Updated: Where we stand with recruits

[bmw199]

Since my last rankings, McGovern proved me right by committing and Smith committed to Clemson again proving me right that we would have to have gotten very lucky. I figured I would redo this list since this weekend was huge for recruiting.

Locks:
4* OL Menet, 4* TE Angeline, 4* CB Hamlin, 4* DL Dioubate, 3* OLB Hudson, 3* S Pryts

Very Good Chance:
4* DE Betiku, 4* DT Jordan, 4* DE Johnson, 4* CB McPhearson, 3* OT Fries, 3* OT Niang,

In The Battle:
4* WR Nixon, 4* OT Williams, 4* WR Diggs, 4* OG Davis, 4* OG Boudreaux, 3* DE Toney, 3* DT Panasiuk, 3* DT Colon, 4* TE Farrell, K Nordin

Work Left To Do:
5* DT Gary, 4* ATH Fuller, 4* QB Haskins, 4* LB Ferns, 4* TE Upshur, 4* CB Rene, 3* OLB Brown, 3* OT Ball, 3* OL McCargo, 3* Kamara

Have To Get Really Lucky:
4* DE King, 4* WR Layne, 4* OT Urquidez, 4* WR Smothers

My opinion on where we stand with recruits based on rumors, where the coaching staff has made serious effort, offers, tweets (sometimes) and gut feeling. My categories(and their meanings) are Locks (obvious), Very good chance(we sit very well with the recruit and are either the leader or perceived leader), In the Battle(We have a good shot and are equal to others or just slightly behind), Work left to do(there is another perceived leader or little information known on recruits intentions), Have to get really lucky(small chance to little to none).

 

[Alphabets]

Nice update, thanks.

 

[TTman]

What, No Ouija Board?

Thanks for the update....very good summary of what's going on!

 

[WPB_lion]

With your "Locks," we get 7 out of the top 9 in Pennsylvania. Talk about dominating the State.

 

[PSU1282]

More "Wild Dogs" for the pack coming

"Boobie Sanders" is doing a great job in helping the recruiting
I hope you're right about Hamlin.

 

[NorCalcLion]

Yes , just like Chris Wilkins & Chris Simms, they are locks until

they aren't !

 

[bmw199]

Never had Wilkins as a lock

He woulda been in the very good chance. Was to quiet to project as a lock.

And yes I think we get 7 of the top 10. Just wait for 2017, we might get the entire top ten in pa based on where we stand right now.

 

[blion72]

good analysis.....hope this all falls like you project.

the one position that seems to be hardest for us to recruit so far has been DT. it is a high need, and one that has alluded us to date. do you think there are reasons for our DT recruiting difficulty other than just bad luck? clearly some positions we are hitting out of the park.

 

[bjf1984]

DT recruiting has kind of been a "perfect storm" in some ways....


One aspect is the number of highly regarded DTs coming out of PA.

The last five years (according to RIVALS):

2016: # of "ranked" DTs - 45 # from PA - 0
2015: # of "ranked" DTs - 55 # from PA - 0
2014: # of "ranked" DTs - 45 # from PA - 0
2013: # of "ranked" DTs - 55 # from PA - 0
2012: # of "ranked" DTs - 50 # from PA - 1 (prospect who was ranked at 35, went to Toledo)

That is an AMAZING string of lack of high end DT prospects...for a state that turns out as many D1 prospects as PA.

Over that same time period, 201 Tailbacks have been "ranked" by RIVALS (as opposed to 200 DTs)....of that group, TEN were from PA (as opposed to ZERO DTs from PA). Just a freaky odd streak.

Incredible really. It is just one aspect - but an important aspect - as to why it has been difficult for PSU to land highly regarded DT prospects.

All in all, PSU has managed to turn out pretty good DTs (much better than the large majority of D1 programs....but they have had to develop less heralded guys, go out of state, and convert guys who may have been recruited at other positions)



This post was edited on 3/31 10:22 AM by bjf1984

 

[bmw199]

What he said^ but...

Dioubate will be a DT, he's already 6-3 279, some have him listed at DE. Johnson could be a candidate to move inside if he adds weight and we get multiple DEs as I think, similar to Zettle.

2017 has a few DT prospects in PA that should be 4*s. Jeter and Thorpe, if he isn't a guard.

Stuff like this is why I kind of cringe when people say oh we need this many Dts, this many Lbs, this many OL in this class. Because sometimes you are hamstrung by the recruits that are interested or are in your pipeline. You certainly aren't going to turn down a 4* corner who wants to commit for a 2* DT, you just make the most and start targeting more of that position next year. I think the staff did a good job of that with DL for 2016 and I think you can see already they are doing that for LB in 2017 because outside of Ferns and Hudson there are not a lot of options for them at LB this year.

 

[Judge Smails]

Like the post, but you are tempting the gods with the "lock" stuff.

I'd change the verbiage on that category, imho.

 

[cronk]

Re: Like the post, but you are tempting the gods with the "lock" stuff.

only a fool would ever call a recruit a lock!!!

 

[bmw199]

Hmm this is true

maybe the new top category is "Commit Watch"