Mike Wallace Commits to Nittany Lions

by Run Up The Score on Jan 21, 2009 10:57 PM EST in Recruiting Comment 37 comments

Gimme Jelani Jenkins' high school teammate WOOOOOOO!

NittanyNetwork.com reports that defensive back Mike Wallace (no relation) has given his verbal commitment to Joe Paterno:

Wallace had scholarship offers from Penn State, New Mexico, Stanford, Army, Maine, New Hampshire and Towson University. However, when the offer came from Penn State over the weekend it did not take Wallace long to make up his mind.

"The recruiting process is pretty hard," Wallace said. "But I just felt comfortable at Penn State. God just told me it’s the right decision."

...

Wallace’s cousin, Terry Killens, played linebacker for Penn State in the 1990s.

Hey, it's a recruiting class specializing in pairs from the Maryland prep world -- Stephon Morris and Derrick Thomas are from Eleanor Roosevelt H.S., Darrell Givens and Malcolm Willis are from Lackey.

Mike Wallace and Jelani Jenkins, maybe? Hmmm?

(Hmmm? Hmmm?)

[DevonEdwards is also on this, in the Fanposts]

Early morning update: For whatever reason, ESPN.com is making a lot of its recruiting information and scouting reports available for free. You may have noticed it in the recruiting post the other day. Anyway, here's Wallace's profile:

Wallace shows some fine qualities as a defensive back prospect and should offer good scheme versatility at the next level. Lacks great height but is well-built and layered with good muscle tone. Displays good overall range as a run and pass supporter in zone coverage. Plays with a big cushion but breaks well on underneath routes. Shows good instincts tracking the deep throw and plays the ball with proper leverage and positioning. Shows good timing, leaping and ball skills high-pointing the football. However, recovery speed and burst to the football is not great, could struggle if employed in heavy man-to-man defenses. Not real quick-twitched and lacks good stop-start skill needed to mirror receivers in off-man.

Skills and physical tools project best in zone schemes, but we would like to see improved run support. Good tackler, particularly in space but flashes difficulty fighting off the stalk and getting over blocks on his pursuit. With that said, Wallace does show good physicality and a nose for the ball on the corner blitz; could develop into a safety if he can learn to run the alley properly. Good defensive football player and should develop into a solid special teams performer as well.

He had offers from Army and Stanford, so he's no dummy. We've taken much bigger chances than this, and if it helps with Jenkins...

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YES!!!!!!!!!!!

I’m so glad we’re not just getting leftovers from Maine and Towson anymore, and that we can finally play with the big boys!

In all seriousness though, is this blatantly someone that was signed with the only intent of more easily wooing Jenkins? It seems that way, though I’m sure the kid has some potential. Am I way off?

by jimbo2psu on Jan 22, 2009 12:05 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Couldn't Agree........

more with your sarcastic yes and the first line. With the addition of Wallace we have officially rec’d verbals from 4 times as many 2 star recruits as Florida, USC, Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, and Florida State combined. We have as many two star recruits in this class as Boise State does and one more than Utah does. I guess we didn’t learn anything from the Rose Bowl and how outmatched we were in the 2ndary. Oh well………top 10 finishes are nice too.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Jan 22, 2009 10:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's review...

Some highlights of our one- and two star recruits from the last few years:

2002:
Ed Johnson (1*)

2005:
Kevin Kelly (2*)
Daryll Clark (2*)
Mickey Shuler (2*)
(also Anthony Scirrotto, but he seemed to peak in his sophomore year)

2006:
Ollie Ogbu (2*)

Just for fun, let’s also look at a few of our four- and five-star recruits from this same time period:

2003:
Joel Holler

2004:
TQBWMNBN

2006:
Chris Bell
Antonio Logan-El

…and there were some other kids that didn’t pan out for whatever reason, but these are the best of our collossal failures.

The point is that we seem to do at least as well at taking lowly-rated kids and turning them into good players as we do poorly at evaluating and developing ‘top flight’ talent.

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 10:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know this argument has been beaten to death

But I say let’s ignore stars and trust our coaches. We have no choice anyway and the stars are not infallible.

We just needed a couple players, a couple people to buy in to the fact and we were able to do it. --A.Q. Shipley

by psu on Jan 22, 2009 10:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with you to an extent......

but frankly, I think Penn State recruiting is like talking to a Florida Gator fan about history and tradition. If I’m a Gator fan I don’t want to talk about the 70’s or 80’s cause there is really nothing to talk about. If I am a Penn State fan, I want to talk about it all day long. If I’m a Penn State fan, I don’t want to talk about recruiting because we don’t excel there. Perhaps I am over simplifying things……….but if we want to have to play the perfect game everytime we are in a big game with a ranked opponent, then keep signing 2 and 3 star guys. I love Penn State and always will. But I just disagree overall with a lot of folks on here regarding the star system. I’ve provided data points ad nauseum that shows the top teams in recruiting each year generally speaking out perform those that do not “recruit well” as far as the start systems are concerned. Sure you have your Utah’s and your BSU’s……….but these guys are the exception to the rule.

