2022 Recruiting Class Thread

[NittanyIllinois]

Well, unfortunately considering the lack of a PSU visit to date, unless he is Jordan Allen Part 2 or visits within the next 2 weeks we all know one school that he WON'T be choosing. 🤷‍♂️

He's been on campus a few times, right? Not for an official, but for camps/unofficials. I don't think he has taken any officials yet.

I know some programs wanted him to come to their campus and test, but he didn't show for whatever reason. He's definitely not getting the kind of interest that his 5* status on Rivals would lead one to believe. 247 seemed to adjust his ranking based on performance, but Rivals hasn't really caught up.

An odd recruitment overall.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

Well, unfortunately considering the lack of a PSU visit to date, unless he is Jordan Allen Part 2 or visits within the next 2 weeks we all know one school that he WON'T be choosing. 🤷‍♂️

Rivals shows him with visits 6/6/21, 1/18/20, & 7/27/19 but 247 site shows no visits for any school

 

[Shadow99]

Rivals shows him with visits 6/6/21, 1/18/20, & 7/27/19 but 247 site shows no visits for any school

The one showing no visits is likely filtering only "official" visits? But the purported 6/6/21 unofficial to PSU ended up being an unofficial to LSU instead, which is the source of any perceived pessimism (even if the 7/27/19 & 1/18/20 dates are true) despite PSU's inclusion in the "Top 5"...

and as NittanyIllinois states above, there seems to be something different about this particular recruitment which is likely behind a paywall? 🤷‍♂️

 

[ChiTownLion]

Quick kid with long arms. Worry that when he puts on good weight he looses some of that quickness. He will need to get a lot stronger as well. We will see.

As an aside, I hate those 1 on 1 rush drills; they don't impress me. Defense knows they can just rush and not worry about a screen, a back chipping them, the line sliding to protect, or a quick QB moving out of the way. The o-lineman has almost no chance of winning the majority of those drills.

You're right. It's not all that different from the QB drills during the Elite 11 and other such camps.

They're good for gauging athleticism, arm strength, speed, etc. And that's a big part of the equation. But they don't tell you much about actual in-game productivity. Sure, a DE can run a 4.5 and fly by an OL guy in a 1-on-1 drill, but does he bring it on every down? How does he cope with double teams? How well does he adjust mid-play? And so forth.

There's no substitute for actual productivity in live action.

Recall Michael Menet as the only one able to contain Rashaun Gary in those one-on-one pass-rush drills.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

The one showing no visits is likely filtering only "official" visits? But the purported 6/6/21 unofficial to PSU ended up being an unofficial to LSU instead, which is the source of any perceived pessimism (even if the 7/27/19 & 1/18/20 dates are true) despite PSU's inclusion in the "Top 5"...

and as NittanyIllinois states above, there seems to be something different about this particular recruitment which is likely behind a paywall? 🤷‍♂️

Got it... i must have missed the news on the June visit. Seems like a super quite recruitment for such a highly rated recruit.

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[RTRMR]

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Assuming no chance for the good guys?

 

[Ranger Dan]

Well, unfortunately considering the lack of a PSU visit to date, unless he is Jordan Allen Part 2 or visits within the next 2 weeks we all know one school that he WON'T be choosing. 🤷‍♂️

Is this the old Cronk lead pipe lock?

 

[NittanyIllinois]

Assuming no chance for the good guys?

Probably not a great chance. FCs favor LSU for the moment, but nothing logged since mid-June.

Him not making it on his 6 June official was probably not a great sign. He's been on campus before, though.

Good recruit. Probably not a legit 5*, though.

 

[Rip_E_2_Joe_PA]

You're right. It's not all that different from the QB drills during the Elite 11 and other such camps.

They're good for gauging athleticism, arm strength, speed, etc. And that's a big part of the equation. But they don't tell you much about actual in-game productivity. Sure, a DE can run a 4.5 and fly by an OL guy in a 1-on-1 drill, but does he bring it on every down? How does he cope with double teams? How well does he adjust mid-play? And so forth.

There's no substitute for actual productivity in live action.

THIS!

 

[Shadow99]

Just yesterday RB prospect Omarion Hampton placed PSU in his "Top 3" even AFTER PSU was theoretically full at the position with 2 commits...

Sure PSU probably was legitimately in his Top 3 anyway, but nevertheless with all the talk in this thread about disrespect, it still seems to be a respectful thing to do. After the 2 PSU commits, he could have easily had just a "Top 2" of UNC (where he is projected to go) and Florida. Perhaps the "Top 3" was a bit of respect directed toward the PSU coaching staff?

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[LionsandBear]

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and the best is yet to come!

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[Ward Hog]

Quick kid with long arms. Worry that when he puts on good weight he looses some of that quickness. He will need to get a lot stronger as well. We will see.

