2018 Recruiting Thread

[GregInPitt]

Why does Tallandier call himself a 4*? What mythical rankings are those? I mean if it's his opinion that's great he has that level of confidence (why not call yourself a 5* then?), but in none of the big 4 ranking sets is he a 4*

Reminds me of my two golf buddies that tell the same story over and over. Another golf buddy and I (Fred) were playing with those two, at Tom's Run, a couple years ago. Well on #18 Choup hit a long drive that cut the corner of the dog leg, but was out of bounds (beyond the white stakes on the right) into the inner course (Chestnut Ridge). He plays the ball anyway and puts it on the green. Fred and I played up the left of the fairway so we didn't see the bickering that likely ensued as Choup was getting ready to hit the ball laying out of bounds.... Wel, Choup makes the put and says he has an eagle. His cart buddy, Jeff, says, "No, you had a double eagle", and Choup responds "it was an eagle". In response Jeff says "no, you played your ball out of bounds so you didn't have an eagle, but may as well say double eagle as both are not correct.....". I like to bring it up when I'm with the two of them as the story and bickering never gets old......

 

[lionlurker]

It's good to have Pitt around. Even when we are sort of in the dumps over the CSS stuff, they very ably remind us that rock-bottom is still way, way, way down.

 

[Lion8286]

 

[NorCalcLion]

So who is the 2018 DT that is supposed to visit us on June 11th?

Thanks in advance.

Micah Parsons and his dad will be on campus this week according to Phil G

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[TheGLOV]

Micah Parsons and his dad will be on campus this week according to Phil G

Thank you sir.

 

[TheGLOV]

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Excellent find sir!

 

[Raffycorn]

Micah Parsons and his dad will be on campus this week according to Phil G

Very good news. Micah's dad seems to be the decision-maker here; recall that when Micah committed last April it was reported that Micah had wanted to commit even earlier and his father had wanted him to hold off and weigh all of his options before committing.

If Franklin and co. can get dad on board, that would be huge.

 

[canuckhal]

Thank you sir.

Wasn't he on campus this past weekend as well?

 

[Lion8286]

Wasn't he on campus this past weekend as well?

Yes, at a football camp.

 

[Ranger Dan]

Why does Tallandier call himself a 4*? What mythical rankings are those? I mean if it's his opinion that's great he has that level of confidence (why not call yourself a 5* then?), but in none of the big 4 ranking sets is he a 4*

Is it cumulative?

 

[Judge Smails]

Free as of 10:45pm

 

[Judge Smails]

Question: Do Pitt fans really believe what they post or is it just constant trolling?


Great to win the recruiting battle over Morgan with PSU

1. 
   President StacheFreshman
   Looks like we will win most of the battles against them this year from the early going. We shall see. Good start for sure!
   
   

 

[T J]

Free as of 10:45pm

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Summary of the free publicly posted info?

 

[T J]

======

PJ Mustipher
Owings Mills, MD (McDonogh School)

Defensive Tackle
4-Star

• Ht 6-4.5
• Wt 290
• CLASS OF 18

247Sports Composite
0.9499
Natl Comp 103
Pos DT 9
St MD 5

CRYSTAL BALL Predictions

• 79%

 

[spydersabich]

Question: Do Pitt fans really believe what they post or is it just constant trolling?


Great to win the recruiting battle over Morgan with PSU

1. 
   President StacheFreshman
   Looks like we will win most of the battles against them this year from the early going. We shall see. Good start for sure!

Math (as well as many other things) is not a strong point for Pitt. Looking at the commitment list it appears that of our 13 commits, 7 of them also hold Pitt offers. That would make Pitt "officiallly" 1-7 against us in recruiting, which would qualify them for another national championship.

 

[Judge Smails]

Summary of the free publicly posted info?

Main thing was positive quotes from Miner and his Dad re psu visit.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[lionlurker]

Let the Pitt guys ruminate. On LOI day, the difference will be stark, and there will be no way for them to explain it away.

 

[Judge Smails]

Common theme right now seems to be we have a bunch of targets who apparently favor us, aren't really taking other visits right now and are just sort of in a holding pattern. Thing to remember is that it is still "early" in the recruiting calendar. Our fast start makes you impatient for more recruits to drop, but JF is no doubt telling them to take their time and be sure of their decision.


Who could Penn State's final 10-12 Class of 2018 commitments be?

DB isheem Young

Isheem Young, defensive back from Imhotep Charter, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Philadelphia, Pa Imhotep Charter



5-foot-9, 205 pounds



Top schools
Top schools: Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, Baylor, West Virginia, Maryland, Temple, Clemson, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia make up his top-12.



