I can't tell you how frustrating the last 20 hours have been for me not being able to get on the website because of computer problems that have finally gotten fixed. The only way this morning that I was able to discover that RB Journey Brown [5-11, 195] from Meadville, Pa. had verbally committed to Penn State was when a friend from Harrisburg, Pa. called me up and asked me what I thought about Brown's commitment to Penn State.
I'll admit I was surprised when I received the news. With a limited number of scholarships remaining for Penn State's class of 2017 it caught me off guard that Coach Franklin and his staff had decided to take a running back in this recruiting class. That, however, does not mean I disagree with the fact Penn State decided to offer and accept Brown's verbal commitment.
Before I talk about Brown specifically, I think there is a point in this storyline that needs to be addressed. That's because of what appears to be a limited number of scholarships remaining for Penn State's class of 2017, it seems that many believe Coach Franklin's offer of a scholarship to Brown is a wasted scholarship.
What it seems to indicate to me is that there just might be more scholarships available then we realize. The consensus of opinion is that because of the NCAA 85-scholarship limit, Penn State before accepting Brown's verbal commitment had at the most just two scholarships available for its class of 2017.
That indeed may be the case on signing day [Feb. 1], but Penn State only has to be at the mandated NCAA 85-scholarship limit by the first day of preseason practice in August. Under Big Ten rules any BIG school can sign three players on signing day over the NCAA 85-man scholarship limit.
That could possibly allow Penn State to sign 20 or 21 players on signing day and give them a five month grace period to get down to the NCAA mandated 85-scholarship limit in early August when preseason practice begins. Then if there are a couple of players that make a decision to transfer after spring practice is over that would allow Penn State to still be able to make the NCAA mandated 85-scholarship limit for the upcoming 2017 season.
I'm not saying that is the exact case in this situation, but the point I'm trying to get across is that this issue doesn't have to be settled by Feb. 1, which is signing day for the class of 2017.
Now let's take a closer look at Brown. I wasn't surprised at all Rivals originally had Brown rated as a 2-star prospect. That is despite Brown's impressive career at Meadville where he totaled 7,027 career rushing yards and averaged 12.4 YPC and 104 TDs, Brown made the decision to attend no camps and didn't do any interviews during the recruiting process. That was his approach to recruiting even after a senior season at Meadville where he was named 5A all-state, rushed for 2,781 yards, averaged 12.7 YPC, scored 46 TDs with reported 4.45 speed and a 39-inch vertical leap. Also winning the PIAA AAA 100-meter dash with a 10.73 second time and electronically running a 10.62 100-meter time during the 2016 high school track season.
When you combine all that with the fact Brown plays in what many believe is one of the worst 5-A conferences in Pennsylvania, I'm not surprised Rivals had not evaluated him before his verbal commitment to Penn State. But I have to tell you that I COMMEND Rivals after they had the opportunity to view Brown's 2016 highlight video, they updated his ranking to a 5.6 3-star prospect a ranking I believe Brown deserves.
Brown is a solid recruit and I believe Penn State's coaching staff did an excellent job of identifying what just might be a player who is one of the biggest "sleepers" in the class of 2017. He's not another Saquon Barkley, but there aren't many of those anywhere.
But at 5-11, 195 with 10.62 100-meter speed I think Brown can end up being a real asset to the Penn State football program over the next four to five years. These type of athletes don't grow abundantly on trees.
This is not a verbal commitment Penn state fans should be upset about. Let's wait and see how this situation plays out over the next couple of weeks and months.
I'll admit I was surprised when I received the news. With a limited number of scholarships remaining for Penn State's class of 2017 it caught me off guard that Coach Franklin and his staff had decided to take a running back in this recruiting class. That, however, does not mean I disagree with the fact Penn State decided to offer and accept Brown's verbal commitment.
Before I talk about Brown specifically, I think there is a point in this storyline that needs to be addressed. That's because of what appears to be a limited number of scholarships remaining for Penn State's class of 2017, it seems that many believe Coach Franklin's offer of a scholarship to Brown is a wasted scholarship.
What it seems to indicate to me is that there just might be more scholarships available then we realize. The consensus of opinion is that because of the NCAA 85-scholarship limit, Penn State before accepting Brown's verbal commitment had at the most just two scholarships available for its class of 2017.
That indeed may be the case on signing day [Feb. 1], but Penn State only has to be at the mandated NCAA 85-scholarship limit by the first day of preseason practice in August. Under Big Ten rules any BIG school can sign three players on signing day over the NCAA 85-man scholarship limit.
That could possibly allow Penn State to sign 20 or 21 players on signing day and give them a five month grace period to get down to the NCAA mandated 85-scholarship limit in early August when preseason practice begins. Then if there are a couple of players that make a decision to transfer after spring practice is over that would allow Penn State to still be able to make the NCAA mandated 85-scholarship limit for the upcoming 2017 season.
I'm not saying that is the exact case in this situation, but the point I'm trying to get across is that this issue doesn't have to be settled by Feb. 1, which is signing day for the class of 2017.
Now let's take a closer look at Brown. I wasn't surprised at all Rivals originally had Brown rated as a 2-star prospect. That is despite Brown's impressive career at Meadville where he totaled 7,027 career rushing yards and averaged 12.4 YPC and 104 TDs, Brown made the decision to attend no camps and didn't do any interviews during the recruiting process. That was his approach to recruiting even after a senior season at Meadville where he was named 5A all-state, rushed for 2,781 yards, averaged 12.7 YPC, scored 46 TDs with reported 4.45 speed and a 39-inch vertical leap. Also winning the PIAA AAA 100-meter dash with a 10.73 second time and electronically running a 10.62 100-meter time during the 2016 high school track season.
When you combine all that with the fact Brown plays in what many believe is one of the worst 5-A conferences in Pennsylvania, I'm not surprised Rivals had not evaluated him before his verbal commitment to Penn State. But I have to tell you that I COMMEND Rivals after they had the opportunity to view Brown's 2016 highlight video, they updated his ranking to a 5.6 3-star prospect a ranking I believe Brown deserves.
Brown is a solid recruit and I believe Penn State's coaching staff did an excellent job of identifying what just might be a player who is one of the biggest "sleepers" in the class of 2017. He's not another Saquon Barkley, but there aren't many of those anywhere.
But at 5-11, 195 with 10.62 100-meter speed I think Brown can end up being a real asset to the Penn State football program over the next four to five years. These type of athletes don't grow abundantly on trees.
This is not a verbal commitment Penn state fans should be upset about. Let's wait and see how this situation plays out over the next couple of weeks and months.