As an aside, I hate those 1 on 1 rush drills; they don't impress me. Defense knows they can just rush and not worry about a screen, a back chipping them, the line sliding to protect, or a quick QB moving out of the way. The o-lineman has almost no chance of winning the majority of those drills.

Seldom does a d end have the freedom to rush as he pleases. You cannot spin inside if you have outside contain responsibility etc. You cannot go upfield aggressively with a QB with good legs.

 

[PSU_Chicago]

Has Penn State offered Jacob Porter? Are we interested?

 

[Shadow99]

 

[ChiTownLion]

😮

 

[RickinDayton]

Just yesterday RB prospect Omarion Hampton placed PSU in his "Top 3" even AFTER PSU was theoretically full at the position with 2 commits...

Sure PSU probably was legitimately in his Top 3 anyway, but nevertheless with all the talk in this thread about disrespect, it still seems to be a respectful thing to do. After the 2 PSU commits, he could have easily had just a "Top 2" of UNC (where he is projected to go) and Florida. Perhaps the "Top 3" was a bit of respect directed toward the PSU coaching staff?

Apparently heavy lean to UNC.

 

[GregInPitt]

Cam Miller may be looking to get a spot in PSU's class before they disappear....

Top247 CB Cam Miller planning to announce commitment July 26

The defender is down to Virginia Tech and Penn State.

247sports.com

 

[PSULionsDub]

Just yesterday RB prospect Omarion Hampton placed PSU in his "Top 3" even AFTER PSU was theoretically full at the position with 2 commits...

Sure PSU probably was legitimately in his Top 3 anyway, but nevertheless with all the talk in this thread about disrespect, it still seems to be a respectful thing to do. After the 2 PSU commits, he could have easily had just a "Top 2" of UNC (where he is projected to go) and Florida. Perhaps the "Top 3" was a bit of respect directed toward the PSU coaching staff?

I think it is a combination of respect for Penn State while also allowing him to potentially keep a door open to Penn State if something happens on Hampton's side and/or something happens on Penn State's side over the next several months.

 

[ChiTownLion]

 

[Texas Lion]

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Would that make the class 25? Moving Allen to CB, not S I see it as:

1-Punter
2-QB
2-RB
4-WR
1-TE
4-OL
3-DE
2-DT
1-LB
2-CB
3-S

Will there be more room open for people that can count last cycle? Looks a little thin on LB since Talley and Fearby probably go to DE and Fisher already moved to DE last year.

Maybe a portal LB, any still out there?

 

[ChiTownLion]

Would that make the class 25? Moving Allen to CB, not S I see it as:

1-Punter
2-QB
2-RB
4-WR
1-TE
4-OL
3-DE
2-DT
1-LB
2-CB
3-S

Will there be more room open for people that can count last cycle? Looks a little thin on LB since Talley and Fearby probably go to DE and Fisher already moved to DE last year.

Maybe a portal LB, any still out there?

Wouldn't mind adding Abdul Carter at LB.

 

[ericstratton-rushchairman]

Wouldn't mind adding Abdul Carter at LB.

Agreed. 1 LB is a glaring hole in an otherwise nearly perfect distribution

 

[bmw199]

Would that make the class 25? Moving Allen to CB, not S I see it as:

1-Punter
2-QB
2-RB
4-WR
1-TE
4-OL
3-DE
2-DT
1-LB
2-CB
3-S

Will there be more room open for people that can count last cycle? Looks a little thin on LB since Talley and Fearby probably go to DE and Fisher already moved to DE last year.

Maybe a portal LB, any still out there?

Seems obvious they are moving toward greater than 25

 

[GregInPitt]

Seems obvious they are moving toward greater than 25

Yep, I find it hard to believe that Traut is done with the Oline in this class..........

 

[PSULionsDub]

CB Keenan Nelson, out of Philadelphia, PA, committed to South Carolina today. I am sure the Nelson and Cam Miller commitments are related to one another, just as the running back commitments were related to one another over the past couple of weeks.

 

[NittanyIllinois]

CB Keenan Nelson, out of Philadelphia, PA, committed to South Carolina today. I am sure the Nelson and Cam Miller commitments are related to one another, just as the running back commitments were related to one another over the past couple of weeks.

Don't know if they're related. Nelson has been trending away from PSU (or perhaps better stated as PSU trending away from Nelson) for a while now.

Seems like a lot of prospects are trying to commit this summer, so we're bound to see a lot of commitments in close proximity to one another. Many of the 5* and top-100 types are holding out until the fall, but classes in general are going to start filling up here pretty soon.

 

[Raffycorn]

Don't know if they're related. Nelson has been trending away from PSU (or perhaps better stated as PSU trending away from Nelson) for a while now.

