The only chip still on the table is Nick Cross, but we're gonna ignore him for right now.
At the moment Penn State is sitting at #11 in the rivals rankings and in 2017, Penn State finished #12. The ranking is basically the same, the quality is not.
2019 - 2,430 points
2017 - 2,191 points
2019 points in 2017 rankings - #9
2017 points in 2019 rankings - #15
So the overall quality of the 2019 class is much better (deeper) than what was at the time an outstanding 2017 class. Let's breakdown the positions:
QB
2017 - Sean Clifford (4* - #161)
2019 - Ta'Quan Roberson (4*), Michael Johnson Jr (3*)
Edge: 2017 - Despite landing 2 top tier athletes in the 2019 class, Clifford classified as a top 250 "blue chip" player. There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Johnson Jr. and the QB position.
WR
2017 - KJ Hamler (4*), Mac Hippenhammer (3*), Cam Sullivan-Brown (3*)
2019 - John Dunmore (4* - #92), TJ Jones (3*)
Edge: Even - Dunmore is a top 100 player, but Hamler has already proven himself on the field earning recognition from multiple publications for Freshman All-American consideration. Hippenhammer and CSB also contributed in more limited roles. Dunmore is a potential true freshman impact guy and Jones could be a useful role player down the road.
RB
2017 - Journey Brown (3*)
2019 - Devin Ford (4* - #40), Noah Cain (4* - #43)
Edge: 2019 - Don't think this one needs much discussion. In 2017, PSU's only running back commitment was a player Rivals didn't even have in their registry until he committed. 2019, Penn State lands 2 top 50 players.
TE
2017 - None
2019 - Brenton Strange (4*)
Edge: 2019 - A 2019 win by default, but Strange is no slouch. One of @RyanSnyder 's favorite players in the 2019 class.
OL
2017 - CJ Thorpe (4* - #78), Mike Miranda (3*), Desmond Holmes (3*)
2019 - Caedan Wallace (4* - # 69), Saleem Wormley (4* - #108), Anthony Whigan (4* - Juco top 10)
Edge: 2019 - Another runaway win for 2019. The most highly ranked OL in the 2017 class ended up playing half the 2018 season at DT (due to depth issues, etc) and now there is uncertainty whether he ever returns to the offensive side of the ball. Miranda and Holmes will be competing for starting OL positions this year, but long term the trio of Wallace-Wormley-Whigan will likely be more impactful.
DL
2017 - Yetur Gross-Matos (4* - #136), Fred Hansard (4* - #137), Damion Barber (3*), Corey Bolds (3*)
2019 - Adisa Isaac (4* - #181), Hakeem Beamon (3*), D'Von Ellies (3*), Smith Vilbert (3*), Joseph Darkwa (3*)
Edge: 2017 - Prior to Hansard's knee injury in 2018, it looked like 2 of the top 3 DL last season were going to be from the 2017 class. YGM made 1st team all conference from the media and 3rd team All-B1G by coaches.
LB
2017 - Ellis Brooks (4* - #201), Brelin Faison-Walden (3*), Brailyn Franklin (3*)
2019 - Brandon Smith (4* - #39), Lance Dixon (4*)
Edge: 2019: Considering two of the three 2017 linebacker signees are no longer with the program, it is a pretty easy call here. Some recruiting services rank both Smith and Dixon as 5* players inside the top 15 nationally.
DB
2017 - Lamont Wade (5* - #11), Donovan Johnson (4* - #224), Tariq Castro-Fields (4*), Johnathan Sutherland (4*), DJ Brown (3*)
2019 - Tyler Rudolph (4* - 205), Keaton Ellis (4*), Marquis Wilson (3*), Jaquan Brisker (3*), Joey Porter Jr (3*), Deaquon Hardy (2*)
Edge: 2017 - Even with the "B" word being floated around in connection to Lamont Wade, TCF, Johnson, and Sutherland have all been valuable contributors to the Nittany Lions. As of now, TCF and Sutherland are penciled in as 2019 starters. Rudolph has a chance to be special and some may considered Brisker - a Juco top 10 guy - to be underrated, but the great on-field productions from the 2017 class cannot be overlooked.
Conclusion:
With a final score of 3-4-1, the 2019 class edges out 2017, but the two classes compliment each other very well. Wedge in the #5 overall 2018 class, and Penn State has it's most talented roster in many years.
