Right now, PSU has 3 verbal commits. Reason for concern? Let's compare to last year's classes for PSU and Alabama.
By this date last April, Penn State had received verbal commitments from 10 high school players that ended up signing with PSU in the last class (this does NOT include any of the eventual de-commitments such as Antwan Reed). Compared to the full class size, this means we had verbal commits from 10/23, or 43% of the class. Assuming we end up signing 18 players in this current class, the 3 current verbals would equate to 17% of the class. So (stating the obvious), we are significantly behind the pace of last year's class.
Now compare to Alabama. At this time last year, Alabama had 2 (!) verbal commitments. Their third commitment didn't come until June 15. I recall someone on Rivals (possibly MFarrell) publishing a piece on whether there was any reason for panic, due to Bama's slow start to the class. When all was said and done, Alabama ended up with 19 signed commits, good for the 7th ranked class overall.
All I can tell from the above is that yes, this class is verbally committing at a slower pace than last year's class. However, looking at Alabama's example from last year, this does not necessarily mean the sky is falling.
By this date last April, Penn State had received verbal commitments from 10 high school players that ended up signing with PSU in the last class (this does NOT include any of the eventual de-commitments such as Antwan Reed). Compared to the full class size, this means we had verbal commits from 10/23, or 43% of the class. Assuming we end up signing 18 players in this current class, the 3 current verbals would equate to 17% of the class. So (stating the obvious), we are significantly behind the pace of last year's class.
Now compare to Alabama. At this time last year, Alabama had 2 (!) verbal commitments. Their third commitment didn't come until June 15. I recall someone on Rivals (possibly MFarrell) publishing a piece on whether there was any reason for panic, due to Bama's slow start to the class. When all was said and done, Alabama ended up with 19 signed commits, good for the 7th ranked class overall.
All I can tell from the above is that yes, this class is verbally committing at a slower pace than last year's class. However, looking at Alabama's example from last year, this does not necessarily mean the sky is falling.
