan. 6
"I'd leave for school right after that," he said.
Anderson-Butts said Tuesday there is a "1,000 percent chance," Parsons will commit to Penn State.
Parsons didn't go that far, but he said his weekend visit was "amazing."
"It was crazy," he said. "They were chanting, 'We want Parsons!'
"It was just another great visit."
Looks like Micah Parsons could be the Prodigal Son who has strayed, but will be welcomed back.
I think it's a safe bet to say the people who didn't want him after he decommitted will be ecstatic if he recommits.
Which is probably the only four-syllable word in your vocabulary, so no wonder there.
Jim, not nice.
You and Masters & Johnson wrote the book about that word.
Stand up, take credit for it sir!!
Just this morning I heard from a 247 VIP member that he's heard Fields may be visiting for the Nebraska game. I'm not sure if he got that from Sean Fitz but I'll find out his source on Thursday (same physical therapist).
So any reports or interviews with Oweh following his visit? Have not heard a peep, did he make it up to Happy Valley?
He was in town - no crystal ball movement as a result of his visit, but he tweeted that he had a good time.
He was at LSU last weekend and it sounds like it went well, except for the Tigers getting pounded. The Tigers would be his best chance for an early starting role. The other suitor, and who appears to be the leader at this point, is UGA. With that being said, they have a deep depth chart at QB. FSU, with their QB depth chart being what it is, appears to have fallen behind UGA.
It would be great, albeit a huge long shot, if the Lions somehow got back in the mix.
Is this the same dumbass that stole Walker's thunder? Are we sure that this basic blues clown isn't with O$U?
It appears Parson's father said today his son will announce after the HBG and CV game on 11/4. This guy has posted the article and I assume he is making a prediction Parsons picks the Lions. Parsons has denied this. What a mess.
EDIT: Looks like Parsons tweet denying the 11/4 verbal has been deleted. Maybe his old man let the cat out of the bag?
EDIT II Per Brian Linder of Penn Live, his father is now saying this evening there is no commitment date.
Here is the article:
Tyler Donohue
Posted 2 hours ago
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Surrounded by classmates, coaches, teachers and teammates, prized college football prospect Micah Parsons officially received his U.S. Army All-American jersey Tuesday afternoon during a ceremony at Harrisburg High School. The 5-star defensive standout, considered a premier member of the 2018 recruiting class, wore a wide smile throughout much of the event.
“This is a big part of the journey,” Parsons told Land of 10. “It’s a true honor.”
Now in the midst of a senior season defined by state championship expectations, where the journey leads next remains a mystery.
Parsons, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound playmaker who stars for the Cougars at defensive end, linebacker and running back, is attempting to graduate high school early. This feat has never been accomplished at Harrisburg, according to his father, Terrence Parsons, and the goal is to get him on a college campus for spring semester. Micah would utilize the new early-signing period (Dec. 20-22).
A recruitment that started during his freshman season has reached its final stretch. Terrence said a commitment date is set for Nov. 4, following Harrisburg’s final regular-season home game against Cumberland Valley.
That matchup will feature at least two Penn State commits, as Cumberland Valley athlete Charlie Katshir and Harrisburg receiver Shaquon Anderson-Butts are members of the Nittany Lions class.
It’s a recruiting class Parsons initially started when he committed to Penn State coach James Franklin in February 2016, midway through his sophomore year. He remained a cornerstone of the group for 14 months, but backed off the verbal pact on April 23.
Following his return to Beaver Stadium last Saturday, there is growing sentiment he may end up in Happy Valley after all.
“At first, being back there was a little different,” Terrence said. “You know, we never said that wasn’t going to be the place, he just wanted a little peace. Before he de-committed, he reached out to Coach [James] Franklin and said, ‘If I de-commit, is my offer still on the table?’ Coach Franklin said, ‘Until you tell us you don’t want to come here, your offer is still on the table.’
“Regardless of whatever my son’s been through, Franklin and his staff have never wavered. Through it all, they’re still in his corner.”
It also was clear Saturday that there are many Nittany Lions fans in Micah’s corner. He received a warm welcome after emerging from the stadium tunnel minutes before Franklin and the team arrived for a game vs. Georgia State.