Seems like a lot of prospects are trying to commit this summer, so we're bound to see a lot of commitments in close proximity to one another. Many of the 5* and top-100 types are holding out until the fall, but classes in general are going to start filling up here pretty soon.

Yeah, the staff is getting their two top cornerback targets.

 

[GregInPitt]

CB Keenan Nelson, out of Philadelphia, PA, committed to South Carolina today. I am sure the Nelson and Cam Miller commitments are related to one another, just as the running back commitments were related to one another over the past couple of weeks.

Yep, there are some dominos that are falling.

But if you look at the top 10-20 classes the average number of commits is still around 15, and less without PSU, oh-high-ya and ND who are ahead of the curve right now. So if things happen as expected the remainder of July, PSU will be somewhat of an outlier. Franklin and his staff have done a great job of identifying the players they want and focused on them hard. And there were more than a few that really weren't pursued as must gets by the playoff teams, although there were the normal head to head battles with ND that Franklin won more than he lost.

It still seems there will be a good many of the top players holding out until the Fall season, nearer to the December signing day to make their choices. Possibly less than the last few years, but still lots of drama for the teams in those battles. Bama figures to win a good many of those battles, having only 11 commits as of now. USC (rated 28th) now only has 9 commits, but a nice 91.9 average commit rating on 247 and is a likely destination for a good many top players between now and signing day. Clemson with 10. UGA with 11. There will be plenty of fireworks down the stretch. It is great that Franklin and his staff seem to have gotten their first choices at most positions, particularly if PSU picks up the 4 commits likely by the end of July. But as far as the "expert" rankings go, BAMA, USC, Clemson, UGA and even Texas could all pass PSU when all the signing is done, as well as some others.

Hope that with most of the class complete that the PSU coaches can focus on the upcoming season, development and evaluations of the current players to get the best team on the field, and playing great football that will help create the best game day in college football at Beaver Stadium, and which will help hold the class together right through signing day.....

 

[ChiTownLion]

Here we go...

 

[NittanyIllinois]

Yep, there are some dominos that are falling.

But if you look at the top 10-20 classes the average number of commits is still around 15, and less without PSU, oh-high-ya and ND who are ahead of the curve right now. So if things happen as expected the remainder of July, PSU will be somewhat of an outlier. Franklin and his staff have done a great job of identifying the players they want and focused on them hard. And there were more than a few that really weren't pursued as must gets by the playoff teams, although there were the normal head to head battles with ND that Franklin won more than he lost.

It still seems there will be a good many of the top players holding out until the Fall season, nearer to the December signing day to make their choices. Possibly less than the last few years, but still lots of drama for the teams in those battles. Bama figures to win a good many of those battles, having only 11 commits as of now. USC (rated 28th) now only has 9 commits, but a nice 91.9 average commit rating on 247 and is a likely destination for a good many top players between now and signing day. Clemson with 10. UGA with 11. There will be plenty of fireworks down the stretch. It is great the Franklin and his staff seem to have gotten their first choices at most positions, particularly of PSU picks up the 4 commits likely by the end of July. But as far as the "expert" rankings go, BAMA, USC, Clemson, UGA and even Texas could pass PSU when all the signing is done.

Hope that with most of the class complete that the PSU coaches can focus on the upcoming season, development and evaluations of the current players to get the best team on the field, and playing great football that will help create the best game day in college football at Beaver Stadium, and which will help hold the class together right through signing day.....

Bama, Oklahoma, Clemson, UGA, and LSU are almost certain to overtake us in the final rankings based on who they're in on, how they typically recruit, and the quality of kids they have so far.

USC, Oregon, Texas, Florida, etc. are schools that could leap us.

One would hope nobody would moan about getting passed in the rankings as the fall and winter progress, but it's pretty much inevitable. What matters is that the staff seems to have done a much better job of getting the kids they targeted. The flip side is that many of those kids were kids that didn't have the big boys in hot pursuit -- time will tell how that pays off. And i do wonder if that was deliberate (spend less time on the Enai White type kids, and more time on kids that are "gettable") or just the consequence of not having as many elite recruits in our region as in the past few years. I suspect the latter.

 

[Shadow99]

Bama, Oklahoma, Clemson, UGA, and LSU are almost certain to overtake us in the final rankings based on who they're in on, how they typically recruit, and the quality of kids they have so far.

USC, Oregon, Texas, Florida, etc. are schools that could leap us.

One would hope nobody would moan about getting passed in the rankings as the fall and winter progress, but it's pretty much inevitable. What matters is that the staff seems to have done a much better job of getting the kids they targeted. The flip side is that many of those kids were kids that didn't have the big boys in hot pursuit -- time will tell how that pays off. And i do wonder if that was deliberate (spend less time on the Enai White type kids, and more time on kids that are "gettable") or just the consequence of not having as many elite recruits in our region as in the past few years. I suspect the latter.

