3/2 Update: Hey All, I really wanted to get one of these in before I went away for the week. I wanted to do one before JR day but things have been absolutely insane at the office. It was great that we picked up Barber and Matos (and Parsons). By all accounts JR day was amazing (like literally everyone said it). In addition to all of that news you’ll see the addition of a ton of new names on here, highlighted in blue text (if there are any names who committed since my last update let me know, I may have missed them). I’ll cover them first and then the movement of guys who were previously on here.
Elijah Conliffe from VA is first and said on Twitter that he almost did commit on this visit, he retweeted a tweet saying that Franklin tells people to make sure they are 1000% before pulling the trigger, so he held off…for now. Kurt Hinish is another PCC guy who I was calling for PSU to offer, they did and now we lead for him, this may be over soon for him! OT Carter Warren from NJ had a great trip as well and was raving about his experience, I really like the size he already has tipping the scales at 310 already. Down in the “In the Battle” category there are a ton of new prospects, some of whom I don’t view as having a commitable offer right now. Some of them I think are test the water offers. First is a stud OLB from IN, Pete Werner, he was at Jr Day and mentioned he had a great time at LBU, ND will be hard to beat here. Next is a pair of Jersey ATH in 4* Bo Melton and 3/4* Markquese Bell, neither were at JR day and both have interest from UM and RU. 3/4* ATH Derrick Pitts from WV had a great time at Jr Day and we are definitely in the thick of things against WVU and UMD. OLB Ayinde Eley from MD was supposed to visit for JR day but was a no show, not a good sign but we will see what it means going forward. J’Marick Woods is a 3* S from AL who is hoping to visit for blue white weekend. Then come four 3* OL offers that have gone out recently, NJ’s Robert Martin, WV Riley Locklear, and OH’s Joel Honigford and Mike Miranda. All are raw and have size, but I doubt all four are commitable at this moment with the other higher ranked tackles on the board. It doesn’t appear any are close to a decision at this point but if one or two were we’d probably take them but not all 4. Martin and Locklear were in State College the weeks leading up to JR Day and Honingford was there on JR Day and tweeted it was a great day. Miranda is set to visit on 3/5. Jake Marwede is a TE from IL who has a great relationship with Rahne, he was at Jr Day and had a great time. Evidence Njoku is a WR from NJ who was at JR Day and, surprise surprise, tweeted how great it was, I have reservations about getting excited over him though bc his brother plays at The U and we saw how that works out in 2016. To “Work Left To Do” I added DT/DE Jordan Williams from VA bc while he likes PSU and visited for the Rutgers game, Clemson and Tenn and in-state UVA and Va Tech are hard after him. Santino Marchiol is a OLB from IMG who I never would have added, even though we offered, but he had said he was visiting for JR Day but was a no-show, he may or may not visit when the other IMG guys do, more on that in a minute. Andre Rison’s son, a decommit from MSU, Hunter Rison recently got an offer and reacted joyfully on Twitter, I have my doubts we’ll ever be in that race. I also added Corey Bolds to have to get Lucky category bc we offered, but he might as well be enrolled at UM already.
To some more familiar names, Roberts, Webb, Thorpe, Adams, Swift, Wade, Proctor, and Wade-Perry were all at JR Day and all had terrific things to say. Neal was at UVA this weekend but we still sit very well for him. We made a huge play for Wade and it really paid off. There is a case for all of the guys I have in “In The Battle” who visited last week to be moved up bc they all loved it. For now since I don’t see any of them being over soon, I will stand pat and wait for Urban to respond on Wade, specifically, bc he does not want to lose that one. Hansard was a no-show on Saturday. I don’t know why, but he’s had ride issues in the past. Right now we cannot discount Ash’s honeymoon status. One recruit on twitter, maybe Melton or Hansard, was talking about how he showed a graphic stating that 75% on OSU’s roster is from OH and if RU did the same then they would be one of the best teams in the country. But to sell that you need tradition, a fan base, facilities, and money. He has none of those, so I expect that message to come crashing down mid-season.
