At least for this post I am in no mood to discuss James Franklins success against top 5 teams or the lack-thereof. We can save those battles for another day when I have time to stretch and get some cardio in to prepare me for war so I can properly defend Coach. This is just strictly from a recruiting standpoint. I consider the points below to be the top 4 priorities in the CFB climate these days when a kid is choosing which program to join.
1. Money being spent on HS recruits
2. Location of School
3. Program brand (how the football program is viewed by ppl that aren’t associated or emotionally connected to it)
4. Individual position success (example : Edge Rusher / Tight end prospects would definitely be attracted to PSU. WRs and Corners maybe not so much)
Removing Franklin and all other HEAD COACHES from the equation ask yourself how does Penn State the University compare to other football programs? Then let’s input the coaches and take a deep dive into where Coach Franklin truly ranks as a recruiter.
1. It’s basically impossible to get the full 100 percent true concrete numbers when looking for what each program spends on their recruits and portal additions. Some programs are very open with their finances and others like to keep their spending close to the vest. Even if you had an exact figure for Penn State you still couldn’t accurately compare unless you had every other programs as well. So I did about 20 minutes of research and I can say that up until last year Penn State hovered around 20th to 25th in NIL spending. That is money spent on HS prospects but also includes roster retaining and transfer portal upgrades. It’s no secret by now that Coach Franklin believes in spending the Lions share of the funds on players already in the program that have earned their payday. This is very successful when it comes to keeping players from transferring or even leaving for the NFL. We have seen this clearly with Singleton and Allen staying put instead of one leaving to become the lead back elsewhere but the best example to really shine the light on its success is this upcoming season. Keeping Drew Allar , Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis Sutton , Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley and a host of other players from entering the draft and instead coming back for another year is the main reason Penn State for the first time in decades is viewed as a TRUE national championship contender by not just the Nittany Lions faithful but by the national media as well. Many other position groups benefit from this structure as well like the TE room stacked with kids who ranked top 5 or 10 in their respective class.
2. I don’t really have to go too far into this priority. I was born and raised in rural north New Jersey and bought a house in the same county 7 years ago. I love the country. The quiet. Nature. Little to no traffic. I prefer traveling to where other people live to do my shopping and entertainment rather than having tourists visiting my community. If you feel like I do then I’m here to tell you that we are in the minority. Especially for 18 to 22 year old men living on their own for the first time with a nice sized bank statement to look at. Western Pa doesn’t necessarily hold an advantage when it comes to night life and entertainment. Not everyone will make this a big deal of course but again , most do and for this reason Penn State has an issue that simply can’t be fixed.
3. Penn State Football is a historic program no matter what region of the country you grew up in. If you ask a random college football fan to name 20 of the most popular football teams I have a strong feeling Penn state would make the cut. National championships have been won here. One of the most iconic coaches in all of college athletics has coached here. And Quite frankly the University itself is probably best known for the Nittany Lions. But let’s not forget where this program stood 14 year ago. That specific type of scandal is probably the most serious and damaging type that can unfold. The Label that was branded 14 years ago could have easily lead to the demise of this iconic football team. If you dont remember and you forgot how horrible those times were , just pick a fight with a fan from a different school about football. If the reply back isn’t about Franklin not winning the big one then I bet you the deed to my house that it’s a joke about Sandusky or pedophilia. It’s disgusting and pathetic it’s brought up in football arguments but one and a half decades later it’s still the most popular diss thrown at us. It takes years upon years to successfully build a strong football program from scratch that’s stable for the future but it only takes an instant for it to crumble to the ground. Ask SMU. Hell , Nebraska didn’t even deal with a scandal and look at how hard it is for that football program to try and reclaim glory and past success once it disappeared for a few years or so. Bill OBrien kept us relevant and respectable on the football field during dire times and Coach Franklin grabbed the baton and continued the rebranding and proud tradition. It’s not completely faded but it gets much better as time and winning heals wounds.
4. Penn State was a power house during the previous era of football. That era saw strong and stringy defense and focus on effectively running the ball as the top 2 keys to success. LBU. Running backs. D linemen. Tight ends. Penn state has a long successful history when it comes to kids coming to state college , turning into men, and departing as an NFL draft pick. LBU is a nick name for a reason with over 60 players drafted at that position alone. Over 30 running backs had their name called on draft day. DL and OL come next , not a surprise due to the fact that there has been so much RB success but also the obvious reason of there being multiple positions played for that group. Tons of recent success but not just recently has TE been a position of strength for Penn state as there have been 25 drafted not including Tyler Warren who’s predicted as a top 10 pick overall this year. Ted Kwalick was pick 7 overall in 1969 and as of now is still the highest drafted TE out of PSU right in front of the great Kyle Brady who was taken by the Jets in 1995. At running back Penn State has had a number 1 overall pick with Ki-Jana Carter , two 2nd overall picks thanks to Saquon Barkley and Blair Thomas, a third overall pick with Curt Warner , One 5th overall pick with Curtis Enis and the great Lenny Moore went 9th overall to the Baltimore Colts. In total Penn State has produced 10 first round running backs. When it comes to the O line , the D line, TE, RB , and of course LB, Penn state has had a number of great players develop there but there are other positions that haven’t been so historically pleasing. Only 16 WRs dating back to 1940 have been taken in the first 4 rounds of the NFL draft out of Penn state. Only 15 QBs have been drafted in total with only 5 taken in the first two rounds. And even worse and maybe more puzzling only 12 true cornerbacks have been drafted that call Penn State their Alma mater. The great Joey Porter was the highest cornerback selected being taken in the second round pick 1. Unfortunately it’s a new era of football today. QB, CB , WR, and Edge rusher are the most crucial and valuable positions and as I just discussed, it’s also been the programs weakest groups.