Or the fact that CJF has a knack for identifying underexposed talent before other schools and recruiting services?

...coupled with the atypical # of underexposed recruits at this point in the process due to last year's lack of junior camps along with shortened or cancelled seasons.

 

[NittanyIllinois]

Or the fact that CJF has a knack for identifying underexposed talent before other schools and recruiting services?

...coupled with the atypical # of underexposed recruits at this point in the process due to last year's lack of junior camps along with shortened or cancelled seasons.

I mean, he has done a solid job of that in recent years. The staff has earned a significant amount of trust in terms of who they're targeting.

But it's not like he has some secret formula that nobody else has. Even the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, etc. have plenty of 3* and lower 4* success stories. Is he better than the average top-25 program in identifying talent? Probably. But it's not like his 3*/lower 4* kids are routinely outperforming the typical top-100 types.

 

[wolve1972]

Bama, Oklahoma, Clemson, UGA, and LSU are almost certain to overtake us in the final rankings based on who they're in on, how they typically recruit, and the quality of kids they have so far.

USC, Oregon, Texas, Florida, etc. are schools that could leap us.

One would hope nobody would moan about getting passed in the rankings as the fall and winter progress, but it's pretty much inevitable. What matters is that the staff seems to have done a much better job of getting the kids they targeted. The flip side is that many of those kids were kids that didn't have the big boys in hot pursuit -- time will tell how that pays off. And i do wonder if that was deliberate (spend less time on the Enai White type kids, and more time on kids that are "gettable") or just the consequence of not having as many elite recruits in our region as in the past few years. I suspect the latter.

This is the time of year when recruiting rankings are deceptive. The schools with a low number of commitments will - obviously - make up ground once they start filling their classes. The only thing I pay attention to right now is the school's average / recruit number. With that said, however, PSU's 247 Composite average (90.32) is outstanding and only behind OSU in the B1G. When all said and done, PSU should end up with a top 10 class which, if done yearly, should put them in the conference and NC talks

 

[Shadow99]

I mean, he has done a solid job of that in recent years. The staff has earned a significant amount of trust in terms of who they're targeting.

But it's not like he has some secret formula that nobody else has. Even the likes of Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, etc. have plenty of 3* and lower 4* success stories. Is he better than the average top-25 program in identifying talent? Probably. But it's not like his 3*/lower 4* kids are routinely outperforming the typical top-100 types.

True, but it isn't limited to prospects that PSU gets...there are those such as J. Fields who CJF identified as a 3-star well before others and then suddenly once camps started (and only after they started) he was offered by every top program in the country and became a 5-star thereafter (albeit before the end of the cycle).

Also, some of those "3-stars" that PSU actually does get don't necessarily fall into that "identified early" category, they could be more akin to a "best remaining" category.

 

[NittanyIllinois]

True, but it isn't limited to prospects that PSU gets...there are those such as J. Fields who CJF identified as a 3-star well before others and then suddenly once camps started (and only after they started) he was offered by every top program in the country and became a 5-star thereafter (albeit before the end of the cycle).

Also, some of those "3-stars" that PSU actually does get don't necessarily fall into that "identified early" category, they could be more akin to a "best remaining" category.

All true points.

 

[Thomas1945]

This isn’t going to be very popular. When Brubaker signed with SC people said he slid down the board. When Nelson signed with SC once again people said he slid down the board. Now we could really use a good linebacker and SC is confident that their getting both Barnum and Carter.
Now that’s either a pretty steep and slippery board we have. Or if the Gamecocks get the other two they just might be cleaning our clocks, and nobody wants to admit it because the rest of the class is looking great. I’m definitely not an alarmist,
I may be wrong, but where there’s smoke there’s usually a fire.

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

This isn’t going to be very popular. When Brubaker signed with SC people said he slid down the board. When Nelson signed with SC once again people said he slid down the board. Now we could really use a good linebacker and SC is confident that their getting both Barnum and Carter.
Now that’s either a pretty steep and slippery board we have. Or if the Gamecocks get the other two they just might be cleaning our clocks, and nobody wants to admit it because the rest of the class is looking great. I’m definitely not an alarmist,
I may be wrong, but where there’s smoke there’s usually a fire.

There is legit information out there that the staff stopped pursuing Brubaker and Nelson. They showed up at camp (or refused to) and underperformed. It’s not a case of sour grapes. In fact, as an example, the top DBs on the board are about to commit. Each have been ahead of Nelson for weeks. Just because some of these kids are rated higher on a recruiting service website, doesn’t mean that the staff sees it the same way.

The LBer recruits you mentioned are being heavily pursued by PSU at the moment and most are hopeful that we close out with at least one of them.