Freaks List

[NittanyChris]

A lot of Nittany Lions on this list. Freak athletes up and down our roster!

College football Freaks List 2023: Bruce Feldman's rankings with a true freshman at No.1

This year's list includes 101 players with physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day.

theathletic.com

 

[Online Persona]

A lot of Nittany Lions on this list. Freak athletes up and down our roster!

College football Freaks List 2023: Bruce Feldman's rankings with a true freshman at No.1

This year's list includes 101 players with physical abilities that wow even those who observe gifted athletes every day.

theathletic.com

Any way to see it without signing up?

 

[NittanyChris]

Any way to see it without signing up?

Weird. I’m not subscribed and I was able to see it. Sorry.

 

[lazydave841]

Singleton
Carter
Olu
Chop
DDS
JVDB

I think.

 

[NittanyChris]

9. Chop Robinson
15. Jordan van den Berg
23. Olu Fashanu
31. Nicholas Singleton
38. Zane Durant
43. Abdul Carter

101 guys on the list.

 

[jerot]

Georgia, OSU, and Alabama have about 86 combined.
Hopefully, we can get photos and stats on each one.

 

[PSU Soupy]

I liked it better when it was around 15 true freaks.

 

[NittanyChris]

Georgia, OSU, and Alabama have about 86 combined.
Hopefully, we can get photos and stats on each one.

For whatever it's worth, here are the numbers for the above teams and PSU:
PSU 6
Ohio State 3
Georgia 2
Alabama 1

 

[pennstatepelly]

For whatever it's worth, here are the numbers for the above teams and PSU:
PSU 6
Ohio State 3
Georgia 2
Alabama 1

Not quite 86. Lol

 

[PSU Soupy]

Can someone post a quick summary of the rationale for including those on PSU.....especially interested the numbers on JVDB

 

[NittanyChris]

Can someone post a quick summary of the rationale for including those on PSU.....especially interested the numbers on JVDB

15. Jordan van den Berg, Penn State, defensive lineman​

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg was a competitive bodybuilder. His grandmother swam in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and held multiple South African swimming records. The 6-3, 304-pound sophomore made nine tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year and is an intriguing project. He puts up Freaky numbers in the weight room. This offseason, he benched 455, cleaned 380 and back-squatted 690, but it’s the combination of that strength with his agility numbers that forced his way onto this list. He was clocked at 4.74 in the 40 and his shuttle time of 4.20 might be even more impressive. He also vertical-jumped 31 inches and broad-jumped 9-2.

 

[Online Persona]

15. Jordan van den Berg, Penn State, defensive lineman​

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg was a competitive bodybuilder. His grandmother swam in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and held multiple South African swimming records. The 6-3, 304-pound sophomore made nine tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year and is an intriguing project. He puts up Freaky numbers in the weight room. This offseason, he benched 455, cleaned 380 and back-squatted 690, but it’s the combination of that strength with his agility numbers that forced his way onto this list. He was clocked at 4.74 in the 40 and his shuttle time of 4.20 might be even more impressive. He also vertical-jumped 31 inches and broad-jumped 9-2.

Thanks. Would you be willing to post these for the other PSU players on the list?

 

[NittanyChris]

9. Chop Robinson, Penn State, defensive end​

So the Nittany Lions have an incredibly explosive 250-pound guy with blazing speed, great strength and Freakish agility. Yeah, we remember a guy like that who came out of Happy Valley.

We’re not saying Chop can be another Micah Parsons, but he is still very special. He had 10 TFLs and 5.5 sacks last season, and will be even better this year. The 6-3, 254-pound junior is a little bigger than Parsons, and almost as fast. He clocked a 4.47 40 this offseason and ran a quicker shuttle, 4.22. He also broad-jumped 10-7 and bench-pressed 400 pounds.

