Update: It’s been awhile. Things have happened. Since we last spoke we’ve added 4 recruits (Thorpe, Martin, Miranda, and Brown). That gives us 8 out of the current 15 spots we have available. I expect that to rise to around 19/20. I would say there are 5-7 guys in my top 3 categories below that will have a spot in this class no matter what, that is unless a player of equal value to the coaches tries to commit (we aren’t high on many guys ranked higher at their positions), but that means for the guys who aren’t on that level, we will only take 2-3 more until those 5-7 make up their minds. You can disagree on that point but that’s how I see it (I’ll lay out who I mean later).
We weren’t the only one to snag commits from our board. Who you say stole some from us, OSU? Michigan? NOPE: Maryland and Rutgers. UMD got Spence, McNair, Hill, and Eley; Rutgers landed Clark and Melton. Way to sell the stay home movement. Here’s the problem: that message sells in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania bc then they go out and supplement top in state talent with top or near the top talent from out of state. All of UMD’s current commits are from MD, VA, or DC. All of Rutger’s commits are from NJ. Currently PSU has commits from PA, OH, VA, NJ, & GA. OSU has commits from OH, FL, GA, TX, CO, NV, MI, & NY. Michigan has commits from MI, CO, NM, AL, MA, GA, & FL. None of those 3 have really gone to work on their home states yet. When the outside talent doesn’t commit to Ru or UMD the in state talent realizes they won’t have help and bails for greener pastures.
Currently we are in an evaluation period where the coaches can go visit recruits at their high schools. What’s coming up? Well, our non-committed Blue White visitors included Wade (who came right back the week after), Webb, Hansard, Anthony, Pitts, Stueber, Jermani Brown, Singleton, & Njoku. From them Wade had said he was going to commit I Dec and I know when he made his return visit a lot of people were getting antsy that he might be ready, but I don’t see him changing his time frame without announcing that first. Webb just named us his leader today (more on him in a minute). Hansard pushing his announcement was good news for us and the coaches were in his HS today. He’ll be one to watch during the summer and I am hopeful we’ll get him back on campus for the Lasch Bash (The LB). Same goes for Antony whose uncle and cousin went to/ go to PSU. Our main competition for him is from the south. Pitts tweeted and RTed many pictures from BW and his mom also tweeted one of him hugging Franklin saying he had a great time. He then went the next day and won DB MVP at a Rivals camp. He is a possibility to commit over the summer sometime and he was one of the first stops for the coaches. Stueber could very well be out next commit, but I’m not sure if his offer is committable with 3 OL on board and Hainsey still out there. Jermani Brown is new to the list and recently decommitted from ASU, but he was does not have an offer and was clear that the PSU visit did not cause the decommitment. It was nice Singleton and Njoku came but they are heading to Michigan and Miami respectively. I know we are supposedly a close second to Miami, but I don’t buy it.
Those not at BW: Conliffe went to UVA’s Jr day after almost committing at our Jr day and then recently was at Va Tech’s spring game. He is still retweeting PSU stuff and commits, so from his side we are still in it. The coaches have added more DT offers so I’m not sure where they stand with him at the moment. If they don’t visit him during the evaluation period then it doesn’t look good. There was a rumor that Hainsey and Thorpe were going to commit together, so there’s that. He is currently doing his due diligence and recently has been to UF, Au, and FSU. I still have faith we will win this one with main competition coming from UM, MSU, and ND. Since JR day Warren has been to Pitt, Cuse, UMD, and Va Tech; again I’m not sure we take 5 OL this cycle. Since visiting and picking up an offer on 3/25 Holmes has been to RU and Tenn for their spring game. Tenn and Cuse are the competition. Hopefully he’ll be at the LB. Proctor has recently been to UNC, Va Tech, and UMD. He was recently interviewed and did not mention PSU, but did say a few times he wants to get on the field early and favors a depth chart that he can step right into. Bad news: he wants to commit on signing day by picking a hat, we have not traditionally won those. D’Andre Swift has been mentioned on this board a lot recently. 247 has an article up saying him and Webb are cousins and a packaged deal for college. They were both at UGA on 3/31 and Webb didn’t get an offer. Swift went back for the UGA spring game weeks later, but Webb came to PSU and has subsequently named us the leader. I don’t often buy packaged deals (look at Haskins/Diggs, or the moronic Triumphant Trio of Burrell/McClean/Settle), but if they are package I can’t wait for the postman to deliver it to James Franklin. Old rumors had it (one from a source I know) that he loved PSU and wanted to follow Reid there, but like I said those are almost a year old rumors we’re talking. I’m of the opinion both Swift and Webb wait to see what the new offense looks like, hopeful both come to the LB. Looks like Bell will be landing at Rutgers soon. Josh Kaindoh shocked everyone by leaving UMD out of his top 4 (ND, PSU, OSU, UM) right after he got back from ND, there was a rumor he may commit May 3rd and has trended to ND in his crystal balls. We’ll see if that happens, I’m more inclined to believe this will take longer than some are predicting. (If you want to see delusion at its best head over to UMD sites and check out their theories that he left them off his top 4 to generate surprise and attention when he picks them.)
