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Penn State Freshmen Update


It's that time of year where there are a bunch of high school all star football games going on, and there are a few Penn State freshmen participating here and there before they enroll later this summer. The most notable of local interest is the Big 33 Game held yesterday, and Curtis Drake completely dominated.

Drake was at times dominant playing in the shotgun with 17 carries for 88 yards and two scores, including a nifty 1-yard run on a quarterback draw with 2:21 remaining in regulation that tied the game 31-31.

Then there is this account of the game.

Down by a touchdown in the final three minutes, Drake – who played quarterback Saturday but will be a receiver at Penn State – found West Catholic teammate Rob Holloman out of the backfield for a big gain into Ohio territory.

A few plays later, he hooked up with incoming Penn State tight end Garry Gilliam (Milton Hershey) down the seam to put the ball at the 1-yard line.

Drake, who was named MVP for Pennsylvania, scored his second rushing touchdown of the game on the next play on a QB keeper to tie it at 31.

Drake also had a critical fumble, but he was still given MVP honors for the PA team. Drake is expected to play wide receiver for Penn State this fall, but he hints that maybe the coaches are thinking about trying him out a quarterback.

"At first they were talking about wide receiver, playing in the slot," Drake said last week. "Then I had a couple of all-star games and started practicing with the Big 33 team as a quarterback, and I got to see Joe Paterno in person. They started talking about me playing quarterback at Penn State."

Drake doesn't specifiy who "they" are, so I can't tell if he's talking about the Penn State coaches or the high school coaches in the Big 33 game. More after the jump.

Star-divide

In other news, incoming wide receiver Christian Kuntz was equally dominant in the Pennsylvania East-West game.

Penn State-bound wideout Christian Kuntz (Camp Hill Trinity High School) caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes, of 66 and 12 yards from Campman, to make the final score respectable.

Kuntz finished with five catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns. This kid really could end up being a diamond in the rough for Penn State. He flew under the recruiting radar because his high school played him at running back instead of his more natural position of wide receiver. Then he tore his knee up and had to miss his senior year, so he never really got any attention in the recruiting scene. But as the story goes, he attended a camp at Penn State last summer and looked so impressive in running routes and catching passes that Mike McQueary pulled him aside and offered him a scholarship on the spot. I'm interested to see what he can do after a redshirt year to learn the position.

Moving along, everyone's favorite comedian Stephen Obeng-Agyapong likes to hurt people.

"He looks like a small guy, but when he gets on the field he turns into a totally different person," Kennedy and NYC teammate Ozzie Garcia said. "When we are out here practicing, you see him coming down to hit the running back and they blow the whistle. You knew it was going to be a big hit."
 
It is the thing the Penn State-bound free safety enjoys most about his position.
 
"That’s one of my favorite things to do," Obeng said. … "They don’t see you coming and you just knock them out. Sometimes they do and you still knock them out."

Obeng-Agyapong will be playing in the Empire Challenge, a high school all star game in New York. Here's a scouting report on him.

I also got a glimpse of what makes Obeng, who is heading to Penn State, so good. As a free safety, he came all the way across the field to the sidelines to break up two pass plays. First he leaped in the air to help knock down a ball on a deep route and the other he got a hand on late.
 
"He is definitely going to be game-changer on Tuesday, with his speed you know he can get there and make a big catch," Garcia said. "He can take the interception to the house."

Finally, if you don't know who Moses Washington is, he was a track star at Oklahoma and a cornerback on the Sooners' 2000 National Championship football team. He's also a competitor on Michael Irvin's reality show, 4th and Long, about a bunch of athletes competing to earn a spot in the Dallas Cowboys' training camp.

So now that you know who Moses Washington is, here is a video of Penn State verbal commit Adrian Coxson taking him to school in a one-on-one competition.

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I watched about 1/2 of the game.

“The Drake” looked very quick and made some nice runs and some good throws. He made some “questionable” throws, also. He seemed to throw a lot off his back foot. He does look small. He has a lot of raw athleticism but seems to get a little out of control.

I tried to keep an eye on Arcidiacono. What I saw looked pretty good.

I missed the end of the game and Gilliam’s catch and run. He didn’t do much in the parts I watched.

The Michigan recruit Touisaint looked very quick and potentially a game breaker. I thought Drake’s HS teammate, Rob Hollomon, was as quick and talented as Tousaint, but he’s not as big. He could be a sleeper pick up for somebody. He’s headed for prep school.

by PaJoe on Jun 21, 2009 6:22 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Interesting article.

I am loving this class.

The Drake, Dukes, Kuntz…etc…should be awesome

by SweepTheLeg on Jun 21, 2009 9:47 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Watch the Coxson Video...

Needs to work on his routes, specifically getting into and out of his breaks, but the kid is blessed with some of the best hands and body control I’ve seen in a WR coming out of high school in a long time. He had no business catching half the balls he did and had to beat the DB to the ball almost every time. He is going to be something special, mark my words…

by Domin8ing the Big Ten(11) on Jun 21, 2009 11:42 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

That was a fun watch.

