Just maybe Penn State's class of 2020 is turning out to be better than expected. I believe DT/SDE Coziah Izzard [6-3, 273], slot-WR Parker Washington [5-10, 203] and WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith [6-1, 185] have an excellent chance to not only see quality playing time this fall, but have an impact on Penn State's offense and defense this fall.
Fr. DT Coziah Izzard is listed by Penn State as 6-4, 273 and Rs.Fr. Hakeem Beamon is listed at 6-3, 274. I think both players could end up just like Amin Vanover [6-4, 277] playing their freshman and sophomore years at Penn State filling the same type of role I envision for DT/SDE Amin Vanover [6-4, 277] on Penn State's defensive line starting this fall.
Here's what I wrote in my analysis of Izzard in our Special Recruiting issue of BWI the Magazine that was sent to our subscribers in February. "Penn State lists Izzard at 285 pounds, but on the tape he displays the athleticism and lateral mobility of a player 15 pounds lighter, but he's fully capable of playing the strongside DE position at Penn State, especially during his first two years on Penn State's campus."
As a senior Izzard posted 60 tackles, 20 TFL and 10 sacks playing the strongside DE at Hyattsville DeMatha Catholic. Despite weighing close to 280 pounds, he saw most of his action at defensive end, displaying great quickness and speed with an an outstanding outside pass rush from his strongside DE position on DeMatha's defensive line.
Interesting to know that when he reported to campus the first week in July, Izzard was listed by Penn State at 6-3, 274. And I don't believe that was an accident. Hearing that both Beamon and Izzard are practicing now at the strongside DE position and at the 3-technique DT position on defense in preseason practice that began yesterday.
I think Vanover, Izzard and Beamon are fully capable of providing quality depth at the strongside DE position behind Jayson Oweh [6-5, 257], Shane Simmons [6-3, 244] and Smith Vilbert [6-6, 253] for the fall 2020 football season beginning on the weekend of Oct. 23-24. I see no real depth problems at the strongside DE position on defense at the very least for the 2020 fall football season.
Great news about the wide receivers in the early stages of preseason practice, especially about Lambert-Smith and Washington from the class of 2020. Both I believe will end up being special receivers.
Lambert-Smith I believe is a high four-star talent. He posted big receiving numbers throughout his high school career, but being the best pure athlete on the field in high school he also played quarterback at times during his senior season. He's an outstanding route-runner with the ability to create separation coming out of his cut. He posted a 3.83 20-yard shuttle time at The Opening last July. That is outstanding quickess, K.J. Hamler type of quickness and it makes him nearly impossible to cover one-on-one. Lambert-Smith also has excellent hands, catches the ball at the apex and surprises you with his 4.45 40-yard speed.
I know Coach Ciarrocca is excited to see Lambert-Smith play this fall, so am I.
Watching video from Wahington's senior season in high school, I was tremendously impressed with his ability to gain yards after making the catch. He essentially becomes a running back, juking away from tacklers in the open field. Washington runs very precise pass routes, has a great pair of hands and boasts explosive speed. The fact that he was used at quarterback in the wildcat formation in high school illustrates his running instincts. I expect him to play the slot-WR position at Penn State and to potentially be used as a ball carrier running jet sweeps and reverses in addition to his receiving duties bringing an extra dimension to Penn State's offense. Washington is also an excellent return specialist. With K.J. Hamler being drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, he may vie for playing time returning punts and kickoffs this fall as a freshman.
I'm predicting both Lambert-Smith and Washington could have major impacts at wide receiver this fall. I think both players even though they were given 5.8 four-star status from Rivals were underrated in the class of 2020.
Love this quote from Penn State WR coach, Taylor Stubblefield, about Lambert-Smith. " He [Lambert-Smith] has something different about him. There might be some different motivation about him. You can tell he wants it, and he's willing to put the work in to reach that goal. We talk about the process. He wants the process. He wants the hard stuff, he wants to get coached. He has the mentality of hating to lose, which is what I love. Everybody loves to win, but who hates to lose."
