2017 Recruiting Class Thread

[marshall23]

I must ask: Are you Wilbur Marshall?

In my experience coaching HS back in the dark ages.........a popular defense at the time was the 52. Of course today the E's are called OLBs in the 3-4. I had great success with taking tough and mobile kids who had difficulty playing with both hands, so to speak and taking their skills to the outside where they only had to play with one shoulder.
My analogy would be.......imagine if you had a dead red fastball hitter who couldn't hit the curve and you could put him in a situation where he would only see fastballs.
Isn't coaching about putting kids in position to succeed?

 

[bjf1991]

Phil yesterday said that Rivers could play all 3 LB positions where Brooks is built for ILB position only.

I expect things are skewed that way - - - but PSU's needs for a "between the offensive tackles" box LBer are great - - - we have (relatively) a plethora of options for "boundary" LBers.......

So - for THIS squad - that issue would be irrelevant (IMO)

 

[bwifan]

In my experience coaching HS back in the dark ages.........a popular defense at the time was the 52. Of course today the E's are called OLBs in the 3-4. I had great success with taking tough and mobile kids who had difficulty playing with both hands, so to speak and taking their skills to the outside where they only had to play with one shoulder.
My analogy would be.......imagine if you had a dead red fastball hitter who couldn't hit the curve and you could put him in a situation where he would only see fastballs.
Isn't coaching about putting kids in position to succeed?

Play the 6-2 stack monster like at ampipe?

 

[uscgPSU]

I think PSU is currently at 83 scholarships and that doesn't count Davis or Smith. I can't imagine those two won't be on scholarship so I'm going to say we're at 85.

Brooks sounds likely
I think the staff would find room for Castro-Fields
I think the staff would find room for Webb
I'm not sure about a TE or DT
I read that Hippenhammer is firm

PSU will have to "make room" for each new commit. I'm guessing 2 more but 3 is possible. Probably a top 9-13 finish in the rankings. That's pretty good. Unfortunately OSU is #2 and UM is #4.

I always give us 1 more from whatever the scholarship number is that I read. That is for Noah Beh. I've never heard or read anything to make me believe that he is in the long term plans of this team. I thought I heard on Keystone Sports podcast that he may be a spring time roster casualty. Ross Tucker and crew did not come out and directly say it but it was implied.

Just a thought.

 

[TheGLOV]

In my experience coaching HS back in the dark ages.........a popular defense at the time was the 52. Of course today the E's are called OLBs in the 3-4. I had great success with taking tough and mobile kids who had difficulty playing with both hands, so to speak and taking their skills to the outside where they only had to play with one shoulder.
My analogy would be.......imagine if you had a dead red fastball hitter who couldn't hit the curve and you could put him in a situation where he would only see fastballs.
Isn't coaching about putting kids in position to succeed?

Excellent response sir. I hope it was a very rewarding experience for you!

 

[BBG65]

In my experience coaching HS back in the dark ages.........a popular defense at the time was the 52. Of course today the E's are called OLBs in the 3-4. I had great success with taking tough and mobile kids who had difficulty playing with both hands, so to speak and taking their skills to the outside where they only had to play with one shoulder.
My analogy would be.......imagine if you had a dead red fastball hitter who couldn't hit the curve and you could put him in a situation where he would only see fastballs.
Isn't coaching about putting kids in position to succeed?

I also coach the 52 in HS and my sons played DE in that defense. It is still my favorite defense. The key for the DEs is having the discipline to contain. I've found in the 43 that the down linemen can't get outside quick enough and the OLBs sometimes get caught up covering a receiver, leaving the flank vulnerable.

 

[marshall23]

Excellent response sir. I hope it was a very rewarding experience for you!

I got to "live my life on scholarship." Every job I've ever had was rooted in a very pedestrian playing career, but a burning passion for the game of football. I was fortunate enough to spend 38 years in the same school district as a coach and athletic director.

 

[marshall23]

I also coach the 52 in HS and my sons played DE in that defense. It is still my favorite defense. The key for the DEs is having the discipline to contain. I've found in the 43 that the down linemen can't get outside quick enough and the OLBs sometimes get caught up covering a receiver, leaving the flank vulnerable.

