*Senior Bowl Update* LB Mike Hull was going to attempt to play through an injury, but has now decided to pull out of the Senior Bowl all together. The Big Ten's leading tackler this season, Hull will now focus on preparing for the Combine. Adrian Amos, Deion Barnes, and Donovan Smith are still planning to play.
And now, back to your regularly scheduled blog...
For the NFL, this is a very dull weekend. There's the Pro Bowl, but nobody watches that. However, at Penn State, this weekend is the last big recruiting weekend before Signing Day. As Lions247 reports, nearly the entire 2015 class will be visiting along with a number of key uncommitted prospects that could serve as the final pieces in an already Top 10 caliber class. After James Franklin is done laying on the charm, we'll officially be on the home stretch towards one of the wackiest days on the college football calendar, Signing Day. For the second time in as many years, Franklin will be throwing a party to celebrate the arrival of his latest crop of future Nittany Lions. The brand new head coach made a big splash last year when he decided to host what he called the Signature Event (get it?) on the night of Signing Day as a way of introducing fans to all the new recruits. Penn State fans were generally more intrigued than anything else by the event, mostly because this particular fan base has never been known as the biggest recruiting gurus, at least not compared to fan bases in the SEC. Franklin, who comes from the SEC, is clearly attempting to change things in Happy Valley, and I personally think events like this are great.
So here's everything you need to know:
What: The 2015 Signature Event
When: February 4th at 7pm (doors open at 6pm). The event is expected to last about an hour.
Where: Rec Hall (not the BJC like last year). Parking will be available in the Nittany Parking Deck.
Who: James Franklin, his staff, and the current team (hosts, like LaVar Arrington last year, have not been announced). To my knowledge, none of the recruits will be in attendance except the 5 early enrollees. As with any football related event, the Blue Band, Cheerleaders, and Lionettes will all be on hand to pump up the crowd.
Why: Because recruiting matters, dammit!
How: Just show up, it's free!
Other info: James Franklin plans to highlight each recruit with a brief biography and some video highlights on the big boards. The first 2,500 fans will receive commemorative posters and t-shirts will be periodically tossed into the crowd. Concession stands will be open for your snacking convenience.
Alright, in anticipation of the big day, let's take a look at how the current class shapes up:
QB: After the decommitment of Brandon Wimbush, the staff turned to Indianapolis native Tommy Stevens. The 3-star dual threat was originally committed to Indiana but flipped shortly after his visit to see the Ohio State game. He has opted to enroll early and will join Trace McSorely in backing up Christian Hackenberg for at least one more season.
OT: 2/3 of the OT recruits have already enrolled at PSU. JUCO transfer Paris Palmer, a 4-star prospect from Scranton, and 4-star prospect Sterling Jenkins from Pittsburgh will provide immediate depth at Penn State's weakest position. 4-star prospect Ryan Bates out of Warminster will complete the trio when he arrives on campus later this summer.
OG: The only true guard in the group is 4-star prospect Steven Gonzalez out of Union City, NJ. Luckily, there are currently more natural guards on the roster than tackles, so Gonzalez is practically a lock to redshirt his first year.
RB: Due to a litany of factors, RB is one of those positions you can never have enough of. Franklin's staff will be getting two nice prospects this year in 4-star Saquon Barkley from Whitehall, and 4-star Andre Robinson out of Harrisburg. With the graduation of Bill Belton and Zach Zwinak, it's good to see the staff reloading at this very important position.
WR: A trio of talented 4-star receivers will be making their way to campus this summer. Juwan Johnson and Irvin Charles both come to us by way of the Garden State, while Brandon Polk hails from Ashburn, VA. With no seniors and only one junior at a position currently loaded with skill, expect all three prospects to redshirt before things get really interesting in 2016.
TE: Originally there were no TEs in this class, but 3-star DE Jonathan Holland announced a little while back that he plans to play TE in college. Even with the loss of Jesse James to the NFL, there are plenty of veteran TEs currently on the roster. I expect Holland to redshirt unless there's a specific need to play him.
DT: With the loss of Adam McLean due to academic reasons, Penn State is still hunting for a quality DT recruit. Most of the elite players have already made their decisions, so it will be interesting to see where the coaching staff turns to fill one of the more pressing needs of this class. I'll be sure to keep you updated on the search.
DE: Ryan Buchholz from Malvern recently received a 4th star according to 247Sports. He is the only true DE in this class. However, athlete Kamonte Carter is projected, for now, as a possible option at DE or LB depending on depth.
LB: Speaking of LBs, in addition to Carter's potential at the position, two true LBs will be joining the Nittany Lions. Inside backer Jake Cooper is a 4-star out of Warminster, while outside backer Manny Bowen is also a 4-star prospect but comes from Barnegat, NJ. If that wasn't enough, there is a slight chance that athlete Daiquan Kelly gets a shot at LB, although most places project him as a safety.
S: If Kelly does move over to LB, have no fear. Penn State's two lowest rated prospects are both safeties, but both still carry 3-star ratings, which speaks to the overall quality of this entire class. Ayron Monroe from Washington D.C. and Jarvis Miller from Suffield, CT will add much needed depth to a position that just lost Adrian Amos, Jesse Della Valle, and Ryan Keiser.
CB: That brings us to the other half of the defensive secondary and possibly the coaching staff's biggest coup of this class. When coveted recruit Jordan Whitehead chose Pitt over Penn State, some predicted doom and gloom at the CB position. But those folks shouldn't have been so quick to dismiss James Franklin when it comes to recruiting. First, he picked up a commitment from Philly's John Reid, a highly rated 4-star prospect. Then, after Brady Hoke was fired at Michigan and his recruits began to look for greener pastures, Franklin swooped in and grabbed 4-star Garrett Taylor out of Richmond, VA. Taylor immediately became the highest rated prospect in the 2015 class and along with Reid, could prove to be the best CB duo in the nation!
K/P: Kickers and punters are generally not recruited like other positions. Most walk-on and earn a scholarship as they earn a starting spot. At least one of the early enrollees is a walk-on kicker.
Hopefully that's enough information to catch you up on where this 20 member class stands. I'm sure there will be plenty of news after this weekend so I'll be sure to keep you updated. Many of the updates will appear on either my Facebook page, or Twitter account, which you can follow @PSUOptimus. Enjoy the weekend and as always, go State!
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