Going over all 4 of those priorities my conclusion is that it’s a pretty mixed bag. Penn state might not spend in the top 10 but we sure do spend more than most and the way we do so helps to create a pretty strong and stable foundation. Can’t fix location but there are also plenty of other Colleges with this same issue and they have found just as much if not more success I.E. Ohio State and even Oregon. The Brand went through a really dark period and it wasn’t very long ago but long enough to the point I don’t necessarily see it as a crucial issue for majority of targeted recruits. Plus the overall strong brand history of almost a century surely outweighs the half a decade when it was ground zero. Finally , sure Penn state struggles with a few positions and unfortunately in 2025 they are the most important ones but there are many ways to fix this and change the narrative. Penn states strong success in other positions I feel outclasses the weaker ones.
Considering all of this , I feel really confident in saying Coach Franklin is a top 10 recruiting HC. Since 2015 his classes on average rank 14th nationally. The schools isn’t spending the 14th most. The school isn’t in an area like Florida , Cali , or Texas that has the allure that can make recruits gravitate towards. He lives up to the brand that Penn State exhibits by pulling In a top 15 class. Trace , Clifford , Drew , and Ethan Grunkemeyer is next up. I think he’s done a fine job at QB. WR I can’t defend but he’s trying with the portal and I believe he’s smart enough to adjust to times if he keeps striking out due to money. And at corner , we just saw our highest corner taken under Franklin, in 2025 he went out to California to grab a 4 star player, and in the portal he secured Harris and Kimber both from top SEC schools in Georgia and Florida. He did this all while keeping or upgrading the historically strong positions penn state is known for. There is no doubt in my mind , if you give Coach Franklin top 5 resources and assets , he will deliver top 5 or better recruitment classes.
Sorry for the long post , I really pray at least 1 person reads this lol thanks
1. Money being spent on HS recruits
2. Location of School
3. Program brand (how the football program is viewed by ppl that aren’t associated or emotionally connected to it)
4. Individual position success (example : Edge Rusher / Tight end prospects would definitely be attracted to PSU. WRs and Corners maybe not so much)
Removing Franklin and all other HEAD COACHES from the equation ask yourself how does Penn State the University compare to other football programs? Then let’s input the coaches and take a deep dive into where Coach Franklin truly ranks as a recruiter.
1. It’s basically impossible to get the full 100 percent true concrete numbers when looking for what each program spends on their recruits and portal additions. Some programs are very open with their finances and others like to keep their spending close to the vest. Even if you had an exact figure for Penn State you still couldn’t accurately compare unless you had every other programs as well. So I did about 20 minutes of research and I can say that up until last year Penn State hovered around 20th to 25th in NIL spending. That is money spent on HS prospects but also includes roster retaining and transfer portal upgrades. It’s no secret by now that Coach Franklin believes in spending the Lions share of the funds on players already in the program that have earned their payday. This is very successful when it comes to keeping players from transferring or even leaving for the NFL. We have seen this clearly with Singleton and Allen staying put instead of one leaving to become the lead back elsewhere but the best example to really shine the light on its success is this upcoming season. Keeping Drew Allar , Nick Singleton, Kaytron Allen, Dani Dennis Sutton , Zane Durant, Zakee Wheatley and a host of other players from entering the draft and instead coming back for another year is the main reason Penn State for the first time in decades is viewed as a TRUE national championship contender by not just the Nittany Lions faithful but by the national media as well. Many other position groups benefit from this structure as well like the TE room stacked with kids who ranked top 5 or 10 in their respective class.
2. I don’t really have to go too far into this priority. I was born and raised in rural north New Jersey and bought a house in the same county 7 years ago. I love the country. The quiet. Nature. Little to no traffic. I prefer traveling to where other people live to do my shopping and entertainment rather than having tourists visiting my community. If you feel like I do then I’m here to tell you that we are in the minority. Especially for 18 to 22 year old men living on their own for the first time with a nice sized bank statement to look at. Western Pa doesn’t necessarily hold an advantage when it comes to night life and entertainment. Not everyone will make this a big deal of course but again , most do and for this reason Penn State has an issue that simply can’t be fixed.