Now I hate saying of the remaining scholarships X go to this position and Y go to this position because that’s not always how it works bc value of the player matters too. That said I see 5-7 guys who have spots that will be held for them until they are off the board before we move on to the next guy and let them commit. Now that doesn’t mean if a surprise player of equal value comes along we wouldn’t take them instead ie. I’m not sure we’d take a commitment from Stueber with Hainsey on the board but we’d certainly take Wilson and not worry about Hainsey spot in that unlikely scenario. Those guys are: Wade, Hainsey, Swift, Hansard, Webb, Anthony/Proctor. That would mean there are 5 wild card spots or so. You would think they would go to another DT, a S or two, maybe another WR, ATH, or OL or the one DE we’d still take, Kaindoh. The very young roster almost becomes an extension of the sanctions affecting us years later. The good and bad of it is a lot of these guys will wait until into the season, which should help us with better results, the bad of it is anyone waiting until signing day normally isn’t good for us. It’ll be interesting to see who the coaches visit during the evaluation period.
Feel free to add or discuss.
Commit Watch:
4/5* CB Wade, 4* WR Webb, 3/4* DL Conliffe, 3* OT Stueber
Very Good Chance:
4* OT Hainsey, 4* OLB Proctor, 3* OT Warren, 3* ATH Pitts, 3* ATH Holmes
In The Battle:
5* DE Kaindoh, 5* RB Swift, 4* RB/LB Anthony, 4* DT Hansard, 4* CB Brown, 4* WR Capehart, 3* DT Wade-Perry, 3* CB Johnson, 3* OT Honigford, 3* OT Locklear, 3* DT Reitmayer, 3* WR Njoku, 3* WR Sullivan-Brown
Work Left To Do:
4* RB McFarland Jr., 4* CB Thomas, 4* OLB Singleton, 4* CB Jones, 4* DE Vilain, 4* DL Williams, 4* DL Jeter, 4* LB Marchiol, 4* TE Bryant, 4* TE Dotson, 4* WR Hamler, 3* OT Lynch, JUCO OT Traore
Have To Get Really Lucky:
5* OT Wilson, 4* DE Young, 4* ATH Hunter, 4* C Ruiz, 4* DE Malone-Hatcher, 4* DT Bolds, 3/4* ATH Bell
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).
We weren’t the only one to snag commits from our board. Who you say stole some from us, OSU? Michigan? NOPE: Maryland and Rutgers. UMD got Spence, McNair, Hill, and Eley; Rutgers landed Clark and Melton. Way to sell the stay home movement. Here’s the problem: that message sells in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania bc then they go out and supplement top in state talent with top or near the top talent from out of state. All of UMD’s current commits are from MD, VA, or DC. All of Rutger’s commits are from NJ. Currently PSU has commits from PA, OH, VA, NJ, & GA. OSU has commits from OH, FL, GA, TX, CO, NV, MI, & NY. Michigan has commits from MI, CO, NM, AL, MA, GA, & FL. None of those 3 have really gone to work on their home states yet. When the outside talent doesn’t commit to Ru or UMD the in state talent realizes they won’t have help and bails for greener pastures.
Currently we are in an evaluation period where the coaches can go visit recruits at their high schools. What’s coming up? Well, our non-committed Blue White visitors included Wade (who came right back the week after), Webb, Hansard, Anthony, Pitts, Stueber, Jermani Brown, Singleton, & Njoku. From them Wade had said he was going to commit I Dec and I know when he made his return visit a lot of people were getting antsy that he might be ready, but I don’t see him changing his time frame without announcing that first. Webb just named us his leader today (more on him in a minute). Hansard pushing his announcement was good news for us and the coaches were in his HS today. He’ll be one to watch during the summer and I am hopeful we’ll get him back on campus for the Lasch Bash (The LB). Same goes for Antony whose uncle and cousin went to/ go to PSU. Our main competition for him is from the south. Pitts tweeted and RTed many pictures from BW and his mom also tweeted one of him hugging Franklin saying he had a great time. He then went the next day and won DB MVP at a Rivals camp. He is a possibility to commit over the summer sometime and he was one of the first stops for the coaches. Stueber could very well be out next commit, but I’m not sure if his offer is committable with 3 OL on board and Hainsey still out there. Jermani Brown is new to the list and recently decommitted from ASU, but he was does not have an offer and was clear that the PSU visit did not cause the decommitment. It was nice Singleton and Njoku came but they are heading to Michigan and Miami respectively. I know we are supposedly a close second to Miami, but I don’t buy it.
