Penn State's New Approach to Recruiting

Last year, Penn State offered scholarships to several borderline recruits far too early. Thus, they began filling their class with players they probably could have waited months for, if they ever needed them at all.

So by the time the Lions won the Big Ten and Paterno was awarded his new contract, there was hardly any room to add top talent down the stretch. That meant a really good class actually could have been even better.

But things have changed.

Now, just about every one of their scholarship offers has gone to legitimate, upper-echelon recruits.

No reaches, no projects, no sleepers.

almost 3 years ago BSD 6 comments 0 recs |

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I’m not so sure how many kids we missed out on b/c of all this — it just makes this next class kind of small b/c we used up a bunch of available ’ships in 2009.

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

by millzners on Mar 2, 2009 12:41 PM EST reply actions

Right

The last class was huge, and we just needed to fill some positions with bodies. We needed offensive tackles, wide receivers, and defensive backs desperately so we were able to be loose in who we offered.

Different story now. With Paul Jones already on board there is no position where we are desperate to fill. Maybe defensive line if anything. And there aren’t many scholarships to give out this year so they have to be more careful in who they offer. I’m not sure it’s a philosophy change as it’s just a different numbers game. One thing that has impressed me is that they seem to have bumped up their schedule in getting offers out by a few months. Last year it seemed like schools had gotten the jump on us in the early going. Not so much this year.

Mike
Black Shoe Diaries

by BSD on Mar 2, 2009 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

Speaking of large classes

Did you see the Feldman mailbag where he basically called out Nutt for kicking players off of Ole Miss for no reason? He wouldn’t completely bash Nutt but it he got a shot in. Also it makes me squirm how these SEC kids are oversigning and basically treating these kids like a piece of meat.

by STU Boy on Mar 2, 2009 12:53 PM EST up reply actions

Could be

But I know at this time last I was expecting recruiting to be a disaster b/c of Joe’s contract situation. Maybe the staff felt the same way and thats why we saw some early offers to more “marginal” kids.

by speedomike on Mar 2, 2009 12:59 PM EST up reply actions

Frank Bodani

I used to read him all the time, but kinda forgot about him since coming here. Will have to peak back in on the YDR more occasionally.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Mar 2, 2009 12:48 PM EST reply actions

nothing new

I heard this 8ish years ago. I agree with Mike in saying it’s not some new mentality in recruiting. When you need bodies you widen the search. Need always has to be played against how desirable the team is to teenagers that year.

And of course you can insert the long winded speech about kids that are “can’t miss” busts and/or the Deon Butler types that walk-on…

by MrTasses on Mar 4, 2009 11:15 AM EST reply actions