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 12:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why the Drake will be our next QB

I’m still kidding when I say that, but he’s been dominant as a QB at that level; I think his HS championship game he looked really good too. I really wish he had enrolled early b/c I think he’s the sleeper ATH in this class.

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

by millzners on Jun 22, 2009 9:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Maybe,

I at least feel he would be a better “development project” than burning another scholie on a 2-3 star guy just to have a “backup” QB to Newsome or Jones. Drake could fill that role very well.

However, IMO Drake has a long way to go to get to a D-1 QB. He is a gifted athlete and I am very sure he can make a strong impact somewhere at Penn State. He isn’t physically big, about 6’ and maybe 170 or so. It doesn’t appear he has a rifle for an arm and his throwing mechanics are not real good. I did see him make at least two high quality throws, but also saw him send up several quails! He is super quick and can scamper around very well.

I also don’t think he has the “coolness” under fire to be the leader we need at QB. He fumbled at the one on one of those QB sneaks where it looked like he tried to stretch the ball out and it got knocked away. He just wasn’t strong enough, like DC, to push it in. He also missed a couple of snaps in the shotgun (this could have been a center issue, also). At least one took PA out of a third and short and stopped a drive.

On the flip side, he was behind an OL that hadn’t worked together and the Ohio DL and LB’s were pretty strong….so…maybe I am being too critical. I do think Drake has a future with the Lions!

by PaJoe on Jun 22, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Wildcat" QB

In the complete interview with The Drake he implied they may want him to play an occasional Wildcat QB along the lines of Derick Williams. I don’t think The Drake or the coaching staff has any allusions of him being a full time QB.

by ageing lion on Jun 22, 2009 12:05 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Makes sense

In a ‘maybe we can convince our start backup qb to transfer’ kinda way.

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

start = star

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think we'll find that that he'll stay at WR

With the athletes PSU is recruiting at QB there won’t be a need for him to do that in the long run.

"From the outside looking in, you cannot understand it. From the inside looking out, you cannot explian it."

by psuphiman80 on Jun 22, 2009 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Me too

The Drake @ QB = scary
The Drake in the slot = really scary

by BSD on Jun 22, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hate all formations with Derrick Williams at QB

It just never made sense to me, especially with Clark at QB. What do you gain? It was even more ridiculous when they used to put #14 at WR. I remember the ND debacle a few years back, I think Williams at QB averaged -9 yards with a fumble.

by cpm126 on Jun 22, 2009 12:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Last year

Dwill ran pretty well and had at least one good pass from the Wildcat. It’s just a change of pace to confuse the defense, especially with a guy that has some experience throwing. As long as it’s not overused it can be dangerous.

"From the outside looking in, you cannot understand it. From the inside looking out, you cannot explian it."

by psuphiman80 on Jun 22, 2009 12:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

you know what I hate?

that stupid WR to WR pass on the reverse. It never works. It’s never been completed in my memory, even when the guy is wide open and it’s a 10 yard lob into the endzone. I know why they run it, to keep the LB’s and Safeties honest for a real reverse, but every time they run it I’m SO frustrated they can’t complete the friggin pass, b/c the guy is almost always wide open and who ever is throwing it usually puts up a wounded duck wobbler that’s worse than you see the old drunk guys throwing out at the tailgating.

Maybe the Drake will be the first to complete that pass, who knows. Good lord I hope it works eventually, because now when they run it it’s just embarassing.

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

by millzners on Jun 22, 2009 1:34 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I hate the wildcat too

The defense knows right away to key on the run, and it only ever seems to get five or six yards. So they run it five or six times to set up one passing play that 75% of the time is going to end up in an incompletion or a horrendous sack.

It just seems like there are more innovative ways to get the ball to your play maker than taking a direct snap and basically telegraphing it to the defense.

by BSD on Jun 22, 2009 1:39 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

it reeks of desperation

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

by millzners on Jun 22, 2009 1:41 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

WOO WOOOOO

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 2:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

+1

One of your better efforts.

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Admittedly

It probably was not as bad as #14 lining up at wide receiver.

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 6:44 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

QB14 at WR was HILARIOUS

I haven’t seen the Alamo Bowl since it happened. Did A&M even bother to cover him? Any defensive coach in the world would have known the ball wasn’t going to the #14. He could throw the ball 140 mph, but wasn’t always on target, but he fumbled every other time he ran the ball, so I’m guessing he probably couldn’t catch a football from another QB to save his life.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 22, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Woulda been even more hilarious

To watch him try to catch one.

Woulda been like this guy:

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 7:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Red x

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

retry

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Meh,

I’ll begrudgingly give 14 the slightest smidge of credit, he threw at least one nice chop that I saw.

Black Shoes. Basic Blues. No Name. All Game.