Will he pick Penn State?
One of Pennsylvania’s top Class of 2018 recruits has 18 247Sports’ Crystal Ball predictions logged, and almost all of them indicate he will pick the Nittany Lions when all is said and done. There are few if any locks in recruiting, so we won’t call it a done deal, but there’s a better than average chance, from our view, that the four-star ends up in blue and white.



DB Kwantel Raines

Aliquippa's Kwantel Raines at the competition. The East Coast Elite 7-on-7 football competition brought teams from across the region to the Spooky Nook sports complex in Manheim on Saturday, April 16 2015.Daniel Zampogna, PennLive





School and tale of the tape
Aliquippa



6-foot-3, 200 pounds



Top schools
Has a top-10, but most believe it’s a PSU-Pitt battle.



Will he pick Penn State?
Raines tweeted about not being afraid to walk your own path before announcing a top-10 that had all the regional interests but also LSU, Florida, Kentucky, Cal, and South Carolina. PSU is in as good a spot as it can be, as are the Panthers, but the first decision that needs to be made is whether or not the four-star safety wants to blaze a new journey or decide between Pitt and PSU as many WPIAL prospects have.



Hard to have a good read one way or the other at this point. Summer visits will be key.



OT Rasheed Walker

Rasheed Walker and his family on a previous unofficial visit to Penn State.






School and tale of the tape
Waldorf, Md., North Point



6-foot-5, 280 pounds



Top schools
Maryland, Ohio State, and Penn State lead the way.



Will he pick Penn State?
Walker visited State College for an unofficial visit with the Nittany Lions on May 27, and most thought the massive lineman would verbal to blue and white either that day or shortly thereafter as he also visited earlier this year, as well. But a couple of weeks have come and gone now with no decision, which isn’t to say one is not coming, but it might just take a bit longer if the four-star future offensive tackle wants to make more visits before deciding.



The good news for PSU is that 12-of-12 Crystal Ball predictions say he’ll be a Nittany Lion, making him more than likely to be a member of the program’s Class of 2018. Like Young, above average chance.



DE Jayson Oweh

Jayson Oweh and PSU head coach James Franklin. Courtesy Jayson Oweh via Twitter





School and tale of the tape
Blair, N.J., Blair Academy



6-foot-5, 236 pounds



Top schools
Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame seem to be the leaders.



Will he pick Penn State?
Oweh was one of the nation’s biggest breakout stars of the spring, as he impressed at the camps he was at and racked up offers in a hurry to bounce between a three- and four-star recruit depending on the service. PSU, OSU, and Notre Dame all offered between April and May, giving them a leg up, and Oweh’s trip to PSU on May 20 might just have put the Lions a rung above the other two.



That said, many suspected he’d be a Lion by now. It still seems likely, but the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish gave him a lot to think about after PSU seemed destined to sweep in and land him back in April.

LB JACK LAMB

School and tale of the tape
Temecula, Calif.



6-foot-4, 220 pounds



Top schools
Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon make up his top-5 along with PSU.



Will he pick Penn State?
Both of Lamb’s parents attended PSU, and with family reportedly in the Keystone State, the Lions should always have an in with one of the west coast’s best Class of 2018 defenders.



The flip side is the geography, though, as the fact is that UCLA, Washington, and Oregon are all much closer to home. Per 247Sports, the four-star has visited those three, plus the Lions, but never Notre Dame until later this summer.



Call it a coin flip kind of recruitment, with PSU absolutely having a hat on the table at this point in time.



DT P.J. Mustipher

P.J. Mustipher, defensive lineman from McDonogh, MD, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com





School and tale of the tape
Owing Mills, Md., McDonogh



6-foot-4, 290 pounds



Top schools
Penn State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Ohio State headline his leaders.



Will he pick Penn State?
The four-star has always been an elite talent, but it was never really clear where the Lions stood. That all changed this spring, though, as Mustipher came to campus in April and then again in May, which seemed to place the Lions as the clear contender entering the summer.



Seventy-nine percent of 14 Crystal Ball predictions pick Mustipher to PSU, while there are a couple of picks for ND and Tennessee. Put Mustipher in the more than likely category to be a Nittany Lion when all is said and done.



OT TJ Bradley








School and tale of the tape
Lackawanna Community College



6-foot-8, 290 pounds



Top schools
Bradley keeps accumulating offers, so there’s not necessarily a leading list at this point.



Will he pick Penn State?
Very interesting prospect here. Bradley took six years off from football before showing up at one of Pennsylvania’s biggest junior college football programs, and since his size checked out, many programs including the Lions have come calling. Bradley will undoubtedly use the upcoming season to improve his play and also find the right college program for him.