I moved all of the IMG guys down and it is because all are seeing increased interest from other schools. Kaindoh from OSU and FSU, Spence has been tweeting non-stop about UMD, Anthony has significant interest from Clemson (though we did just beat them for Matos), and Hainsey is seeing amped up interest from MSU (Duzzie sending him there? I kid, but really?). IMG’s spring break is from Saturday March 19th through Sunday April 3rd. Expect those guys to visit campus during that period and potentially for a spring practice.
Some other guys I moved down are Young (UMD), Wilson (UM), and Hunter (Clem/VaTech) as interest at the moment doesn’t really seem to be there and seems to be (elsewhere).
I did this in a bit of a rush this afternoon, so I apologize if anything is a bit dated or if I forgot something.
Commit Watch:
4* ILB Roberts, 4* S Neal, 4* WR Webb, 4* G Thorpe, 3/4* DT Conliffe, 3* DT Hinish
Very Good Chance:
5* DE Kaindoh, 4* RB/LB Anthony, 4* DT Spence, 4* OT Hainsey, 4* ILB Adams, 3* OT Warren
In The Battle:
5* RB Swift, 4* CB Wade, 4* DT Hansard, 4* OT Clark, 4* OT McNair, 4* OT Lynch, 4* DT Jeter, 4* OLB Proctor, 4* LB Werner, 4* WR Melton, 3/4* ATH Bell, 4* QB Hill, 3/4* ATH Pitts, 3/4* OLB Eley, 3* DT Wade-Perry, 3* S Woods, 3* OT Martin, 3* OT Locklear, 3* OT Honigford, 3* OL Miranda, 3* TE Marwede, 3* WR Njoku, JUCO OT Traore
Work Left To Do:
5* OT Wilson, 4* RB McFarland Jr., 4* DE Young, 4* ATH Hunter, 4* DE Vilain, 4* DT Williams, 4* LB Marchiol, 4* WR Rison, 4* OG Petrula, 3* TE Dotson, 3* TE Pugh
Have To Get Really Lucky:
4* C Ruiz, 4* CB Thomas, 4* OLB Singleton, 4* DE Malone-Hatcher, 4* DT Bolds
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 Commit Watch (changed from Locks as to not offend recruiting gods), 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), and Former Interest(players that Penn State was previously interested in that most likely no longer have committable offers).
Elijah Conliffe from VA is first and said on Twitter that he almost did commit on this visit, he retweeted a tweet saying that Franklin tells people to make sure they are 1000% before pulling the trigger, so he held off…for now. Kurt Hinish is another PCC guy who I was calling for PSU to offer, they did and now we lead for him, this may be over soon for him! OT Carter Warren from NJ had a great trip as well and was raving about his experience, I really like the size he already has tipping the scales at 310 already. Down in the “In the Battle” category there are a ton of new prospects, some of whom I don’t view as having a commitable offer right now. Some of them I think are test the water offers. First is a stud OLB from IN, Pete Werner, he was at Jr Day and mentioned he had a great time at LBU, ND will be hard to beat here. Next is a pair of Jersey ATH in 4* Bo Melton and 3/4* Markquese Bell, neither were at JR day and both have interest from UM and RU. 3/4* ATH Derrick Pitts from WV had a great time at Jr Day and we are definitely in the thick of things against WVU and UMD. OLB Ayinde Eley from MD was supposed to visit for JR day but was a no show, not a good sign but we will see what it means going forward. J’Marick Woods is a 3* S from AL who is hoping to visit for blue white weekend. Then come four 3* OL offers that have gone out recently, NJ’s Robert Martin, WV Riley Locklear, and OH’s Joel Honigford and Mike Miranda. All are raw and have size, but I doubt all four are commitable at this moment with the other higher ranked tackles on the board. It doesn’t appear any are close to a decision at this point but if one or two were we’d probably take them but not all 4. Martin and Locklear were in State College the weeks leading up to JR Day and Honingford was there on JR Day and tweeted it was a great day. Miranda is set to visit on 3/5. Jake Marwede is a TE from IL who has a great relationship with Rahne, he was at Jr Day and had a great time. Evidence Njoku is a WR from NJ who was at JR Day and, surprise surprise, tweeted how great it was, I have reservations about getting excited over him though bc his brother plays at The U and we saw how that works out in 2016. To “Work Left To Do” I added DT/DE Jordan Williams from VA bc while he likes PSU and visited for the Rutgers game, Clemson and Tenn and in-state UVA and Va Tech are hard after him. Santino Marchiol is a OLB from IMG who I never would have added, even though we offered, but he had said he was visiting for JR Day but was a no-show, he may or may not visit when the other IMG guys do, more on that in a minute. Andre Rison’s son, a decommit from MSU, Hunter Rison recently got an offer and reacted joyfully on Twitter, I have my doubts we’ll ever be in that race. I also added Corey Bolds to have to get Lucky category bc we offered, but he might as well be enrolled at UM already.