 

[NittanyChris]

23. Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State, offensive tackle​

The most highly touted offensive line prospect in the country is still only 20 years old. Fashanu was a three-star prospect out of high school, ranked only 45th among all offensive tackle recruits in the 2020 class. However, the towering 6-6, 320-pounder from Washington, D.C., had a terrific year on the field and an impressive one off it, running a 4.97 40 this offseason and had a 4.63 shuttle time. That 40 time would’ve tied for best at the NFL combine among all the offensive linemen there. Fashanu, who attributes his agility to all the time he spent playing basketball growing up, also bench-pressed 405 pounds, squatted 605 and power-cleaned 350 clean.

When he arrived at Penn State, Fashanu was 315 but told us “it was a bad 315,” and he’s since worked hard to lose the fat and build back up a better way.

“I just think generally I’ve gotten bigger, faster and stronger,” Fashanu says, “and that’s just a testament to Coach (Chuck) Losey and his strength staff. Having us do all the workouts for an exact reason. I give them all the credit in the world.”

Another Freaky thing about the Penn State star: Both his parents are 5-8. (He says his grandfather on his mom’s side was 6-3.)

 

[NittanyChris]

31. Nicholas Singleton, Penn State, running back​

When legit coaches start comparing you to Adrian Peterson, you know you’ve got a special talent. Singleton came to State College with a ton of hype and has backed it all up, rushing for 1,061 yards and a Penn State freshman record 12 rushing touchdowns. At 228 pounds, Singleton ran a 4.39 40 this offseason and also had a 4.18 shuttle; a 10-0 broad but also power-cleaned 385 pounds and bench-pressed 425 bench.

 

[NittanyChris]

38. Zane Durant, Penn State, defensive lineman​

Another short, super explosive Florida native who starred on the defensive line in the state of Pennsylvania – Pitt’s Calijah Kancey – made this list last year, and Durant, who had five tackles and a sack as a true freshman last year, evokes some of those visions. Durant is about 6-1, 284 pounds and clocked a 4.66 40 this offseason. Durant has generated some big buzz inside the Nittany Lions’ program and we can see why. He ran a 4.44 shuttle and broad-jumped 9-10 to go with a 425-pound bench. Big-time numbers all around, especially for someone who has only had one full year in a college weight program.

 

[NittanyChris]

43. Abdul Carter, Penn State, linebacker​

How special does Penn State think Carter is? They gave him No. 11 — the same number Micah Parsons and LaVar Arrington wore there. Carter flashed spectacular talent as a true freshman, making 10.5 TFLs and 6.5 sacks and breaking up four passes. At 6-3, 250, Carter clocked a 4.48 40, had a 4.35 shuttle and broad-jumped 10-7. He also power-cleaned 350.

 

[PSUWrestlingFanSince2011]

15. Jordan van den Berg, Penn State, defensive lineman​

A native of Johannesburg, South Africa, van den Berg was a competitive bodybuilder. His grandmother swam in the 1958 Commonwealth Games and held multiple South African swimming records. The 6-3, 304-pound sophomore made nine tackles with 1.5 sacks and a forced fumble last year and is an intriguing project. He puts up Freaky numbers in the weight room. This offseason, he benched 455, cleaned 380 and back-squatted 690, but it’s the combination of that strength with his agility numbers that forced his way onto this list. He was clocked at 4.74 in the 40 and his shuttle time of 4.20 might be even more impressive. He also vertical-jumped 31 inches and broad-jumped 9-2.

4.74? Wow

 

[Ward Hog]

Carter plays even faster than the freakish numbers. He has football speed and quickness. He knows where he's going and gets there fast.

 

[Online Persona]

Carter plays even faster than the freakish numbers. He has football speed and quickness. He knows where he's going and gets there fast.

True, his instincts are very good. That is worth a tenth of a second on a 40 easily.

 

[ryoder1]

Man, if Durant and van den Berg make big leaps this year and show their freak athletic ability then our D will be great given all the talent and experience at all positions.

Durant's 40 time would have been the fastest at the NFL combine this year and the fastest since 2003!