IT'S NOT A DOWN YEAR!
Please take the time to read this thoroughly. I think many of you will be able to take a deep breath after.
- From 2002 through 2015 (14 recruiting cycles), Penn State's average recruiting class ranking per Rivals is #31.79
- We've only been inside the top 10 ONCE (After the magical 2005 season)
- We've been inside the top 15 just 3 times (1 of Franklin's classes)
- We've been inside the top 25 8 times (both of Franklin's classes)
***Penn State is currently sitting at #26 with only 16 commitments for 1595 points***
Rivals accounts for the top 20 kids in each class meaning that PSU is 4 short of the MINIMUM number of commits for recruiting points and is STILL knocking on the door of a top 25 class. For example, Wisconsin has 24 kids in their class and are ranked #27.
It sounds like PSU will be getting a commitment from Antonio Shelton (5.6) this weekend. There are 75 more points: 1670.
The four big remaining targets are Ferns, Hudson, Hamlin, Snelson. Let's play a game called "In a perfect world" and say we land all 4, PSU would have 2071 points which would be good for about 16th or 17th (based on the previous 3 years' rankings).
Now let's play "Stike 4, you're out" and say we DON'T land ANY of those remaining 4, but we land somebody like WR Dea'lun Darian and (being conservative) 3 more 5.5 rated guys. That's an extra 240 points which puts PSU at 1835 points - that total would be good for the approximately #22 or #23 class based on the previous 3 years' points totals.
Does everyone understand what I'm trying to say?
Even in a - won't say worst-case scenario, but less than ideal- situation where we settle for 4 lowly rated guys, Penn State could still end up finishing inside the top 25 for the 3rd straight year, beating our 14-year average by about 8 or 9 places.
Step off the bridges, put down the handguns, pour out the Hemlock tea. This is not the end of the world.
Dalton (AA) - #1 Player in Mass (Gatorade POY)
Zembiec - #1 Player in NY (Gatorade POY), Top 10 pro-style QB in the country
McGovern (AA) - #2 center in the country
Brown (AA)
Fries (AA)
Gillikin - #4 Punter in the country
Jordan (AA)
McPhearson (AA) - Arguably one of the top 5 players on the east squad in the Semper Fi game
Menet (AA) - Top 5 OG in the country, top 100 player overall
Pryts (AA) - Assuming he stays, sounds good that he does
Sanders (AA) - #1 APB in the country, #2 overall RB in the nation, top 50 player overall
Simmons (AA) - one of the best players at the UA bowl practices, #104 player in the entire country
And let's not forget some very talented, and perhaps very underrated, players like AG, Joseph, Mathews, and Toney.
By my count, that's 10 All-Americans, 2 state players of the year, 4 players ranked inside the top 5 nationally at their respective positions.
This class may not be WHAT IT ONCE WAS or WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, but this is nothing to sneeze at. Calling it a "down year" is such a slap in the face to these 16 committed players. The core group we have is extrordinary.
Now, back to my perch in Chillville
Please take the time to read this thoroughly. I think many of you will be able to take a deep breath after.
- From 2002 through 2015 (14 recruiting cycles), Penn State's average recruiting class ranking per Rivals is #31.79
- We've only been inside the top 10 ONCE (After the magical 2005 season)
- We've been inside the top 15 just 3 times (1 of Franklin's classes)
- We've been inside the top 25 8 times (both of Franklin's classes)
***Penn State is currently sitting at #26 with only 16 commitments for 1595 points***
Rivals accounts for the top 20 kids in each class meaning that PSU is 4 short of the MINIMUM number of commits for recruiting points and is STILL knocking on the door of a top 25 class. For example, Wisconsin has 24 kids in their class and are ranked #27.
It sounds like PSU will be getting a commitment from Antonio Shelton (5.6) this weekend. There are 75 more points: 1670.
The four big remaining targets are Ferns, Hudson, Hamlin, Snelson. Let's play a game called "In a perfect world" and say we land all 4, PSU would have 2071 points which would be good for about 16th or 17th (based on the previous 3 years' rankings).
Now let's play "Stike 4, you're out" and say we DON'T land ANY of those remaining 4, but we land somebody like WR Dea'lun Darian and (being conservative) 3 more 5.5 rated guys. That's an extra 240 points which puts PSU at 1835 points - that total would be good for the approximately #22 or #23 class based on the previous 3 years' points totals.
Does everyone understand what I'm trying to say?
Even in a - won't say worst-case scenario, but less than ideal- situation where we settle for 4 lowly rated guys, Penn State could still end up finishing inside the top 25 for the 3rd straight year, beating our 14-year average by about 8 or 9 places.
Step off the bridges, put down the handguns, pour out the Hemlock tea. This is not the end of the world.
Dalton (AA) - #1 Player in Mass (Gatorade POY)
Zembiec - #1 Player in NY (Gatorade POY), Top 10 pro-style QB in the country
McGovern (AA) - #2 center in the country
Brown (AA)
Fries (AA)
Gillikin - #4 Punter in the country
Jordan (AA)
McPhearson (AA) - Arguably one of the top 5 players on the east squad in the Semper Fi game
Menet (AA) - Top 5 OG in the country, top 100 player overall
Pryts (AA) - Assuming he stays, sounds good that he does
Sanders (AA) - #1 APB in the country, #2 overall RB in the nation, top 50 player overall
Simmons (AA) - one of the best players at the UA bowl practices, #104 player in the entire country
And let's not forget some very talented, and perhaps very underrated, players like AG, Joseph, Mathews, and Toney.
By my count, that's 10 All-Americans, 2 state players of the year, 4 players ranked inside the top 5 nationally at their respective positions.
This class may not be WHAT IT ONCE WAS or WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN, but this is nothing to sneeze at. Calling it a "down year" is such a slap in the face to these 16 committed players. The core group we have is extrordinary.
Now, back to my perch in Chillville