At the moment Penn State is sitting at #11 in the rivals rankings and in 2017, Penn State finished #12. The ranking is basically the same, the quality is not.
2019 - 2,430 points
2017 - 2,191 points
2019 points in 2017 rankings - #9
2017 points in 2019 rankings - #15
So the overall quality of the 2019 class is much better (deeper) than what was at the time an outstanding 2017 class. Let's breakdown the positions:
QB
2017 - Sean Clifford (4* - #161)
2019 - Ta'Quan Roberson (4*), Michael Johnson Jr (3*)
Edge: 2017 - Despite landing 2 top tier athletes in the 2019 class, Clifford classified as a top 250 "blue chip" player. There is also uncertainty surrounding the future of Johnson Jr. and the QB position.
WR
2017 - KJ Hamler (4*), Mac Hippenhammer (3*), Cam Sullivan-Brown (3*)
2019 - John Dunmore (4* - #92), TJ Jones (3*)
Edge: Even - Dunmore is a top 100 player, but Hamler has already proven himself on the field earning recognition from multiple publications for Freshman All-American consideration. Hippenhammer and CSB also contributed in more limited roles. Dunmore is a potential true freshman impact guy and Jones could be a useful role player down the road.
RB
2017 - Journey Brown (3*)
2019 - Devin Ford (4* - #40), Noah Cain (4* - #43)
Edge: 2019 - Don't think this one needs much discussion. In 2017, PSU's only running back commitment was a player Rivals didn't even have in their registry until he committed. 2019, Penn State lands 2 top 50 players.
TE
2017 - None
2019 - Brenton Strange (4*)
Edge: 2019 - A 2019 win by default, but Strange is no slouch. One of @RyanSnyder 's favorite players in the 2019 class.
OL
2017 - CJ Thorpe (4* - #78), Mike Miranda (3*), Desmond Holmes (3*)
2019 - Caedan Wallace (4* - # 69), Saleem Wormley (4* - #108), Anthony Whigan (4* - Juco top 10)
Edge: 2019 - Another runaway win for 2019. The most highly ranked OL in the 2017 class ended up playing half the 2018 season at DT (due to depth issues, etc) and now there is uncertainty whether he ever returns to the offensive side of the ball. Miranda and Holmes will be competing for starting OL positions this year, but long term the trio of Wallace-Wormley-Whigan will likely be more impactful.
DL
2017 - Yetur Gross-Matos (4* - #136), Fred Hansard (4* - #137), Damion Barber (3*), Corey Bolds (3*)
2019 - Adisa Isaac (4* - #181), Hakeem Beamon (3*), D'Von Ellies (3*), Smith Vilbert (3*), Joseph Darkwa (3*)
Edge: 2017 - Prior to Hansard's knee injury in 2018, it looked like 2 of the top 3 DL last season were going to be from the 2017 class. YGM made 1st team all conference from the media and 3rd team All-B1G by coaches.
LB
2017 - Ellis Brooks (4* - #201), Brelin Faison-Walden (3*), Brailyn Franklin (3*)
2019 - Brandon Smith (4* - #39), Lance Dixon (4*)
Edge: 2019: Considering two of the three 2017 linebacker signees are no longer with the program, it is a pretty easy call here. Some recruiting services rank both Smith and Dixon as 5* players inside the top 15 nationally.
DB
2017 - Lamont Wade (5* - #11), Donovan Johnson (4* - #224), Tariq Castro-Fields (4*), Johnathan Sutherland (4*), DJ Brown (3*)
2019 - Tyler Rudolph (4* - 205), Keaton Ellis (4*), Marquis Wilson (3*), Jaquan Brisker (3*), Joey Porter Jr (3*), Deaquon Hardy (2*)
Edge: 2017 - Even with the "B" word being floated around in connection to Lamont Wade, TCF, Johnson, and Sutherland have all been valuable contributors to the Nittany Lions. As of now, TCF and Sutherland are penciled in as 2019 starters. Rudolph has a chance to be special and some may considered Brisker - a Juco top 10 guy - to be underrated, but the great on-field productions from the 2017 class cannot be overlooked.
Conclusion:
With a final score of 3-4-1, the 2019 class edges out 2017, but the two classes compliment each other very well. Wedge in the #5 overall 2018 class, and Penn State has it's most talented roster in many years.