PSU landing Paris Palmer out of Lackawanna surely will not hurt its cause, but at the same time, he’s too new to the recruiting game to have an established feel for a favorite, top schools, or anything of that nature. Those will come in due time.



WR Jahan Dotson

Jahan Dotson. Joe Hermitt, PennLive





School and tale of the tape
Hightstown, N.J. The Peddie School



5-foot-11, 165 pounds



Top schools
His leading three seem to be Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.




Dotson should be nearing a decision here sooner rather than later, and the Lions appear to have taken the lead following the four-star’s visit to campus, the first in a long time, during the Blue-White game.



Crystal Ball picks have flown in for Dotson to the Lions since, and there’s too much momentum to see it ending any other way. Above average chance that he ends up a Nittany Lion.



WR Daniel George

Daniel George had a strong showing at The Opening's Washington, DC Regional. (Brian Linder|blinder@pennlive.com)






School and tale of the tape
Oxon Hill, Md.,



6-foot-1, 205 pounds



Top schools
Maryland and Virginia Tech, plus Penn State, are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
A top target for PSU at receiver as Dotson is, George was viewed as a prospect ready to pick PSU at any moment since it offered him in December and he visited in February, but the four-star’s recruitment has seemingly slowed to a halt through the end of his junior year.



Will that change this summer? It’s likely if not probable, but the four-star does not seem to be in any big rush to decide. Ten Crystal Ball predictions indicate he’s likely to be a Lion, so we’ll say it’s likely, but not on the same level of probability as a guy like Dotson.

WR Solomon Enis

Penn State recruit Solomon Enis during the annual Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on April 22, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com





School and tale of the tape
Phoenix, Ariz., North Canyon



6-foot-4, 190 pounds



Top schools
Arizona State, Oregon, USC and Penn State are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
Enis is the son of former Nittany Lions star tailback Curtis, and they visited for the spring game together back in April which gave the Lions a great chance to connect their past and present while showcasing a good time for father and son.



The four-star has made clear that he won’t follow in his father’s footsteps merely just to do so, meaning he’s as likely to come back east as he is to stay out west. We’ll say PSU has an average shot here, but even that could be generous.



DE Dorian Hardy

Dorian Hardy, defensive lineman from Paramus Catholic, NJ, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Paramus, N.J., Catholic



6-foot-5, 241 pounds



Top schools
A handful of regional and schools that are further away make up the school’s Hardy favorites most. It's a grab bag with places like PSU, Alabama, Florida, and others in play.



Will he pick Penn State?
He’s a four-star from the Garden State who ranks No. 6 nationally at his position in the 247Sports’ Composite, and he’s a big fish for the Lions and a top-160 prospect nationally.



Ninety-two percent of the Crystal Ball picks that have been logged have him pegged to be a Nittany Lion, and they’re the program he’s seen most recently.



Alabama and Florida offered in May, though, which probably means this recruitment will be stretched out a bit as he visits those schools to see what they are all about. Still think he ends up a Nittany Lion, but might take a bit longer than expected.



DE Marcellus Earlington

Class of 2018 end Marcellus Earlington (middle) and family pose with Penn State head coach James Franklin after the Lions offered Earlington during an unofficial visit on Saturday.(Courtesy Marcellus Earlington via Twitter)






School and tale of the tape
Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep



6-foot-4, 280 pounds



Top schools
A number of programs offered during the spring evaluation period, and more are likely to come this summer, but there’s no top list.



Will he pick Penn State?
Most thought the three-star would have selected Penn State by now, but like a few guys the Lions are targeting in this cycle, he seems to have slowed things down and has more or less played things close to the vest for the last few months.



It’s likely that PSU remains in the driver’s seat, but his summer visit list will be awfully telling. Will have to wait and see before getting a clear picture here; slightly above average chance based on early positioning.

OT Christian Armstrong

School and tale of the tape
Warner Robbins, Ga.



6-foot-5, 335 pounds



Top schools
Florida State, Georgia, Penn State, and Tennessee are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
A school cannot ask for much more than what Penn State got with Christian Armstrong, as the Peach State four-star standout paid his way to visit campus unofficially not once, but twice, so far this year.



He’s a massive offensive lineman that would be a tremendous pull out of the south, but Florida State and Georgia look to lead the way. Unlikely PSU can land him, but the door isn’t shut yet. Far from it, in fact.



LB Brian Asamoah

Penn State head coach James Franklin greets recruit Brian Asamoah during the annual Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on April 22, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Columbus, Ohio



6-foot-1, 210 pounds



Top schools
Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Michigan are his warm schools per 247Sports.