Those not at BW: Conliffe went to UVA’s Jr day after almost committing at our Jr day and then recently was at Va Tech’s spring game. He is still retweeting PSU stuff and commits, so from his side we are still in it. The coaches have added more DT offers so I’m not sure where they stand with him at the moment. If they don’t visit him during the evaluation period then it doesn’t look good. There was a rumor that Hainsey and Thorpe were going to commit together, so there’s that. He is currently doing his due diligence and recently has been to UF, Au, and FSU. I still have faith we will win this one with main competition coming from UM, MSU, and ND. Since JR day Warren has been to Pitt, Cuse, UMD, and Va Tech; again I’m not sure we take 5 OL this cycle. Since visiting and picking up an offer on 3/25 Holmes has been to RU and Tenn for their spring game. Tenn and Cuse are the competition. Hopefully he’ll be at the LB. Proctor has recently been to UNC, Va Tech, and UMD. He was recently interviewed and did not mention PSU, but did say a few times he wants to get on the field early and favors a depth chart that he can step right into. Bad news: he wants to commit on signing day by picking a hat, we have not traditionally won those. D’Andre Swift has been mentioned on this board a lot recently. 247 has an article up saying him and Webb are cousins and a packaged deal for college. They were both at UGA on 3/31 and Webb didn’t get an offer. Swift went back for the UGA spring game weeks later, but Webb came to PSU and has subsequently named us the leader. I don’t often buy packaged deals (look at Haskins/Diggs, or the moronic Triumphant Trio of Burrell/McClean/Settle), but if they are package I can’t wait for the postman to deliver it to James Franklin. Old rumors had it (one from a source I know) that he loved PSU and wanted to follow Reid there, but like I said those are almost a year old rumors we’re talking. I’m of the opinion both Swift and Webb wait to see what the new offense looks like, hopeful both come to the LB. Looks like Bell will be landing at Rutgers soon. Josh Kaindoh shocked everyone by leaving UMD out of his top 4 (ND, PSU, OSU, UM) right after he got back from ND, there was a rumor he may commit May 3rd and has trended to ND in his crystal balls. We’ll see if that happens, I’m more inclined to believe this will take longer than some are predicting. (If you want to see delusion at its best head over to UMD sites and check out their theories that he left them off his top 4 to generate surprise and attention when he picks them.)
Now I hate saying of the remaining scholarships X go to this position and Y go to this position because that’s not always how it works bc value of the player matters too. That said I see 5-7 guys who have spots that will be held for them until they are off the board before we move on to the next guy and let them commit. Now that doesn’t mean if a surprise player of equal value comes along we wouldn’t take them instead ie. I’m not sure we’d take a commitment from Stueber with Hainsey on the board but we’d certainly take Wilson and not worry about Hainsey spot in that unlikely scenario. Those guys are: Wade, Hainsey, Swift, Hansard, Webb, Anthony/Proctor. That would mean there are 5 wild card spots or so. You would think they would go to another DT, a S or two, maybe another WR, ATH, or OL or the one DE we’d still take, Kaindoh. The very young roster almost becomes an extension of the sanctions affecting us years later. The good and bad of it is a lot of these guys will wait until into the season, which should help us with better results, the bad of it is anyone waiting until signing day normally isn’t good for us. It’ll be interesting to see who the coaches visit during the evaluation period.
Feel free to add or discuss.
Commit Watch:
4/5* CB Wade, 4* WR Webb, 3/4* DL Conliffe, 3* OT Stueber
Very Good Chance:
4* OT Hainsey, 4* OLB Proctor, 3* OT Warren, 3* ATH Pitts, 3* ATH Holmes
In The Battle:
5* DE Kaindoh, 5* RB Swift, 4* RB/LB Anthony, 4* DT Hansard, 4* CB Brown, 4* WR Capehart, 3* DT Wade-Perry, 3* CB Johnson, 3* OT Honigford, 3* OT Locklear, 3* DT Reitmayer, 3* WR Njoku, 3* WR Sullivan-Brown
Work Left To Do:
4* RB McFarland Jr., 4* CB Thomas, 4* OLB Singleton, 4* CB Jones, 4* DE Vilain, 4* DL Williams, 4* DL Jeter, 4* LB Marchiol, 4* TE Bryant, 4* TE Dotson, 4* WR Hamler, 3* OT Lynch, JUCO OT Traore
Have To Get Really Lucky:
5* OT Wilson, 4* DE Young, 4* ATH Hunter, 4* C Ruiz, 4* DE Malone-Hatcher, 4* DT Bolds, 3/4* ATH Bell
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).