Junior Day Preview: An Interview With Class of 2013 PA LB Jake Plonski
by Jared Slanina on Feb 14, 2012 4:00 PM EST
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With only two linebackers signed in the last two recruiting classes, and the departure of Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges after the 2012 season, expect Penn State to look for several linebackers in the 2013 recruiting class.
Cathedral Prep’s (Erie, PA) Jake Plonski could be one of the latest additions that will be expected to uphold the tradition at Linebacker U. Plonski will be one of several promising student-athletes to make the trip to State College for this weekend’s Junior Day. He will be making the trip with two of his teammates: QB Damion Terry and ATH Delton Williams.
"We're all seeing how everything plays out for each of us right now. If things work out, we may try to play together at the next level."
The 6-3, 225 pound ILB has not received any offers yet, but thinks this will change soon.
"My coach has hinted that I will be receiving some offers soon. I know he seems to think Penn State is getting really close to offering."
Plonski will be visiting Michigan State on the weekend of February 25, and is working around his 7-on-7 schedule to make trips to Illinois and West Virginia. As far as his visit to Penn State this week, he is most excited about checking out the new-look weight room and workout facilities.
"I'm a huge gym freak, so the facilities will play a big part in my selection process. I love pushing my limits, becoming stronger, and finding new ways to improve my game," Plonski said. "I went to the Iowa and Alabama games last year, so I got to know the campus really well. I'm looking forward to getting a look at the facilities now."
Penn State's new strength and conditioning program already seems to be making an impact on recruits. Plonski recently sat down and watched Penn State's "New Strength" video, and came away very impressed.
"I really like what I saw. It seems like a very intense program."
While the strength and conditioning program will be a factor in Plonski’s decision, there are several other factors he is considering. "I want to go somewhere with a nice campus. The overall atmosphere of the university is important to me. I also want to play for a group of coaches that are fun to be around."
Thus far Plonski has mainly been hearing from wide receivers coach Stan Hixon, but expect him to receive plenty of input from new strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald before the 2013 letter of intent date comes around.
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How cool
If we can get all three of these guys.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Williams and Plonski are more important for now.
Terry is a solid dual-threat QB, but likely wouldn’t fit in BOB’s system,and is likely further down the want-list for the staff. However, adding Terry as an insurance QB wouldn’t be a terrible idea.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 4:24 PM EST up reply actions
Can always grab him up and
Use them where their skills can fit. I mean how many times did Joe recruit someone in one posiiton and turn them into stars in other positions. I swear half the team started out as a QB in high school at some point. Not like BoB can’t do that also.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
I'm hoping that strategy changes, though.
I’d rather BOB recruit a top level QB and top level DB’s rather than taking a few quarterbacks and forcing a square peg into a round hole. Sure, it worked sometimes, but when you start talking moving positions, it gets that much harder.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Depending of what High School they went to
Some of these kids played more than 1 position. so they might want to be a QB, but are a much better football player when they area a CB. So it’s not like a lot of these kids were playing LB exclusively in HS and then were asked to be a FB in college. There is room, IMHO, to get those multi function kids and put them where the teams needs dictate. Might need to run wildlion, or slot reciever, or a safety is someone gets hurt.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
Certainly, and lots of the top-end recruits do play both sides
Since they’re generally the best, or one of the best, player on the team. But recruiting a lot of those “athlete” players is a dangerous game to play. Armani Reeves played on offense, but he was definitely the shutdown corner we needed in last year’s class.
As for filling in, that’s where depth chart strategy comes into play. The staff didn’t do the secondary any help the past few years, so the new staff will have to make sure they get the right numbers so our depth charts don’t get to bare bones.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 5:06 PM EST up reply actions
Does the name.....
Jim Kelly ring a bell? PSU needs to keep its talent IN STATE. And it needs to be honest with these kids. It is a package deal if you want to attract the best and keep Urban (and everyone esle) out of PA and away from PSU recruits.
If you can’t be honest and up front with the kids you are recruiting it is not going to work.
by bluehenfan73 on Feb 14, 2012 6:31 PM EST up reply actions
You mean the all-Pro QB that Penn State recruited as a linebacker?
I’d prefer we recruit to each position, with maybe a couple of spots for the Percy Harvins and Derrick Williams of the world. You can’t put 11 Bill Beltons on the field, you need to target specific positional requirements.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 6:33 PM EST up reply actions
Yes, that Jim Kelly
You guys have an awesome campus. One of the best I have ever seen, and I have been to Stanford, and UVA, and Chapel Hill (what’s the big deal), and Duke, and ND, and OSU and MANY more (almost as good as UD! :)). There is so much to like about PSU. And if this coaching staff is as good as I think it is, then over time the dominance that everyone predicted when PSU first joined the B1G is something I think will happen and surprise people.
Be careful on these posts and discussions guys. You think the recruits aren’t reading this stuff? Or that is doesn’t make an impression?