Will he pick Penn State?
Four Crystal Ball picks are split between PSU and Cincinnati, but this recruitment looks like it has a ways to go, especially if the three-star waiting out for an Ohio State offer.



Hard to get a read on this one, as he likes the Lions, but also seems to be genuinely intrigued by all of his options. Too early to make a call.



CB Jordan Miner

Courtesy Jordan Miner via Twitter





School and tale of the tape
Zephyrhills, Fla Wiregrass Ranch



5-foot-10, 170 pounds



Top schools
Nearly 30 schools have offered, but none of them seem to have a commanding lead. Penn State, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, Auburn, and Georgia made an April top-10.



Will he pick Penn State?
The four-star told Scout that his recent unofficial to Penn State “set the bar” in his recruitment and called his time on campus “amazing,” which is obviously very good news for the Nittany Lions.



He’s still a Sunshine State recruit with plenty of offers and a lot of visit plans, though, so sustaining the visit momentum will be the Lions best shot. Torn here; calling PSU’s shot better than average for a recruit from Florida, but it’s still hard to buy into it completely.

 

[Judge Smails]

Top offensive performers from Under Armour D.C. include No. 6 OT Nana Asiedu and several Big Ten, SEC, ACC targets

http://www.scout.com/college/footba...983-d-c-under-armour-top-offensive-performers

BRIAN DOHN
Yesterday at 3:39 PM

LANDOVER, Md. -- Scout looks at the top offensive performers from the Under Armour combine at Prince George Sports Complex.




Nana Asiedu
North Stafford HSStafford, VA
6'6" / 270 lbs

• OT RANK6
• VA OT RANK1
• EAST OT RANK1
• COMMITTED
  

56
Analysis
Asiedu is a long, athletic prospect. He is explosive off the edge and disruptive. Asiedu can get to the second level, and he does a good job with his initial punch. He is athletic and can cover the edge against a speed rusher, and he gets is pad level low and can drive block. He has the athleticism to be able to pull from the tackle position. He needs to continue to improve strength and technique, but he is on the path to becoming a very good college player. -- Brian Dohn

CLOSE


Penn State offensive tackle commit Nana Asiedu of Stafford (Va.) North Stafford was outstanding, and he still has a load of room to grow in the strength and technique department. He was strong in his base and his balance was superb. He stood up defensive ends regularly as they tried to use speed and/or strength to get past him. His feet were quick and it was nearly impossible for defenders to beat him on the edge.






Daniel George
Oxon Hill HSOxon Hill, MD
6'1.5" / 200 lbs / 4.6s
VERIFIED

• WR RANK27
• MD WR RANK1
• EAST WR RANK3
• OFFERS23

159
Analysis
George does so many things well, and at the top of the list is understanding how to run routes. Against zones, he knows where the holes are and he sits in them well. He knows how to work back to the football, which is not a common trait for high school receivers. He is big and strong, which makes it hard for cornerbacks to jam him at the line of scrimmage. He needs to work on his release, and his quickness at the snap. George has plus hands and he will catch the ball going over the middle, and in traffic. His physical style makes it harder for defensive backs to tackle him in space. He needs to refine his blocking. -- Brian Dohn

CLOSE


Oxon Hill (Md.) High Scout 300 receiver Daniel George got out of his breaks quickly, tracked the ball well and his strong hands brought compliments from the coaches at the event. He played with speed, and his ability to be physical allowed him to get open late in a route. He was quick and precise coming out of his breaks. His Top 10 consists of North Carolina, NC State, Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Wisconsin and Kentucky.






Ricky Slade
C. D. Hylton HSWoodbridge, VA
5'10" / 185 lbs

• RB RANK2
• VA RB RANK1
• EAST RB RANK1
• COMMITTED
  

17
Analysis
Slade is a special football player. He has great speed and quickness. Slade shows good vision and instincts. He runs with great balance and is very elusive. Slade also really understands how to attack defenses and has a high football I.Q. Overall, there's not much he doesn't do at an extremely high level. He is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country. -- Michael Clark

CLOSE
Spotlight


Ricky Slade, the No. 2 running back in the 2018 class, was outstanding. The Penn State commit was so smooth in the drills, it looked like the Woodbridge (Va.) C.D. Hylton star's feet did not touch the ground. When it came to the passing and the 1-on-1s, Slade was quick out of his break and could not be covered by linebackers. He also was able to outrun defensive backs in a dominant performance that ended with an invitation to the Under Armour All-America game.