3. Penn State Football is a historic program no matter what region of the country you grew up in. If you ask a random college football fan to name 20 of the most popular football teams I have a strong feeling Penn state would make the cut. National championships have been won here. One of the most iconic coaches in all of college athletics has coached here. And Quite frankly the University itself is probably best known for the Nittany Lions. But let’s not forget where this program stood 14 year ago. That specific type of scandal is probably the most serious and damaging type that can unfold. The Label that was branded 14 years ago could have easily lead to the demise of this iconic football team. If you dont remember and you forgot how horrible those times were , just pick a fight with a fan from a different school about football. If the reply back isn’t about Franklin not winning the big one then I bet you the deed to my house that it’s a joke about Sandusky or pedophilia. It’s disgusting and pathetic it’s brought up in football arguments but one and a half decades later it’s still the most popular diss thrown at us. It takes years upon years to successfully build a strong football program from scratch that’s stable for the future but it only takes an instant for it to crumble to the ground. Ask SMU. Hell , Nebraska didn’t even deal with a scandal and look at how hard it is for that football program to try and reclaim glory and past success once it disappeared for a few years or so. Bill OBrien kept us relevant and respectable on the football field during dire times and Coach Franklin grabbed the baton and continued the rebranding and proud tradition. It’s not completely faded but it gets much better as time and winning heals wounds.
4. Penn State was a power house during the previous era of football. That era saw strong and stringy defense and focus on effectively running the ball as the top 2 keys to success. LBU. Running backs. D linemen. Tight ends. Penn state has a long successful history when it comes to kids coming to state college , turning into men, and departing as an NFL draft pick. LBU is a nick name for a reason with over 60 players drafted at that position alone. Over 30 running backs had their name called on draft day. DL and OL come next , not a surprise due to the fact that there has been so much RB success but also the obvious reason of there being multiple positions played for that group. Tons of recent success but not just recently has TE been a position of strength for Penn state as there have been 25 drafted not including Tyler Warren who’s predicted as a top 10 pick overall this year. Ted Kwalick was pick 7 overall in 1969 and as of now is still the highest drafted TE out of PSU right in front of the great Kyle Brady who was taken by the Jets in 1995. At running back Penn State has had a number 1 overall pick with Ki-Jana Carter , two 2nd overall picks thanks to Saquon Barkley and Blair Thomas, a third overall pick with Curt Warner , One 5th overall pick with Curtis Enis and the great Lenny Moore went 9th overall to the Baltimore Colts. In total Penn State has produced 10 first round running backs. When it comes to the O line , the D line, TE, RB , and of course LB, Penn state has had a number of great players develop there but there are other positions that haven’t been so historically pleasing. Only 16 WRs dating back to 1940 have been taken in the first 4 rounds of the NFL draft out of Penn state. Only 15 QBs have been drafted in total with only 5 taken in the first two rounds. And even worse and maybe more puzzling only 12 true cornerbacks have been drafted that call Penn State their Alma mater. The great Joey Porter was the highest cornerback selected being taken in the second round pick 1. Unfortunately it’s a new era of football today. QB, CB , WR, and Edge rusher are the most crucial and valuable positions and as I just discussed, it’s also been the programs weakest groups.
Going over all 4 of those priorities my conclusion is that it’s a pretty mixed bag. Penn state might not spend in the top 10 but we sure do spend more than most and the way we do so helps to create a pretty strong and stable foundation. Can’t fix location but there are also plenty of other Colleges with this same issue and they have found just as much if not more success I.E. Ohio State and even Oregon. The Brand went through a really dark period and it wasn’t very long ago but long enough to the point I don’t necessarily see it as a crucial issue for majority of targeted recruits. Plus the overall strong brand history of almost a century surely outweighs the half a decade when it was ground zero. Finally , sure Penn state struggles with a few positions and unfortunately in 2025 they are the most important ones but there are many ways to fix this and change the narrative. Penn states strong success in other positions I feel outclasses the weaker ones.
Considering all of this , I feel really confident in saying Coach Franklin is a top 10 recruiting HC. Since 2015 his classes on average rank 14th nationally. The schools isn’t spending the 14th most. The school isn’t in an area like Florida , Cali , or Texas that has the allure that can make recruits gravitate towards. He lives up to the brand that Penn State exhibits by pulling In a top 15 class. Trace , Clifford , Drew , and Ethan Grunkemeyer is next up. I think he’s done a fine job at QB. WR I can’t defend but he’s trying with the portal and I believe he’s smart enough to adjust to times if he keeps striking out due to money. And at corner , we just saw our highest corner taken under Franklin, in 2025 he went out to California to grab a 4 star player, and in the portal he secured Harris and Kimber both from top SEC schools in Georgia and Florida. He did this all while keeping or upgrading the historically strong positions penn state is known for. There is no doubt in my mind , if you give Coach Franklin top 5 resources and assets , he will deliver top 5 or better recruitment classes.
Sorry for the long post , I really pray at least 1 person reads this lol thanks