As I recall the end (OLB) needed to keep the outside arm free and play along the LOS....."inside out." Read the TE or Slots block and if it was "down" squeeze the off tackle hole. Shoulders always square to the LOS.

 

[T J]

View embedded media

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247Sports Crystal Ball forecast: Four-star LB to Penn State

Steve Wiltfong - 3 hours ago
​

The Nittany Lions are looking to land one of America's top-ranked ILBs to finish the 2017 cycle.​

 

[Nitt1300]

it would appear that the sky is not falling- whatever will we do for drama

 

[marshall23]

PSU offers Corey Bolds?

 

[lionlurker]

PSU offers Corey Bolds?

We offered him a long time ago.

 

[marshall23]

We offered him a long time ago.

Sorry, just saw it on twitter. I just went back and saw it was from awhile back. Wonder why it was sent again today?

 

[T J]

We offered him a long time ago.

Come on lionlurker, it hasn't been a year yet, since his PSU offer Feb 10, 2016.

 

[21Guns]

Brooks is better than Rivers, by the way, at the Box LB position. If this happens, Franklin actually found a way to walk into the outhouse and come out with a new suit of clothes, as the old saying goes. Amazing work by the staff!

 

[bmw199]

I think PSU is currently at 83 scholarships and that doesn't count Davis or Smith. I can't imagine those two won't be on scholarship so I'm going to say we're at 85.

Brooks sounds likely
I think the staff would find room for Castro-Fields
I think the staff would find room for Webb
I'm not sure about a TE or DT
I read that Hippenhammer is firm

PSU will have to "make room" for each new commit. I'm guessing 2 more but 3 is possible. Probably a top 9-13 finish in the rankings. That's pretty good. Unfortunately OSU is #2 and UM is #4.

Interesting to look at schools with smaller classes so far:
Clemson 14 (3.86 avg stars)
Notre Dame 16 (3.5 avg stars)
Florida 16 (3.57 avg stars)
Stanford 12 (3.92 avg stars)

Even with 3 more commits we'd be lucky to be 15 after NSD

 

[TheGLOV]

Even with 3 more commits we'd be lucky to be 15 after NSD

 

[BBG65]

As I recall the end (OLB) needed to keep the outside arm free and play along the LOS....."inside out." Read the TE or Slots block and if it was "down" squeeze the off tackle hole. Shoulders always square to the LOS.

Bingo. They line up on the outside shoulder of the TE or OT, squeeze the inside hole, but always maintain outside position.

 

[bmw199]

View embedded media

Not doom and gloom...just math

 

[Dr. Evel]

Bingo. They line up on the outside shoulder of the TE or OT, squeeze the inside hole, but always maintain outside position.

That sounds like my "go to" move in the bedroom.

 

[VaNtyLion]

So what is the trade-off of Brooks instead of Rivers, aside from the belief that Rivers would be ready to play sooner?

Looking at their actual ranking, the tradeoff would be negligible. I actually like Brooks being listed at ILB with that being a bigger need than OLB.

Brooks is rated 13th ILB in nation, 10th overall in state of Virginia while Rivers is 13th OLB and 8th in VA....

If we want to know the quality here in Brooks, consider that based on composite ranking, only one PSU recruit at LB since the class of 2010 that brought in Hull and Fortt will rank higher than Brooks....and that was Manny Bowen in the '15 class.

 

[marshall23]

That sounds like my "go to" move in the bedroom.

Never felt I had any "leverage" there especially after I was married a few years.

 

[TheGLOV]

Not doom and gloom...just math

Common Core or just the 'new' math way of problem solving sir?

 

[artsandletters]

Looking at the HUDL on Hendershot, I believe he might ultimately be a better OLB than TE. Inside linebackers are hard to find. Have to read, shed, move in both directions. You can take a failed ILB or DE and develop them into an OLB. Just my opinion from experience.

Thought the same thing. I liked him on D much more.

 

[TheGLOV]

Thought the same thing. I liked him on D much more.

