I caught up with some of the top prospects that Penn State hosted this past weekend. I decided to not do formal interviews after this game. Most of the top guys that visited Saturday will be returning to Penn State for bigger games in the next month or so. I'm going to have to bug all of them after the Michigan game, so I decided against pressing them all for formal interviews. With that said, I did exchange texts with most of them. I also caught up with contacts at PSU.
-As you all know, Rivals250 TE Theo Johnson was the top prospect in attendance. Overall, there wasn't a whole lot that he hasn't seen already. He didn't get into State College until about 5 PM Saturday evening and left after a short talk with Tyler Bowen after the game, so he was only able to spend a limited amount of time with the staff. He's also been up for games before and has toured everything. With that said, the coaches did set Johnson and his mother up with Sandy Barbour and president Eric Barron before the game. The feedback from that was very good. Prospects and their parents are always impressed when James Franklin sets them up with the athletic director and school president.
I still believe that Penn State is the school to beat, although I am curious to see how this Georgia visit goes in two weeks. I still would take Penn State over Iowa and Michigan and Miami is a distant fifth here. Also, the fact that Penn State will get three visits in what will be the final four months leading up to his commitment stands out to me. It's not like he lives in Harrisburg.
- I received good feedback regarding RJ Adams. It was good to get him back on campus, but nothing has changed here. He'll still go to Kentucky this weekend and to LSU in October. He should be back in State College for the Michigan game next month.
His mother said, "He had an awesome time, as usual. The coaches, including Coach Franklin, really go out of their way to make RJ feel at home. RJ has good relationships with the coaches, which is important."
- I had a good conversation WR Liam Clifford Sunday night. In fact, I put in a prediction for him Monday. I don't see him making a move in the near future, but Penn State is the team to beat currently and I think it's going to take a lot for a team to steal him away. From what I understand, his family is also happy with the way Sean's been treated since he's been here. I think Sean's experience will play a big role in Liam's decision.
Regarding Saturday night's experience, Clifford said, "I couldn’t get up there very early Saturday because I had some stuff to do for our football team back at school Saturday morning, but we did get there a little before game time and I got to talk with Coach [Ricky] Rahne for a little while before the game. Then, after the game, I got to see Coach Franklin briefly and spent some time with Coach [Gerad] Parker, too. Before we left Sunday morning, I saw Coach Parker again. We just talked a little bit about the plan going forward and said bye. Overall, I had a great time this weekend at the game and talking with the coaches."
Aside from Penn State, Clifford said that Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Pitt and Cincinnati are all recruiting him hard.
- I didn't bug OL Nate Bruce after this game. He's going to be up for bigger games later this season and he's already seen games here before. I've already put in a prediction for Bruce and I still think it's only a matter of time.
- I'm going to reach out to Dont'e Thornton's family later today. I exchanged a few texts with Thornton, but he didn't say much, aside from it was a great visit and that it was good to see everyone again. I'll try to get a bit more info this week.
- Looking ahead and it's already clear that this weekend will be one of the best of the season. We talked about Saf. Elijah Gaines taking an official visit last week. That's confirmed. Episcopal has a bye week, so Gaines should be in town Friday evening. I also confirmed with DE Zuriah Fisher that he'll be taking his official visit to Penn State this weekend. Aliquippa plays Montour Friday night, so he'll likely be up first thing Saturday morning and stay well into Sunday. Both of these visits are big. I actually put in a prediction for Gaines last night. I think Penn State is already the favorite going into this visit. Don't be surprised if you see a bunch of PSU picks coming out of this weekend. Michigan and Notre Dame aren't really pushing for him anymore. He's already visited Penn State more than any other school. As for Fisher, the fact that Penn State was able to talk him out of committing to Michigan State is huge. This weekend should end up being a big one for him. I believe this is his first game inside Beaver Stadium. Considering it's the final game against Pitt for at least the next decade or so, I expect a good atmosphere, at least, for noon standards. That, along with the time he'll spend with the current players, should go a long way in potentially earning his commitment. He spent time with Micah Parsons and Jesse Luketa back in June and spoke very highly of those guys. I think another weekend with the team will help the staff's chances.
- I also confirmed that OL Nolan Rucci will be in town Saturday. He's another player that I think Penn State should be considered the favorite with. I put in a pick for Nolan back in the spring and now some of my colleagues are also logging PSU picks.
