https://247sports.com/college/penn-...adds-to-Lions-defensive-line-class-128574070/
Impressive late surge establishes Lions' D-line class
ByTYLER DONOHUE 3 hours ago
Late in this 2019 recruiting cycle, Penn State football has consistently delivered key recruiting victories across the defensive line. Aside from a dramatic commitment announcement Dec. 19 in Dallas from running back
Noah Cain, the last four Nittany Lions class additions address the defensive front, and each of those have occurred during the last seven weeks.
Joseph Appiah Darkwa, a 6-foot-5, 270-pound prospect who emerged as an intriguing international talent with the Düsseldorf (Germany) Panther U19 program,
picked Penn State as his collegiate landing spot on Friday. He secured a scholarship offer from the Nittany Lions only three weeks ago, providing a clear indication of how rapidly this recruitment expanded.
Darkwa, considered the top recruit out of Germany and the No. 69 overall defensive tackle in 247Sports 2019 composite rankings, used an official visit at Rutgers prior to the early signing period (Dec. 19-21) but elected to postpone any final plans until February.
Colorado, Georgia Tech, UCLA and Virginia Tech are among programs that joined Penn State in extending an offer to Darkwa since mid-December. He journeyed to Penn State and UCLA for official visits in January, and the lineman will ultimately head to Happy Valley for the next phase of his academic and athletic career.
Nittany Lions defensive line coach
Sean Spencer was unsurprisingly central to this recruiting process, and it's the latest example of him spearheading Penn State's pursuit a fast-rising, high-ceiling lineman.
Jayson Oweh, a 2018 signee who spent less than a full year on the radar of FBS staffs after shifting focus from basketball, picked PSU over Ohio State last winter. Only two weeks ago,
Smith Vilbert — another hoops convert from New Jersey— committed to the Nittany Lions after contemplating a future at Florida.
Vilbert, who placed primary focus on basketball until 2018, totaled 45 tackles— 17 for loss— and nine sacks as a senior at St. Joseph Regional (Montvale, N.J.) High School in his first full varsity campaign. Penn State presented a scholarship in early November, when Vilbert's recruitment began to really gain momentum, and schools such as Florida, Miami, Nebraska and Oregon offered during the season.
He and Darkwa present the kind of upside and blank slates that college coaches covet when searching for raw talent to develop behind the scenes before unleashing them into game action as difficult matchups down the line.
Considering Darkwa and Vilbert were required to condense recruitments that often require years into only a matter of months, Penn State's insertion and execution is impressive in each case.
Only one day after Vilbert revealed his decision, four-star defensive tackle
D'Von Ellies announced a choice he actually made in December. A top-10 player at his position in 247Sports rankings, he signed with Penn State early but elected to hold off on a public declaration until a Jan. 19 live broadcast of the Polynesian Bowl.
Ellies, who played alongside rising Nittany Lions sophomore defensive tackle
PJ Mustipher at the McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.), provides Penn State with an interior presence. He collected 30 sacks and 28 tackles for loss as an upperclassman, and makes it two consecutive recruiting cycles in which PSU has signed a blue-chip DT.
With Darkwa, Ellies and Vilbert each announcing in the last 13 days, it's worth reminding that early enrolled Nittany Lions defensive end
Adisa Isaac entered early signing period week uncommitted. TheCanarsie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) High School phenom focused on Miami and Penn State down the stretch, and he is evaluated among the 2019 class' premier edge rushers.
Isaac tallied25 sacks and 34 tackles for loss in 2018,
according to 247Sports' Steve Wiltfong. He spent his entire senior season in Penn State's cross-hairs and the Nittany Lions staff accomplished its intended goal two days prior to the early signing period.
"What a specimen on the edge— tall, long, athletic, fast," Penn State defensive recruiting coordinator
Terry Smith said of Isaac in December. "He's a great guy to come get mentored by Yetur (Gross-Matos), and then once Yetur leaves he'll be ready to step in."
Like Ellies, Isaac is a top-10 prospect at his position in 247Sports rankings. He was the first defensive line addition to this Nittany Lions class since former North Carolina commit
Hakeem Beamon pledged to Penn State in June.
Beamon, one of three four-star defensive linemen who signed with the Nittany Lions in December, secured 45 tackles — 16 for loss — and 5.5 sacks as a senior,
according to MaxPreps. Standing 6-3, 260 pounds, he is likely to slide inside from defensive end at the next level, much like the transition last year for freshman
Judge Cullpepper.
Beamon remained Penn State's lone defensive line commit for more than six months but the group has grown in a hurry. It may not be a complete product yet, as four-star defensive tackle
Jaquaze Sorrells (Orlando, Fla.) spent last weekend in State College and remains a priority Nittany Lions target only days before National Signing Day (Wednesday).