“It means a lot,” Micah said. “They were mad at me, and when I came back it was all love again. You know, we’ve got a love-hate relationship. It’s all love right now.”
Micah Parsons heard plenty of sales pitches from Penn State fans during his visit to campus Saturday. (Tyler Donohue/Land of 10)
As Micah admits, his relationship with the Penn State community is complicated. The same can be said about dynamics between him and Ohio State.
The Buckeyes hosted him for an official visit Sept. 9, when he watched Ohio State suffer a frustrating loss to Oklahoma. As you likely know, afterward Micah tweeted in support of giving redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins a shot at quarterback, where accomplished veteran J.T. Barrett is a longstanding starter.
The ensuing social-media firestorm featured plenty of opinions, ranging from fellow 5-star recruits to lead ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit. It put Micah under the microscope last week as a divisive figure, seemingly overshadowing his abilities as a football player.
“He’s realizing a thing me and his mom tell him: The world is not always fair,” Terrence said. “They’ll take something you say, and flip it any way they want to. Last week, they flipped it to make him like a bad guy. He has to live with that. You know, he apologized about it. Everyone was in their feelings after the game, but I guess because who he is, it was a big deal. He’s got to move forward.”
Micah understands the situation, though he’s not hiding from it.
“I shouldn’t have said it, but everybody has their beliefs and opinions,” he said. “People can take it good or bad.”
There has been abundant speculation about how Ohio State coaches and players have reacted internally. Jeremy Birmingham, Land of 10’s Buckeyes recruiting reporter, cited sources in Columbus stating at least some in the locker room were “pissed” about his comments.
Terrence strongly indicated that communication between the Parsons family and Ohio State has become limited. Micah painted a more positive picture.
“We all good,” he said, explaining Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer sent him a text message that cleared the air.
Micah Parsons has traveled to Ohio State three times since April. (Jeremy Birmingham/Land of 10)
Terrence stressed that interest in Ohio State remains high, but this recruitment isn’t Buckeyes-or-bust.
“They’re still in our top four,” he said. “If they happen to pull the offer, then that’s the way it is. We’re following God’s path, and as they say, when one door closes, God will open another one.”
So which other programs are in Micah’s top four? That list isn’t yet public, but it becomes somewhat clear as Terrence describes upcoming plans.
“Our next visit is Nebraska [Oct. 6],” he said. “Then we’re going to try to make it out to Georgia, and then hopefully back up to Penn State. But the way the [Harrisburg] football season is, with games on Saturdays, it’s a struggle.”
Micah has mentioned Alabama as a possible official visit, and the Crimson Tide hosted him on campus in July. Terrence said Nick Saban’s staff has been in touch, but another trip to Tuscaloosa no longer sounds realistic.
Depending on where things stand with Ohio State, Nebraska may be the Big Ten threat to pry Micah away from Pennsylvania.
“He really talks highly about Nebraska, so me and his mom are going to make the trip,” Terrence said. “We set it up, we’ll go out there, meet the staff, see what they have to offer, come back home and put it out on the table. The ultimate decision is his. We’re going to support him regardless, but we’re going to see where it falls.”
Georgia, a program that’s expressed interest in Parsons at linebacker and possibly as an offensive weapon, is an SEC wild card to watch moving forward. The Parsons family previously took an unofficial visit to Athens.
“They’re real family oriented. How they laid it out [regarding academics], as a parent it’s what you want to hear,” Terrence said. “Basically, for you not to make it down there, you just have to come in there and say, ‘I’m not doing any work.’ ”
Micah, a newly anointed All-American, arguably is the most compelling uncommitted defensive recruit in America. He entered his senior season with more than 40 career sacks and 60 tackles for loss. With 7 touchdown runs through three games this season, he may also be the best 2018 running back in Pennsylvania.
The stakes are high for the heralded talent, and the college staffs still are pursuing him, as Nov. 4 is fewer than 50 days away. The mission for Micah is to identify a university where “I’m really ready to be,” then focus on reaching the finish line as an early graduate.
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