 

[sigchip_a_yahoo.com]

Top offensive performers from Under Armour D.C. include No. 6 OT Nana Asiedu and several Big Ten, SEC, ACC targets

http://www.scout.com/college/footba...983-d-c-under-armour-top-offensive-performers

BRIAN DOHN
Yesterday at 3:39 PM

LANDOVER, Md. -- Scout looks at the top offensive performers from the Under Armour combine at Prince George Sports Complex.




Nana Asiedu
North Stafford HSStafford, VA
6'6" / 270 lbs

• OT RANK6
• VA OT RANK1
• EAST OT RANK1
• COMMITTED

56
Analysis
Asiedu is a long, athletic prospect. He is explosive off the edge and disruptive. Asiedu can get to the second level, and he does a good job with his initial punch. He is athletic and can cover the edge against a speed rusher, and he gets is pad level low and can drive block. He has the athleticism to be able to pull from the tackle position. He needs to continue to improve strength and technique, but he is on the path to becoming a very good college player. -- Brian Dohn

CLOSE


Penn State offensive tackle commit Nana Asiedu of Stafford (Va.) North Stafford was outstanding, and he still has a load of room to grow in the strength and technique department. He was strong in his base and his balance was superb. He stood up defensive ends regularly as they tried to use speed and/or strength to get past him. His feet were quick and it was nearly impossible for defenders to beat him on the edge.






Daniel George
Oxon Hill HSOxon Hill, MD
6'1.5" / 200 lbs / 4.6s
VERIFIED

• WR RANK27
• MD WR RANK1
• EAST WR RANK3
• OFFERS23

159
Analysis
George does so many things well, and at the top of the list is understanding how to run routes. Against zones, he knows where the holes are and he sits in them well. He knows how to work back to the football, which is not a common trait for high school receivers. He is big and strong, which makes it hard for cornerbacks to jam him at the line of scrimmage. He needs to work on his release, and his quickness at the snap. George has plus hands and he will catch the ball going over the middle, and in traffic. His physical style makes it harder for defensive backs to tackle him in space. He needs to refine his blocking. -- Brian Dohn

CLOSE


Oxon Hill (Md.) High Scout 300 receiver Daniel George got out of his breaks quickly, tracked the ball well and his strong hands brought compliments from the coaches at the event. He played with speed, and his ability to be physical allowed him to get open late in a route. He was quick and precise coming out of his breaks. His Top 10 consists of North Carolina, NC State, Penn State, West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt, Louisville, Wisconsin and Kentucky.






Ricky Slade
C. D. Hylton HSWoodbridge, VA
5'10" / 185 lbs

• RB RANK2
• VA RB RANK1
• EAST RB RANK1
• COMMITTED

17
Analysis
Slade is a special football player. He has great speed and quickness. Slade shows good vision and instincts. He runs with great balance and is very elusive. Slade also really understands how to attack defenses and has a high football I.Q. Overall, there's not much he doesn't do at an extremely high level. He is one of the most dynamic playmakers in the country. -- Michael Clark

CLOSE
Spotlight


Ricky Slade, the No. 2 running back in the 2018 class, was outstanding. The Penn State commit was so smooth in the drills, it looked like the Woodbridge (Va.) C.D. Hylton star's feet did not touch the ground. When it came to the passing and the 1-on-1s, Slade was quick out of his break and could not be covered by linebackers. He also was able to outrun defensive backs in a dominant performance that ended with an invitation to the Under Armour All-America game.

Feeling jacked up about this!!!

 

[Judge Smails]

Four-star NC DT Alim McNeill has a visit set to Penn State this month.

 

[Judge Smails]

OH DE Tyreke Smith at Friday's "Light Up The Land" camp in the Cleveland area, per Scout's Bill Greene:

Four-star defensive end Tyreke Smith did not work out, but was on hand with his parents to speak with Harbaugh and assistant coach Greg Mattison, although I would have the Wolverines running behind both Penn State and Ohio State for Smith.

 

[Judge Smails]

From the Ozone poster who works at 4* OT Rasheed Walker's school:



Once he declares remind me to tell you guys a funny recruiting story re Rasheed and Michigan...(m)
By Ken Pryor on 08:34:07 06/06/17

suffice to say they have been scratched off the list! They sent a heavy hitter (Pep Hamilton) to try and reel him in. Backfired....big time.

PSU has the upper hand


I keep it 100 with him, but I gotta say...(m)

By Ken Pryor on 09:38:42 06/06/17
[In reply to "Ken, I'm not sure if we can forgive you if he goes to Ped St. Don't let us down! *" by Gold Pants, posted at 09:03:17 06/06/17]

PSU has been nothing but class all the way. They've really been impressive. I can't lie...a LOT of kids go up there and love it. Sheed sends me pics from his visits all the time...their facilities is top notch and they got some real live studs coming in.

 

[Delco Lion]

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

View embedded media

 

[bmw199]

View embedded media

IDK who runs that account but don't Tweet him directly and don't DM him or any other recruit.

 

[PennState_one]

IDK who runs that account but don't Tweet him directly and don't DM him or any other recruit.

Yes, please don't

 

[anon_xdc8rmuek44eq]

Common theme right now seems to be we have a bunch of targets who apparently favor us, aren't really taking other visits right now and are just sort of in a holding pattern. Thing to remember is that it is still "early" in the recruiting calendar. Our fast start makes you impatient for more recruits to drop, but JF is no doubt telling them to take their time and be sure of their decision.


Who could Penn State's final 10-12 Class of 2018 commitments be?

DB isheem Young

Isheem Young, defensive back from Imhotep Charter, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Philadelphia, Pa Imhotep Charter



5-foot-9, 205 pounds



Top schools
Top schools: Florida State, Ohio State, LSU, Baylor, West Virginia, Maryland, Temple, Clemson, Alabama, Michigan and Georgia make up his top-12.



Will he pick Penn State?
One of Pennsylvania’s top Class of 2018 recruits has 18 247Sports’ Crystal Ball predictions logged, and almost all of them indicate he will pick the Nittany Lions when all is said and done. There are few if any locks in recruiting, so we won’t call it a done deal, but there’s a better than average chance, from our view, that the four-star ends up in blue and white.



DB Kwantel Raines

Aliquippa's Kwantel Raines at the competition. The East Coast Elite 7-on-7 football competition brought teams from across the region to the Spooky Nook sports complex in Manheim on Saturday, April 16 2015.Daniel Zampogna, PennLive





School and tale of the tape
Aliquippa



6-foot-3, 200 pounds



Top schools
Has a top-10, but most believe it’s a PSU-Pitt battle.



Will he pick Penn State?
Raines tweeted about not being afraid to walk your own path before announcing a top-10 that had all the regional interests but also LSU, Florida, Kentucky, Cal, and South Carolina. PSU is in as good a spot as it can be, as are the Panthers, but the first decision that needs to be made is whether or not the four-star safety wants to blaze a new journey or decide between Pitt and PSU as many WPIAL prospects have.



Hard to have a good read one way or the other at this point. Summer visits will be key.



OT Rasheed Walker

Rasheed Walker and his family on a previous unofficial visit to Penn State.






School and tale of the tape
Waldorf, Md., North Point



6-foot-5, 280 pounds



Top schools
Maryland, Ohio State, and Penn State lead the way.



Will he pick Penn State?
Walker visited State College for an unofficial visit with the Nittany Lions on May 27, and most thought the massive lineman would verbal to blue and white either that day or shortly thereafter as he also visited earlier this year, as well. But a couple of weeks have come and gone now with no decision, which isn’t to say one is not coming, but it might just take a bit longer if the four-star future offensive tackle wants to make more visits before deciding.



The good news for PSU is that 12-of-12 Crystal Ball predictions say he’ll be a Nittany Lion, making him more than likely to be a member of the program’s Class of 2018. Like Young, above average chance.



DE Jayson Oweh

Jayson Oweh and PSU head coach James Franklin. Courtesy Jayson Oweh via Twitter





School and tale of the tape
Blair, N.J., Blair Academy



6-foot-5, 236 pounds



Top schools
Ohio State, Penn State, and Notre Dame seem to be the leaders.



Will he pick Penn State?
Oweh was one of the nation’s biggest breakout stars of the spring, as he impressed at the camps he was at and racked up offers in a hurry to bounce between a three- and four-star recruit depending on the service. PSU, OSU, and Notre Dame all offered between April and May, giving them a leg up, and Oweh’s trip to PSU on May 20 might just have put the Lions a rung above the other two.



That said, many suspected he’d be a Lion by now. It still seems likely, but the Buckeyes and Fighting Irish gave him a lot to think about after PSU seemed destined to sweep in and land him back in April.

LB JACK LAMB

School and tale of the tape
Temecula, Calif.



6-foot-4, 220 pounds



Top schools
Notre Dame, UCLA, Washington, and Oregon make up his top-5 along with PSU.



Will he pick Penn State?
Both of Lamb’s parents attended PSU, and with family reportedly in the Keystone State, the Lions should always have an in with one of the west coast’s best Class of 2018 defenders.



The flip side is the geography, though, as the fact is that UCLA, Washington, and Oregon are all much closer to home. Per 247Sports, the four-star has visited those three, plus the Lions, but never Notre Dame until later this summer.