Eric Watters Atlanta, Ga.

by ech2os on Jan 22, 2009 1:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Chicken and the Egg

Sometimes I wonder if the Floridas, Notre Dames, and USCs get all the five star recruits or if all those kids get five stars because they got offers from Florida, Notre Dame and USC.

The recruiting services only have a few people to evaluate talent with. Maybe a couple dozen? Now how many high school kids are out there playing high school football every year? I don’t know, but it’s probably hundreds of thousands. No way these guys can see them all and say, “Yep, here is the list of the top 100 kids in the country.” No way. What they do is go to areas that are known high school football hotbeds with high populations. Namely Florida, Texas, Ohio, Washington DC, and Southern California. That way they can check out 10-15 kids in one weekend by attending just a few games. Kids in these areas get higher ratings because they get more publicity. Meanwhile the kid in Wilmington, Delaware who’s just as big and just as fast doesn’t get noticed because nobody wants to travel to Delaware to just see him. They’ll watch his film and say, “Yeah he looks good, but look at the competition he’s playing against in Delaware.”

But back to the original point, because these recruiting services can’t possibly see all these kids they let the big schools do a lot of their work for them. If a kid has an offer from USC, Florida, Michigan and Notre Dame they figure he must be a stud and give him four stars. If a kid has offers from Rutgers, Pitt, Temple and Akron he’s probably pretty good, but not great, so they’ll give him two or three stars.

So anyway, I don’t get too hung up on stars which is why you won’t see my flip out when we sign a two star kid. That’s just the evaluation of some recruiting guru who probably never even played Div. I football before.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 22, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I am starting my own recruiting service

It is called “STARS”.

I thought I’d be a little “shocking” with my list of 5-stars.
Anthony Fera
Gerald Hodges
Ty Howle
Kevin Newsome
Mark Arcidiacono
Nate Cadogan
Glenn Carson
Curtis Drake
Curtis Dukes
Brandon Felder
Frank Figueroa
Garry Gilliam
Darrell Givens
Adam Gress
Jordan Hill
Shawney Kersey
Christian Kuntz
Stephon Morris
Stephen Obeng-Agyapong
Eric Shrive
Devon Smith
Sean Stanley
Derrick Thomas
John Urschel
Mike Wallace
Andy Rooney
Malcolm Willis
Jelani Jenkins (though the next few weeks will determine if he drops down to 4 stars)
Justin Brown (same)
Tajh Boyd (ditto)
Peter White (better choose wisely)
Isaac Holmes (you too!)

Dorian Bell and Corey Brown, regretably, have fallen down from 5 stars down to 2 stars due to re-evaluation of their talent.

by The JuggerNitt on Jan 22, 2009 3:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I will be happy

when Justin Brown signs. We need offensive playmakers..big time.

by Mr. Rosewater on Jan 22, 2009 12:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

At least we know...

he can play the full 60 minutes

by cpm126 on Jan 22, 2009 7:15 AM EST reply actions 1 recs

Thanks folks!

I’m here all week. Try the veal.

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 7:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

He's no Andy Rooney,

but hopefully not quite as crotchety.

pinkertonpark.com - you owe yerself a laugh.

by rahpsu92 on Jan 22, 2009 10:56 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Plus . . .

we have JoePa already filling the AR role.

"the secret to loving your job is having a hobby that you really despise"

by nitwit86 on Jan 22, 2009 11:01 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this really could seal the deal for jenkins — he’s close by, enjoyed his visit, and now his best friend is coming here.

…oh and something about him playing linebacker for linebacker U, yeah that might help too.

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jan 22, 2009 7:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

One other thing

I read an article a while back about how Lavar was instrumental in a lot of our DC area recruiting. I would imagine that if I were a star linebacker coming out of high school, I might be inclined to listen to the man…

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 7:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The general feeling on Jenkins...

…is pretty positive these days. No concrete evidence to back that up, and he’s still going to wait until Signing Day. But, positive.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 22, 2009 9:17 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

is Wallace Jenkins' best friend?

if so that could really seal the deal. Or is he just a teammate? Maybe they don’t even like each other.

by The JuggerNitt on Jan 22, 2009 11:42 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, maybe not...

If we had already had a standing offer out there for Wallace, I might be inclined to say that they weren’t friends and this was just a smokescreen on Jenkins’ part, and that he was a good as Florida’s; but the fact that we waited until now to extend the offer says to me that they probably are a package deal. From Jenkins’ perspective, though, what would be the point of waiting unil LOI day to announce when there was some behind the scenes dealing going on to get a spot for his friend, that would immediately be interpreted by all parties as an indication of his intent?