- I expect a pretty good showing when it comes to Pennsylvania prospects. In addition to the staff wanting to host as many in-state players as possible, Tom Lemming has set his annual photo shoot at State College High for 8:30 AM Saturday. I know Baldwin DL Dorien Ford will make the trip, along with a bunch of solid prospects from Philadelphia. Ath. Tysheem Johnson, DB Javon Mcintyre and CB Shafeek Smith will all be there. Also, two very good 2022 prospects, LB Anthony Johnson and Ath. Enai White, are expected.
- A few prospects from Maryland are also expected. As of now, WR Kaden Prather and Ath. Zakee Wheatley are the only two I've confirmed, but I'm monitoring a few others. Wheatley is another player that I'm considering a prediction for. He attended the Lasch Bash in July and raved about it. Since then, he's repeatedly stressed how much that Penn State offer means to him. I've already logged a prediction for Prather.
- I expect some of the commits to be there, too, including the top 2020 prospect, LB Curtis Jacobs. 2021 TE Nick Elksnis is also returning. This will be his first game in Beaver Stadium, so he'll be someone I recap next week.
Below is the complete list of prospects that I've confirmed so far. Again, it's Tuesday, things will change. I'm sure one of these players will end up not making the trip, but I expect a really good turnout this week. I should have a complete list by Thursday or Friday.
Sept 14 - Pitt
PSU Commits
TE Nick Elksnis - FILM - Jacksonville, Fla. - Episcopal - 2021
LB Curtis Jacobs - FILM - Owings Mills, Md. - McDonogh
DT Fatorma Mulbah - FILM - Harrisburg, Pa. - Susquehanna Twp.
2020
LB Zuriah Fisher - FILM - Aliquippa, Pa. - Aliquippa - OFFICIAL VISIT ***
Saf. Elijah Gaines - FILM - Alexandria, Va. - Episcopal - OFFICIAL VISIT ***
2021
DL Dorien Ford - FILM - Baldwin, Pa. - Baldwin ***
Ath. Tysheem Johnson - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Neumann-Goretti ***
Saf. Javon Mcintyre - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
Saf. Saint McLeod - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter
OL Nolan Rucci - FILM - Lititz, Pa. - Warwick ***
WR Kaden Prather - FILM - Germantown, Md. - Northwest H.S.***
CB Shafeek Smith - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
Ath. Zakee Wheatley - FILM - Severn, Md. - Archbishop Spalding ***
2022
LB Anthony Johnson - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Neumann-Goretti ***
Ath. Enai White - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
2023
WR Rahmir Stewart - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter
-As you all know, Rivals250 TE Theo Johnson was the top prospect in attendance. Overall, there wasn't a whole lot that he hasn't seen already. He didn't get into State College until about 5 PM Saturday evening and left after a short talk with Tyler Bowen after the game, so he was only able to spend a limited amount of time with the staff. He's also been up for games before and has toured everything. With that said, the coaches did set Johnson and his mother up with Sandy Barbour and president Eric Barron before the game. The feedback from that was very good. Prospects and their parents are always impressed when James Franklin sets them up with the athletic director and school president.
I still believe that Penn State is the school to beat, although I am curious to see how this Georgia visit goes in two weeks. I still would take Penn State over Iowa and Michigan and Miami is a distant fifth here. Also, the fact that Penn State will get three visits in what will be the final four months leading up to his commitment stands out to me. It's not like he lives in Harrisburg.
- I received good feedback regarding RJ Adams. It was good to get him back on campus, but nothing has changed here. He'll still go to Kentucky this weekend and to LSU in October. He should be back in State College for the Michigan game next month.
His mother said, "He had an awesome time, as usual. The coaches, including Coach Franklin, really go out of their way to make RJ feel at home. RJ has good relationships with the coaches, which is important."
- I had a good conversation WR Liam Clifford Sunday night. In fact, I put in a prediction for him Monday. I don't see him making a move in the near future, but Penn State is the team to beat currently and I think it's going to take a lot for a team to steal him away. From what I understand, his family is also happy with the way Sean's been treated since he's been here. I think Sean's experience will play a big role in Liam's decision.
Regarding Saturday night's experience, Clifford said, "I couldn’t get up there very early Saturday because I had some stuff to do for our football team back at school Saturday morning, but we did get there a little before game time and I got to talk with Coach [Ricky] Rahne for a little while before the game. Then, after the game, I got to see Coach Franklin briefly and spent some time with Coach [Gerad] Parker, too. Before we left Sunday morning, I saw Coach Parker again. We just talked a little bit about the plan going forward and said bye. Overall, I had a great time this weekend at the game and talking with the coaches."