Call it a coin flip kind of recruitment, with PSU absolutely having a hat on the table at this point in time.



DT P.J. Mustipher

P.J. Mustipher, defensive lineman from McDonogh, MD, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com





School and tale of the tape
Owing Mills, Md., McDonogh



6-foot-4, 290 pounds



Top schools
Penn State, Tennessee, Notre Dame, and Ohio State headline his leaders.



Will he pick Penn State?
The four-star has always been an elite talent, but it was never really clear where the Lions stood. That all changed this spring, though, as Mustipher came to campus in April and then again in May, which seemed to place the Lions as the clear contender entering the summer.



Seventy-nine percent of 14 Crystal Ball predictions pick Mustipher to PSU, while there are a couple of picks for ND and Tennessee. Put Mustipher in the more than likely category to be a Nittany Lion when all is said and done.



OT TJ Bradley








School and tale of the tape
Lackawanna Community College



6-foot-8, 290 pounds



Top schools
Bradley keeps accumulating offers, so there’s not necessarily a leading list at this point.



Will he pick Penn State?
Very interesting prospect here. Bradley took six years off from football before showing up at one of Pennsylvania’s biggest junior college football programs, and since his size checked out, many programs including the Lions have come calling. Bradley will undoubtedly use the upcoming season to improve his play and also find the right college program for him.



PSU landing Paris Palmer out of Lackawanna surely will not hurt its cause, but at the same time, he’s too new to the recruiting game to have an established feel for a favorite, top schools, or anything of that nature. Those will come in due time.



WR Jahan Dotson

Jahan Dotson. Joe Hermitt, PennLive





School and tale of the tape
Hightstown, N.J. The Peddie School



5-foot-11, 165 pounds



Top schools
His leading three seem to be Ohio State, Michigan, and Penn State.




Dotson should be nearing a decision here sooner rather than later, and the Lions appear to have taken the lead following the four-star’s visit to campus, the first in a long time, during the Blue-White game.



Crystal Ball picks have flown in for Dotson to the Lions since, and there’s too much momentum to see it ending any other way. Above average chance that he ends up a Nittany Lion.



WR Daniel George

Daniel George had a strong showing at The Opening's Washington, DC Regional. (Brian Linder|blinder@pennlive.com)






School and tale of the tape
Oxon Hill, Md.,



6-foot-1, 205 pounds



Top schools
Maryland and Virginia Tech, plus Penn State, are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
A top target for PSU at receiver as Dotson is, George was viewed as a prospect ready to pick PSU at any moment since it offered him in December and he visited in February, but the four-star’s recruitment has seemingly slowed to a halt through the end of his junior year.



Will that change this summer? It’s likely if not probable, but the four-star does not seem to be in any big rush to decide. Ten Crystal Ball predictions indicate he’s likely to be a Lion, so we’ll say it’s likely, but not on the same level of probability as a guy like Dotson.

WR Solomon Enis

Penn State recruit Solomon Enis during the annual Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on April 22, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com





School and tale of the tape
Phoenix, Ariz., North Canyon



6-foot-4, 190 pounds



Top schools
Arizona State, Oregon, USC and Penn State are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
Enis is the son of former Nittany Lions star tailback Curtis, and they visited for the spring game together back in April which gave the Lions a great chance to connect their past and present while showcasing a good time for father and son.



The four-star has made clear that he won’t follow in his father’s footsteps merely just to do so, meaning he’s as likely to come back east as he is to stay out west. We’ll say PSU has an average shot here, but even that could be generous.



DE Dorian Hardy

Dorian Hardy, defensive lineman from Paramus Catholic, NJ, competes during the Opening Regionals in Florham Park, NJ on April 30, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Paramus, N.J., Catholic



6-foot-5, 241 pounds



Top schools
A handful of regional and schools that are further away make up the school’s Hardy favorites most. It's a grab bag with places like PSU, Alabama, Florida, and others in play.



Will he pick Penn State?
He’s a four-star from the Garden State who ranks No. 6 nationally at his position in the 247Sports’ Composite, and he’s a big fish for the Lions and a top-160 prospect nationally.



Ninety-two percent of the Crystal Ball picks that have been logged have him pegged to be a Nittany Lion, and they’re the program he’s seen most recently.



Alabama and Florida offered in May, though, which probably means this recruitment will be stretched out a bit as he visits those schools to see what they are all about. Still think he ends up a Nittany Lion, but might take a bit longer than expected.