Agreed sir.

Now that's a first!

 

[BobPSU92]

Is the bat signal out for repair? It's awfully quiet.

 

[Judge Smails]

Is the bat signal out for repair? It's awfully quiet.

Waiting on Brooks. Might be the last recruit in this class.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[hagberg]

That sounds like my "go to" move in the bedroom.

"Squeeze" might be too strong a word!

 

[Blueblood4eva]

Is the bat signal out for repair? It's awfully quiet.

I keep checking back here waiting, to no avail. May just be that not much has changed from the days of Joe at Penn State. We seldom get the last minute positive surprises. Still a great class but it sucks losing out to Durkin and the Terps, when we already accept finishing behind the B1G two annually in recruiting ranking. Success with honor remains a cherished value regardless. Thrilled with Coach Franklin and staff.

 

[PSUeng]

Who accepts finishing behind the big 2. The team, Franklin and I don't. Please do not speak for me

 

[BobPSU92]

Who accepts finishing behind the big 2. The team, Franklin and I don't. Please do not speak for me

Penn State will never get all the flashy recruits because Penn State under Franklin, just like under Joe, isn't flashy. It's substance over style at Penn State. It's Success With Honor. These ideals don't ring true with everyone, but you stick to your ideals and get the kids who buy in rather than sell your soul to get gifted athletes who don't get it.

The above said, we again need to remember that Penn State's success in 2016 came out of nowhere. It was real and should be repeated in 2017, but it was not expected so soon. A number of kids did not have Penn State on their radar in October. You can't expect a slew of kids, even all the talented local ones, to suddenly change their commitment to Happy Valley. However, now Penn State is seen as a front-runner again, and I expect that to pay dividends a year from now.

Keep the faith.

 

[Ranger Dan]

It was real and should be repeated in 2017, but it was not expected so soon. A number of kids did not have Penn State on their radar in October. You can't expect a slew of kids, even all the talented local ones, to suddenly change their commitment to Happy Valley. However, now Penn State is seen as a front-runner again, and I expect that to pay dividends a year from now.

Yeah, look at the 2018 class where for the first time CJF could sell the program at or near the start of the recruiting process. I'm not saying that we'll remain number 1 when it is all said and done, but it may be evidence of the front runner status that you mention.

I agree with your assessment about the substance over style philosophy with CJF and those before him. There are plenty of teams that have great success without a bunch of 5 stars, and I think this is more enjoyable/rewarding to see as a fan. It's not that I want to turn away any 5 star players, but if you have a team of three and four stars beat a team of 4 and 5 stars, I think it's a great accomplishment.

 

[bmw199]

 

[dbjLions]

Ellis Brooks to commit tomorrow per twitter. Got to like the timing

 

[Blueblood4eva]

Dust off the Bat Signal or throw away the crystal Balls!

 

[TheGLOV]

Waiting on Brooks. Might be the last recruit in this class.

And maybe not sir.

 

[psuro]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...3c4b4fb5a63_story.html?utm_term=.d790e7979649
WaPo article on Maryland recruiting, but with a Penn State mention

 

[Judge Smails]

Commit Fit: Cornerback
Mike Farrell | Recruiting Director
Sometimes it’s not always the highest-rated prospects that fit the best with the school of their choice. In this series we call Commit Fit, Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell picks five players at each position he thinks fit seamlessly into the schemes at the schools they’ve chosen.




Lamont Wade
Cornerback
5 STARS
Clairton
Clairton, PA
RR: 6.1
Ht: 5'9"
Wt: 190 lbs
Class: 2017


1
POSITION

11
NATIONAL

1
STATE
Commitment status:
SIGNED LOI
Penn State

Wade is instinctual and aggressive and is too talented to sit at Penn State, and he has some terrific defensive backs at Penn State to learn from. It wouldn’t shock me to see him work from nickel to starter during his freshman year, and I love the future pairing with John Reid, who is also instinctual but undersized.

 

[psuro]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/spor...3c4b4fb5a63_story.html?utm_term=.d790e7979649
WaPo article on Maryland recruiting, but with a Penn State mention