Lambert-Smith that's for sure.
Fr. DT Coziah Izzard is listed by Penn State as 6-4, 273 and Rs.Fr. Hakeem Beamon is listed at 6-3, 274. I think both players could end up just like Amin Vanover [6-4, 277] playing their freshman and sophomore years at Penn State filling the same type of role I envision for DT/SDE Amin Vanover [6-4, 277] on Penn State's defensive line starting this fall.
Here's what I wrote in my analysis of Izzard in our Special Recruiting issue of BWI the Magazine that was sent to our subscribers in February. "Penn State lists Izzard at 285 pounds, but on the tape he displays the athleticism and lateral mobility of a player 15 pounds lighter, but he's fully capable of playing the strongside DE position at Penn State, especially during his first two years on Penn State's campus."
As a senior Izzard posted 60 tackles, 20 TFL and 10 sacks playing the strongside DE at Hyattsville DeMatha Catholic. Despite weighing close to 280 pounds, he saw most of his action at defensive end, displaying great quickness and speed with an an outstanding outside pass rush from his strongside DE position on DeMatha's defensive line.
Interesting to know that when he reported to campus the first week in July, Izzard was listed by Penn State at 6-3, 274. And I don't believe that was an accident. Hearing that both Beamon and Izzard are practicing now at the strongside DE position and at the 3-technique DT position on defense in preseason practice that began yesterday.
I think Vanover, Izzard and Beamon are fully capable of providing quality depth at the strongside DE position behind Jayson Oweh [6-5, 257], Shane Simmons [6-3, 244] and Smith Vilbert [6-6, 253] for the fall 2020 football season beginning on the weekend of Oct. 23-24. I see no real depth problems at the strongside DE position on defense at the very least for the 2020 fall football season.
Great news about the wide receivers in the early stages of preseason practice, especially about Lambert-Smith and Washington from the class of 2020. Both I believe will end up being special receivers.
Lambert-Smith I believe is a high four-star talent. He posted big receiving numbers throughout his high school career, but being the best pure athlete on the field in high school he also played quarterback at times during his senior season. He's an outstanding route-runner with the ability to create separation coming out of his cut. He posted a 3.83 20-yard shuttle time at The Opening last July. That is outstanding quickess, K.J. Hamler type of quickness and it makes him nearly impossible to cover one-on-one. Lambert-Smith also has excellent hands, catches the ball at the apex and surprises you with his 4.45 40-yard speed.
I know Coach Ciarrocca is excited to see Lambert-Smith play this fall, so am I.
Watching video from Wahington's senior season in high school, I was tremendously impressed with his ability to gain yards after making the catch. He essentially becomes a running back, juking away from tacklers in the open field. Washington runs very precise pass routes, has a great pair of hands and boasts explosive speed. The fact that he was used at quarterback in the wildcat formation in high school illustrates his running instincts. I expect him to play the slot-WR position at Penn State and to potentially be used as a ball carrier running jet sweeps and reverses in addition to his receiving duties bringing an extra dimension to Penn State's offense. Washington is also an excellent return specialist. With K.J. Hamler being drafted by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2020 NFL draft, he may vie for playing time returning punts and kickoffs this fall as a freshman.
I'm predicting both Lambert-Smith and Washington could have major impacts at wide receiver this fall. I think both players even though they were given 5.8 four-star status from Rivals were underrated in the class of 2020.
Love this quote from Penn State WR coach, Taylor Stubblefield, about Lambert-Smith. " He [Lambert-Smith] has something different about him. There might be some different motivation about him. You can tell he wants it, and he's willing to put the work in to reach that goal. We talk about the process. He wants the process. He wants the hard stuff, he wants to get coached. He has the mentality of hating to lose, which is what I love. Everybody loves to win, but who hates to lose."
Lambert-Smith that's for sure.
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