This is why I generally try to ignore recruiting- you’re talking about the decision making processes of 17- and 18-year old kids, and you’ll likely give yourself an aneurysm trying to make sense of it all. Still, the last few days have been very good to Penn State, and mostly I just want to see that trend continue.

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 12:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm just saying

it could be one of those situations where we went to look at Jenkins and saw Wallace play pretty well also. Of course the timing of the offer acceptance is pretty…intriguing.

by The JuggerNitt on Jan 22, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Package deal

I doubt they are a package deal. Jenkins has been so guarded and deliberate in his recruiting that I think he’ll make his own decision.

The advantage I see here now is that Penn State has a man on the inside in the Jenkins camp. Wallace will be talking in his ear from now until signing day about how great Penn State is and trying to convince him to commit to the Nittany Lions. And we can talk to Wallace to get an idea where Jelani is at and what he’s thinking. I don’t know if that’s the entire reason Penn State offered Wallace, but it certainly gives us a leg up over Florida.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 22, 2009 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Greyshirt?

Any truth to the rumor that Wallace will be a 2010 spring semester signee?

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

by wookieeman on Jan 22, 2009 9:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

No word on that yet.

--
Mr. Bob Dobalina

by Run Up The Score on Jan 22, 2009 9:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Are we running out of Scholarships?

I was just wandering but are we not running out of Scholarships? I love seeing all these players wanting to sign. I know that you guys had a list at the begging of what we need and what we had left. Is there any way to get an updated version of that with everything that has gone on in the past couple of weeks :).

by jetskijoe on Jan 22, 2009 9:36 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

an update this would be cool :)

http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2008/11/25/670423/recruiting-update-coming-d

by jetskijoe on Jan 22, 2009 9:38 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Should have plenty

By NCAA rule you can only sign 25 kids in any one class. We had enough people leave due to graduation, the NFL, transfers, and dismissals that we can take a full class this year. Due to the fact four of our recruits enrolled in the spring semester their scholarships count toward last years class where we only took something like 18 kids. So we could sign up to 29 kids with this class. Wallace is #26. So we have room for Brown and Jenkins and maybe one more kid. Or we could hold the scholarships, give them to some fifth year senior walk on for a year and use them next year to balance out the recruiting classes.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 22, 2009 9:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So Wallace may be our last for a while.

So we could now be holding out for Brown and Jenkins. So don’t except any more Commits now.

by jetskijoe on Jan 22, 2009 9:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not till signing day

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Jan 22, 2009 10:06 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else read the ESPN profile

and think you’re reading a scouting report on Tony Davis?

by IcersGuy on Jan 22, 2009 10:00 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wallace looks like a safety, not a CB

by SweepTheLeg on Jan 22, 2009 10:45 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe a safety...

Looking at his size and speed, I wonder if he might make a good third-and-short RB prospect. I’d hate to think of anybody as ‘expendable’, but there’s definitely some logic in having a reliable 3-4 yard back to save your big play talent from potential injury in that situation (Green in the Rose Bowl, anyone?).

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This? This is why recruiting is CREEPY....

The quote “is well-built and layered with good muscle tone” makes me think recruiting analysts are at risk to be seen on episodes of “To Catch a Predator”.

Ew.

by Tailgate Shogun on Jan 22, 2009 12:45 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah

Something seems a little wrong to pay to read that kind of information about a high school kid.

You can keep your “Insider” information ESPN.

Luring recruits with my new "Posting HD" scheme since '08.

by 06Lion on Jan 22, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this

"We hugged as grown men do. It was a great moment. Then, it was business as usual." -- LJ Sr.

by millzners on Jan 22, 2009 1:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

now imagine if there were recruiting sites this devoted to a woman's sport

like say basketball, volleyball, or field hockey.

Imagine if similar comments were made about some high school girl.

Man, that sounds…

by The JuggerNitt on Jan 22, 2009 2:37 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

*Giggity

There is a tractor in the parking lot, West Virginia license EIEIO. Your lights are on.

by leeharvey418 on Jan 22, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wallace this years Astorino

the recruiting situation of this kid kinda reminds me of Drew Astorino.

by WPIALkid22 on Jan 22, 2009 1:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Legacy?

How does the fact his cousin played for State play into it also? Can’t hate on a program that has traditionally given scholarships to family of former players, just because one happens to have the added bonus of being another recruit’s best friend. Can you?

by The Mess on Jan 22, 2009 10:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

What?

Can someone give me some info on this kid. Looking from a football standpoint, Penn State seems to be quite a difference from the other schools. Towson? Maine?

From an academic standpoint, this obviously shows the kid is smart. It should also be noted that Army does not give out athletic scholarships, so he recieved an appointment (usually by a senator or congressman) to go there.

by MrBrianPSU on Jan 23, 2009 1:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs