Hey everyone.
Nate and I will be traveling to New Jersey early Sunday morning for the Rivals camp. I won't be home until late Sunday night, so unfortunately, unlike most big recruiting weekends, I won't be able to do a long recap of visitor reactions. I apologize for that, but I will be speaking with a bunch of quality prospects tomorrow, some of which were at PSU Saturday. We'll also have video highlights and some other things.
However, while working on other things tonight, I was able to chat with a few players. I posted some of my impressions below.
Ath. FILM - Reisterstown, Md. - Franklin - 2016
"It was great. I had a good time. I can't really watch football games live. It's hard for me to stay in my seat. I just wanted to get out on the field. (laughs) But it was good. I like what they're doing there. All the coaches were telling me they were happy to see me again and they I hope I choose them.
"Me and Coach Franklin talked a lot. It was mainly about what my mom thought of Penn State when I came up on Tuesday. She loved it. I asked her what her number one is right now and she said Penn State. Penn State will definitely be in my top five, no doubt. If me and my boy Brandon Polk became teammates, that would be a scary site for any defense!." (laughs)
- Out of the handful of prospects I spoke with today, Smothers was the one that genuinely came off as the most impressed. He confirmed that his mother visited on Tuesday, which is important. He said she's only been to a one or two other schools. As you read in the quote, she also appears to really like PSU, so I think that's another very positive sign.
When we've spoken in the past, he's always been very pro-SEC and Florida State, but I don't believe he's been able to make it down to most of those schools, so we'll have to see if he makes it down to some of those programs this summer. As of now, he told me nothing is set in stone. He's been to West Virginia quite a few times and I think he really likes their offensive scheme, so the Mountaineers will also likely be a major player. But I do feel much better about Penn State's chances after our discussion tonight. We'll just have to see where all he visits this summer. I don't think he'll make a commitment before taking official visits, but he's kind of sporadic at times, so I also wouldn't be totally shocked if he just ended up popping to some school one day.
TE FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep - 2016
"I enjoyed myself a lot. They got the tight ends involved a lot today and that's what I came to see. What I got to talk to Coach Franklin and Coach Gattis then, they were basically saying how this is my state and they're not letting me leave. (laughs) They said they're definitely gonna get me to stay home."
- For the most part, I think Penn State is improving its chances with Upshur, but I also still get the impression that PSU has work to do. We know Miami, Ohio State and South Carolina are very high on his list and I still think PSU is behind those three schools. That said, I think Penn State could crack his top five, whenever that may come.
LB FILM - Pittsburgh, Pa. - Central Catholic - 2017
"I thought the game was good. I liked how the defense attacked the ball. I also spent a good amount of the day talking with Coach Pry. We talked a lot about the defensive schemes and so on. I really like the PSU coaches. I had a great day, to say the least."
- My impression on Adams hasn't really changed much. I still think Penn State is going to be a near the top of his list throughout his recruitment. As of today, I'd be very surprised if PSU isn't one of the two or three schools he ultimately decides between. The staff is also recruiting him harder than anyone right now, so from a relationship perspective, they have that box checked off already. Adams is going to get some solid offers between now and the start of the season and if he plays like we expect him to in the first five games or so, I could see him getting offers from some of the nation's elite. So, long way to go, lets not get too excited yet, but as long as the staff continues to do what they're doing, I don't see how they fall outside of his top three.
QB FILM - Brownsburg, Ind. - Brownsburg - 2017
"The day went very well. It was great to get back to Happy Valley. I thought the atmosphere at the Blue-White Game was pretty awesome for a spring game."
"I got a chance to spend some time with Coach Rahne before and after the game. We talk every week, but it's always nice to catch up in person. My family and I also got a chance to talk with Coach Franklin. It's always great to see him. I feel very comfortable with him and Coach Rahne."
- Johnson is basically everything you want in a quarterback. Like Hackenberg, Zembiec and Stevens, he's very mature and well-spoken. I can't remember a time where I hung up the phone and haven't been impressed. He may legitimately be more mature than myself. haha.
Like David Adams, I really think PSU should be one of the top two or three schools he ultimately decides between. He's taken a lot of visits lately, so we'll have to see who else rounds out his top five when he cuts his list. That top five should come in June or July. It's also possible that he makes a commitment this summer, but he's not going to rush it. Right now, I'd say it's probably 50/50 that he's committed by September 1. But, whenever that commitment does come, I expected a Penn State hat to be laying on the table.
DE FILM - Harrisburg, Pa. - Central Dauphin - 2018
"I always have a good time there. I thought they looked good during the game. They looked like they're gonna have a decent team. It just made me so excited for the upcoming season. (laughs) I want to put the pads on. But yeah, I really enjoyed my time. The coaching staff is great, as usual. I have a long way to go, but I really like Penn State."
- Like all of the 2018 prospects we discuss, I'm not going to predict much at this point. Outside of PSU, he's only been to Rutgers, so we have to see who else offers between now and next winter. He'll probably get a few offers between now and July, but I expect most of the top programs to hold off and see how he performs this season. I don't expect anything but another excellent season, so the fact that PSU got after him so early is only going to help. But again, I can't confidently try to predict anything with guys his age. By this time next year, I'll have a much more informed opinion.