DE Marcellus Earlington

Class of 2018 end Marcellus Earlington (middle) and family pose with Penn State head coach James Franklin after the Lions offered Earlington during an unofficial visit on Saturday.(Courtesy Marcellus Earlington via Twitter)






School and tale of the tape
Ramsey, N.J., Don Bosco Prep



6-foot-4, 280 pounds



Top schools
A number of programs offered during the spring evaluation period, and more are likely to come this summer, but there’s no top list.



Will he pick Penn State?
Most thought the three-star would have selected Penn State by now, but like a few guys the Lions are targeting in this cycle, he seems to have slowed things down and has more or less played things close to the vest for the last few months.



It’s likely that PSU remains in the driver’s seat, but his summer visit list will be awfully telling. Will have to wait and see before getting a clear picture here; slightly above average chance based on early positioning.

OT Christian Armstrong

School and tale of the tape
Warner Robbins, Ga.



6-foot-5, 335 pounds



Top schools
Florida State, Georgia, Penn State, and Tennessee are “warm” in his 247Sports profile.



Will he pick Penn State?
A school cannot ask for much more than what Penn State got with Christian Armstrong, as the Peach State four-star standout paid his way to visit campus unofficially not once, but twice, so far this year.



He’s a massive offensive lineman that would be a tremendous pull out of the south, but Florida State and Georgia look to lead the way. Unlikely PSU can land him, but the door isn’t shut yet. Far from it, in fact.



LB Brian Asamoah

Penn State head coach James Franklin greets recruit Brian Asamoah during the annual Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium on April 22, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com






School and tale of the tape
Columbus, Ohio



6-foot-1, 210 pounds



Top schools
Cincinnati, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Penn State, and Michigan are his warm schools per 247Sports.



Will he pick Penn State?
Four Crystal Ball picks are split between PSU and Cincinnati, but this recruitment looks like it has a ways to go, especially if the three-star waiting out for an Ohio State offer.



Hard to get a read on this one, as he likes the Lions, but also seems to be genuinely intrigued by all of his options. Too early to make a call.



CB Jordan Miner

Courtesy Jordan Miner via Twitter





School and tale of the tape
Zephyrhills, Fla Wiregrass Ranch



5-foot-10, 170 pounds



Top schools
Nearly 30 schools have offered, but none of them seem to have a commanding lead. Penn State, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, Syracuse, Auburn, and Georgia made an April top-10.



Will he pick Penn State?
The four-star told Scout that his recent unofficial to Penn State “set the bar” in his recruitment and called his time on campus “amazing,” which is obviously very good news for the Nittany Lions.



He’s still a Sunshine State recruit with plenty of offers and a lot of visit plans, though, so sustaining the visit momentum will be the Lions best shot. Torn here; calling PSU’s shot better than average for a recruit from Florida, but it’s still hard to buy into it completely.

 

[Delco Lion]

LOL... you guys tweet?

 

[spydersabich]

Math (as well as many other things) is not a strong point for Pitt. Looking at the commitment list it appears that of our 13 commits, 7 of them also hold Pitt offers. That would make Pitt "officiallly" 1-7 against us in recruiting, which would qualify them for another national championship.

I'm not gonna lie. I was bad and posted this response on the Lair (removing the national championship line, the math not a strong point, and all references to us or our) last night about 11pm. I received a trophy point for my first post at that time. I went back this morning around 10am and noticed I received another trophy point as someone had liked my post. I went to find my post and found that it had been deleted. So now I have 3 trophy points and no posts to my name.

 

[TheGLOV]

I'm not gonna lie. I was bad and posted this response on the Lair (removing the national championship line, the math not a strong point, and all references to us or our) last night about 11pm. I received a trophy point for my first post at that time. I went back this morning around 10am and noticed I received another trophy point as someone had liked my post. I went to find my post and found that it had been deleted. So now I have 3 trophy points and no posts to my name.

I still luv ya man!

{man-hug}

 

[Judge Smails]

Composite top 100 guy. Decision by end of summer.


“It’s great to have this chance to carry on that legacy of Linebacker U, and I think it would be awesome to become a part of it,” Lamb said. “Obviously my dad couldn’t have predicted this when he named me Jack. To have this background with my parents going there and the Jack Ham thing, it’s a really cool situation that I’m in.”

 

[spydersabich]

I still luv ya man!

{man-hug}

Thanks

PS now I am banned for violation of site rules.

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[Judge Smails]

 

[Judge Smails]

With you all the way, Coach.

 

[mrtailgate]

View embedded media

With you all the way, Coach.

Like * 1,000,000!

 

[lionlurker]

Man. Lots of man-hours wasted. Bummer. We'll survive, but we all realized that it was going to be hard to keep him in the fold. Reality might suggest that top Ten players from other parts of the country are very very labor-intensive and very iffy.