"Everyone has a plan, until they get punched in the mouth."

by Roland86 on Jun 23, 2009 2:45 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

High hopes for the Drake

And if we’re really only talking about needing a #3 QB at this point (with Jones and Newsome ostensibly around for a while), I have no issue with saving a scholarship for a non-QB. We already have McGloin, too. Save the scholly for an impact guy.

--
Order your copy of "We Are Penn State", like, now. One team, 128 pages.

by Run Up The Score on Jun 22, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I have a question

When was “Curtis” dropped from “Curtis Drake” and replaced with “The”? I honestly can’t remember when or why.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 10:15 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Cross out the "why"

I understand the Seinfeld reference.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 10:26 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

It was pretty much instant.

The day the kid was rumored to be close to committing everyone was calling him The Drake. Seinfeld has a grip on all of us.

"From the outside looking in, you cannot understand it. From the inside looking out, you cannot explian it."

by psuphiman80 on Jun 22, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why

‘The Drake’ is a reference to Seinfeld episode 22 of the fourth season, where:

The group travels to buy an engagement gift for their friend “the Drake”, a big-screen television. George parks his father’s car in a handicapped parking space, since they figured they will only be a few minutes. However, they are mistaken and are in the store for much longer, and in the time that they were gone, an angry mob trashes the vehicle when a disabled woman gets injured because of the illegal parking.

When
On or about June 11, 2008 anno zugini.

/shaking head at KoT….

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 6:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

"Cross out the 'why'"

“I understand the Seinfeld reference.”

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Why

Why ‘The Drake’ is a reference to Seinfeld episode 22 of the fourth season, where:

The group travels to buy an engagement gift for their friend "the Drake", a big-screen television. George parks his father’s car in a handicapped parking space, since they figured they will only be a few minutes. However, they are mistaken and are in the store for much longer, and in the time that they were gone, an angry mob trashes the vehicle when a disabled woman gets injured because of the illegal parking.

When
On or about June 11, 2008 anno zugini.

/shaking head at KoT….

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can’t wait to see Obeng-Agyapong on the field. I’m hoping he’s just as devoid of emotion on the field as he appears to be in every picture.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jun 22, 2009 3:29 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Well, he is...

This is him after he knocks out a receiver…

After he crushes a QB…

And after he lays a big hit on a running back…

And finally, an obvious SOA imposter attempting a smile…

by Screen Name 20 on Jun 22, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I wonder how many unsportsmanline penalties he gets

not only for removing his helmet (or is that just an NFL rule?), but for removing his whole uniform.

by The JuggerNitt on Jun 22, 2009 4:14 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Surprisingly, they have a few different alternates...

and he also prefers to play without shoulder pads…and helmet…and sometimes sleeves.

by Screen Name 20 on Jun 22, 2009 4:17 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Does anyone know

How solid Coxson’s commit was to us? I don’t have premium subscriptions to any recruiting sites, so I don’t know what he’s said about us. I watched that video, and the kid obviously has tremendous talent, so I’d hate to lose him. I think I remember some article where he said his Mom really liked PSU, so that always is a help, but wasn’t sure how solid that verbal was, or what he said about why he picked us. Just curious.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 22, 2009 7:07 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Coxson is ver solid

And, thank Zug too, b/c we really need solid Coxson/Kuntz verbals.

(No, I don’t know how solid the commitment is. Obviously.)

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I think they're now referred to

as oral commitments.

When I say to a kid, ‘Hey, get ready to get knocked on your rear end,’ I also tell him, ‘Learn. Learn why you got knocked on your rear end. --jvp

by jtothep on Jun 22, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Is that what Tom Lemming’s relationship with ND is described as?

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 22, 2009 9:53 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

Bump. Set. Spike.

Penn Staters belong at Penn State. The problem with a lot of kids is they just don’t know they are Penn Staters yet. -jesse. @ BSD

by TheK-GunNeedsReloaded on Jun 23, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Coxson better be very solid

otherwise Kuntz will be quite disappointed.

Of course, there’s always that blue pill.

by The JuggerNitt on Jun 23, 2009 12:20 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I'm not sure what the greater tragedy would be in this situation

Losing a five star WR, or losing the Coxson-Kuntz formation. I will cry if either happens, but especially the latter.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 23, 2009 6:53 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

My dream

At some point this year, we run a Coxson-Kuntz hook and lateral.

DO YOU HAVE PRIDE, DANNY?

by ReadingRambler on Jun 23, 2009 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

My life would almost be complete when they make a play together

Especially if we get to hear the hesitation in the announcer’s voices when they have to say their names, especially Kuntz. The awkwardness will be hilarious beyond belief, and could possibly lead to a slip-up of YouTube proportions.

by dawsonPSU10 on Jun 24, 2009 12:42 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

We're good to go.

"From the outside looking in, you cannot understand it. From the inside looking out, you cannot explian it."

by psuphiman80 on Jun 23, 2009 7:09 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

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