Nate and I will be traveling to New Jersey early Sunday morning for the Rivals camp. I won't be home until late Sunday night, so unfortunately, unlike most big recruiting weekends, I won't be able to do a long recap of visitor reactions. I apologize for that, but I will be speaking with a bunch of quality prospects tomorrow, some of which were at PSU Saturday. We'll also have video highlights and some other things.
However, while working on other things tonight, I was able to chat with a few players. I posted some of my impressions below.
Ath. FILM - Reisterstown, Md. - Franklin - 2016
"It was great. I had a good time. I can't really watch football games live. It's hard for me to stay in my seat. I just wanted to get out on the field. (laughs) But it was good. I like what they're doing there. All the coaches were telling me they were happy to see me again and they I hope I choose them.
"Me and Coach Franklin talked a lot. It was mainly about what my mom thought of Penn State when I came up on Tuesday. She loved it. I asked her what her number one is right now and she said Penn State. Penn State will definitely be in my top five, no doubt. If me and my boy Brandon Polk became teammates, that would be a scary site for any defense!." (laughs)
- Out of the handful of prospects I spoke with today, Smothers was the one that genuinely came off as the most impressed. He confirmed that his mother visited on Tuesday, which is important. He said she's only been to a one or two other schools. As you read in the quote, she also appears to really like PSU, so I think that's another very positive sign.
When we've spoken in the past, he's always been very pro-SEC and Florida State, but I don't believe he's been able to make it down to most of those schools, so we'll have to see if he makes it down to some of those programs this summer. As of now, he told me nothing is set in stone. He's been to West Virginia quite a few times and I think he really likes their offensive scheme, so the Mountaineers will also likely be a major player. But I do feel much better about Penn State's chances after our discussion tonight. We'll just have to see where all he visits this summer. I don't think he'll make a commitment before taking official visits, but he's kind of sporadic at times, so I also wouldn't be totally shocked if he just ended up popping to some school one day.
TE FILM - Philadelphia, Pa. - Imhotep - 2016
"I enjoyed myself a lot. They got the tight ends involved a lot today and that's what I came to see. What I got to talk to Coach Franklin and Coach Gattis then, they were basically saying how this is my state and they're not letting me leave. (laughs) They said they're definitely gonna get me to stay home."
- For the most part, I think Penn State is improving its chances with Upshur, but I also still get the impression that PSU has work to do. We know Miami, Ohio State and South Carolina are very high on his list and I still think PSU is behind those three schools. That said, I think Penn State could crack his top five, whenever that may come.
LB FILM - Pittsburgh, Pa. - Central Catholic - 2017
"I thought the game was good. I liked how the defense attacked the ball. I also spent a good amount of the day talking with Coach Pry. We talked a lot about the defensive schemes and so on. I really like the PSU coaches. I had a great day, to say the least."
- My impression on Adams hasn't really changed much. I still think Penn State is going to be a near the top of his list throughout his recruitment. As of today, I'd be very surprised if PSU isn't one of the two or three schools he ultimately decides between. The staff is also recruiting him harder than anyone right now, so from a relationship perspective, they have that box checked off already. Adams is going to get some solid offers between now and the start of the season and if he plays like we expect him to in the first five games or so, I could see him getting offers from some of the nation's elite. So, long way to go, lets not get too excited yet, but as long as the staff continues to do what they're doing, I don't see how they fall outside of his top three.
QB FILM - Brownsburg, Ind. - Brownsburg - 2017
"The day went very well. It was great to get back to Happy Valley. I thought the atmosphere at the Blue-White Game was pretty awesome for a spring game."
"I got a chance to spend some time with Coach Rahne before and after the game. We talk every week, but it's always nice to catch up in person. My family and I also got a chance to talk with Coach Franklin. It's always great to see him. I feel very comfortable with him and Coach Rahne."
- Johnson is basically everything you want in a quarterback. Like Hackenberg, Zembiec and Stevens, he's very mature and well-spoken. I can't remember a time where I hung up the phone and haven't been impressed. He may legitimately be more mature than myself. haha.
Like David Adams, I really think PSU should be one of the top two or three schools he ultimately decides between. He's taken a lot of visits lately, so we'll have to see who else rounds out his top five when he cuts his list. That top five should come in June or July. It's also possible that he makes a commitment this summer, but he's not going to rush it. Right now, I'd say it's probably 50/50 that he's committed by September 1. But, whenever that commitment does come, I expected a Penn State hat to be laying on the table.
DE FILM - Harrisburg, Pa. - Central Dauphin - 2018
"I always have a good time there. I thought they looked good during the game. They looked like they're gonna have a decent team. It just made me so excited for the upcoming season. (laughs) I want to put the pads on. But yeah, I really enjoyed my time. The coaching staff is great, as usual. I have a long way to go, but I really like Penn State."
- Like all of the 2018 prospects we discuss, I'm not going to predict much at this point. Outside of PSU, he's only been to Rutgers, so we have to see who else offers between now and next winter. He'll probably get a few offers between now and July, but I expect most of the top programs to hold off and see how he performs this season. I don't expect anything but another excellent season, so the fact that PSU got after him so early is only going to help. But again, I can't confidently try to predict anything with guys his age. By this time next year, I'll have a much more informed opinion.