To some more familiar names, Roberts, Webb, Thorpe, Adams, Swift, Wade, Proctor, and Wade-Perry were all at JR Day and all had terrific things to say. Neal was at UVA this weekend but we still sit very well for him. We made a huge play for Wade and it really paid off. There is a case for all of the guys I have in “In The Battle” who visited last week to be moved up bc they all loved it. For now since I don’t see any of them being over soon, I will stand pat and wait for Urban to respond on Wade, specifically, bc he does not want to lose that one. Hansard was a no-show on Saturday. I don’t know why, but he’s had ride issues in the past. Right now we cannot discount Ash’s honeymoon status. One recruit on twitter, maybe Melton or Hansard, was talking about how he showed a graphic stating that 75% on OSU’s roster is from OH and if RU did the same then they would be one of the best teams in the country. But to sell that you need tradition, a fan base, facilities, and money. He has none of those, so I expect that message to come crashing down mid-season.
I moved all of the IMG guys down and it is because all are seeing increased interest from other schools. Kaindoh from OSU and FSU, Spence has been tweeting non-stop about UMD, Anthony has significant interest from Clemson (though we did just beat them for Matos), and Hainsey is seeing amped up interest from MSU (Duzzie sending him there? I kid, but really?). IMG’s spring break is from Saturday March 19th through Sunday April 3rd. Expect those guys to visit campus during that period and potentially for a spring practice.
Some other guys I moved down are Young (UMD), Wilson (UM), and Hunter (Clem/VaTech) as interest at the moment doesn’t really seem to be there and seems to be (elsewhere).
I did this in a bit of a rush this afternoon, so I apologize if anything is a bit dated or if I forgot something.
Commit Watch:
4* ILB Roberts, 4* S Neal, 4* WR Webb, 4* G Thorpe, 3/4* DT Conliffe, 3* DT Hinish
Very Good Chance:
5* DE Kaindoh, 4* RB/LB Anthony, 4* DT Spence, 4* OT Hainsey, 4* ILB Adams, 3* OT Warren
In The Battle:
5* RB Swift, 4* CB Wade, 4* DT Hansard, 4* OT Clark, 4* OT McNair, 4* OT Lynch, 4* DT Jeter, 4* OLB Proctor, 4* LB Werner, 4* WR Melton, 3/4* ATH Bell, 4* QB Hill, 3/4* ATH Pitts, 3/4* OLB Eley, 3* DT Wade-Perry, 3* S Woods, 3* OT Martin, 3* OT Locklear, 3* OT Honigford, 3* OL Miranda, 3* TE Marwede, 3* WR Njoku, JUCO OT Traore
Work Left To Do:
5* OT Wilson, 4* RB McFarland Jr., 4* DE Young, 4* ATH Hunter, 4* DE Vilain, 4* DT Williams, 4* LB Marchiol, 4* WR Rison, 4* OG Petrula, 3* TE Dotson, 3* TE Pugh
Have To Get Really Lucky:
4* C Ruiz, 4* CB Thomas, 4* OLB Singleton, 4* DE Malone-Hatcher, 4* DT Bolds
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 Commit Watch (changed from Locks as to not offend recruiting gods), 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), and Former Interest(players that Penn State was previously interested in that most likely no longer have committable offers).