Aside from Penn State, Clifford said that Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, Duke, Pitt and Cincinnati are all recruiting him hard.
- I didn't bug OL Nate Bruce after this game. He's going to be up for bigger games later this season and he's already seen games here before. I've already put in a prediction for Bruce and I still think it's only a matter of time.
- I'm going to reach out to Dont'e Thornton's family later today. I exchanged a few texts with Thornton, but he didn't say much, aside from it was a great visit and that it was good to see everyone again. I'll try to get a bit more info this week.
- Looking ahead and it's already clear that this weekend will be one of the best of the season. We talked about Saf. Elijah Gaines taking an official visit last week. That's confirmed. Episcopal has a bye week, so Gaines should be in town Friday evening. I also confirmed with DE Zuriah Fisher that he'll be taking his official visit to Penn State this weekend. Aliquippa plays Montour Friday night, so he'll likely be up first thing Saturday morning and stay well into Sunday. Both of these visits are big. I actually put in a prediction for Gaines last night. I think Penn State is already the favorite going into this visit. Don't be surprised if you see a bunch of PSU picks coming out of this weekend. Michigan and Notre Dame aren't really pushing for him anymore. He's already visited Penn State more than any other school. As for Fisher, the fact that Penn State was able to talk him out of committing to Michigan State is huge. This weekend should end up being a big one for him. I believe this is his first game inside Beaver Stadium. Considering it's the final game against Pitt for at least the next decade or so, I expect a good atmosphere, at least, for noon standards. That, along with the time he'll spend with the current players, should go a long way in potentially earning his commitment. He spent time with Micah Parsons and Jesse Luketa back in June and spoke very highly of those guys. I think another weekend with the team will help the staff's chances.
- I also confirmed that OL Nolan Rucci will be in town Saturday. He's another player that I think Penn State should be considered the favorite with. I put in a pick for Nolan back in the spring and now some of my colleagues are also logging PSU picks.
- I expect a pretty good showing when it comes to Pennsylvania prospects. In addition to the staff wanting to host as many in-state players as possible, Tom Lemming has set his annual photo shoot at State College High for 8:30 AM Saturday. I know Baldwin DL Dorien Ford will make the trip, along with a bunch of solid prospects from Philadelphia. Ath. Tysheem Johnson, DB Javon Mcintyre and CB Shafeek Smith will all be there. Also, two very good 2022 prospects, LB Anthony Johnson and Ath. Enai White, are expected.
- A few prospects from Maryland are also expected. As of now, WR Kaden Prather and Ath. Zakee Wheatley are the only two I've confirmed, but I'm monitoring a few others. Wheatley is another player that I'm considering a prediction for. He attended the Lasch Bash in July and raved about it. Since then, he's repeatedly stressed how much that Penn State offer means to him. I've already logged a prediction for Prather.
- I expect some of the commits to be there, too, including the top 2020 prospect, LB Curtis Jacobs. 2021 TE Nick Elksnis is also returning. This will be his first game in Beaver Stadium, so he'll be someone I recap next week.
Below is the complete list of prospects that I've confirmed so far. Again, it's Tuesday, things will change. I'm sure one of these players will end up not making the trip, but I expect a really good turnout this week. I should have a complete list by Thursday or Friday.
Sept 14 - Pitt
PSU Commits
TE Nick Elksnis - FILM - Jacksonville, Fla. - Episcopal - 2021
LB Curtis Jacobs - FILM - Owings Mills, Md. - McDonogh
DT Fatorma Mulbah - FILM - Harrisburg, Pa. - Susquehanna Twp.
2020
LB Zuriah Fisher - FILM - Aliquippa, Pa. - Aliquippa - OFFICIAL VISIT ***
Saf. Elijah Gaines - FILM - Alexandria, Va. - Episcopal - OFFICIAL VISIT ***
2021
DL Dorien Ford - FILM - Baldwin, Pa. - Baldwin ***
Ath. Tysheem Johnson - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Neumann-Goretti ***
Saf. Javon Mcintyre - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
Saf. Saint McLeod - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter
OL Nolan Rucci - FILM - Lititz, Pa. - Warwick ***
WR Kaden Prather - FILM - Germantown, Md. - Northwest H.S.***
CB Shafeek Smith - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
Ath. Zakee Wheatley - FILM - Severn, Md. - Archbishop Spalding ***
2022
LB Anthony Johnson - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Neumann-Goretti ***
Ath. Enai White - FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter ***
2023
WR Rahmir Stewart - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep Charter
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