I am a Blue Hen. With a strong affinity to PSU for many reasons I have detailed previously stated. Don’t shoot yourselves in the foot (feet?) by trying to be too hip or too “smart” with what you are saying here.
IMHO the objective is to get the best players (that will ALSO go to class and graduate), and to kick the crap out of any and all that you guys play. Think about that as you comment and offer opinions.
I like what I see and hear from O’Brien. I’m looking forward to him kicking the crap out of Urban. Year after year after year.
by bluehenfan73 on Feb 14, 2012 6:47 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I'm a post-doc at UD right now...
I like what I see and hear from O’Brien. I’m looking forward to him kicking the crap out of Urban. Year after year after year.
Can I buy you a beer at Iron Hill? :)
by BNittsDeMilo on Feb 14, 2012 7:14 PM EST up reply actions
Any time...
My son is a soph/junior at UD (he came in with 27 credits so I am not sure how to catagorize him); so I am up there frequently ; drop me a line at jswain23@comcast.net; and I will see if we can do it there or at Grotto
by bluehenfan73 on Feb 14, 2012 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Well if these recruits are reading this...
Recruits: I would like to welcome all of you to State College for a nice weekend visit. We would love to have all of you play football for our team. We would also like to see you succeed both on and off the field. We cherish academics at PSU, but have some great perks. Have you ever heard of the Creamery? We make some of the best ice cream you will ever eat. We have cheerleaders as well!!! Also we think that you’re all very good looking, and dress sharply. Since your coming over the weekend of THON, we hope you can get into the BJC and experience what PSU represents in the community and the differences we try and make uponn our world on a daily basis. Did I mention your all good looking?, well you are.
In summation, please consider making Penn State your number one desination to play football as well as get a great education and become a part of our Happy Valley family.
Thank You.
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
by AriesGD on Feb 14, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
I am 100% positive recruits read message boards.
However, that does not mean that people should temper opinions or analysis. There will be good and bad things said about almost every recruit of every major program somewhere online.
We won’t level any personal attacks at any of the recruits we cover here, but we’re similarly not going to sugarcoat everything. Additionally, if a recruit makes a decision based on what some faceless commenter on a message board said about him, no one would go anywhere.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 8:20 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I'm old school
But all I want to convey is the need to be intelligent and measured in your comments. How capable of parsing literate reparte were you at the age of 18?
And for those of you that didn’t read it in the past, I dated a PSU cheerleader and am damn glad to have had that experience!!!
But they are STILL just 18. If it were you what would YOU respond positively to?
by bluehenfan73 on Feb 14, 2012 9:03 PM EST up reply actions
y would they care
if we think they are attractive, my guess is they care way more about the cheerleaders…some webbrowsing that with the safesearch off on the google search should prove my point…recruits reading this give it a shot
bluehenfan said
That recruits sometimes read comments on websites like this, which I find a bit ridiculous. So I figured I would “butter” them up, clearly my joke was not taken as such, I guess talking about the great things about PSU, and adding in a stupid line about how they are attractive, to get them to come to PSU shoud not be what is said. I will just stop then commenting about recruits, since Cleraly they make thier decisions about what some random person says on a random site for that school instead of the coaches and academics and atmophere and all those minor things.
So instead I will just add this photo and take my leave from all recruting stuff:
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose - Janis Joplin
BUT WITHOUT STARS HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW WHICH ONES I WANT??!?!?!?!?
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
For now, you have to look at interest levels for other schools.
The stars will come later, and then we’ll tell you who is the better linebacker prospect.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I was just messing around.
Although how reliable are offer lists at this point? Don’t a lot of the kids just list offers that they may not have, and other schools not send them out as quickly? For example, do a single one of the top MD talents this year have an offer from us yet? Fuller, O’Daniel, Poggi etc.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Feb 14, 2012 4:32 PM EST up reply actions
Was actually discussing this with Jared earlier.
At this point, all I can do is take what the recruit tells me at his word. Some claim offers that don’t exist, some inflate their offer list, and some are very honest. It’s up to us to figure out who is telling the truth and what their interest level is. Plus, they have a whole spring and summer of workouts, combines, etc. to get those rankings.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 4:43 PM EST up reply actions
Yeah, I mean, you have to use the information you have.
It’s not like you can start guessing who is not giving you an accurate list, and which schools have and haven’t officially offered etc. I guess it’s just best to keep all that in mind.
Have you gotten the impression that this staff will not give out as many verbal offers as quickly? Seems like the top talents in LJ territory are not sporting a PSU offer.
Also, what are they putting in the New Jersey water lately? It seems like this will be a loaded year for NJ.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Feb 14, 2012 7:27 PM EST up reply actions
Not sure on the offers.
But totally agree about New Jersey. Don Bosco in particular is absolutely loaded. Unfortunate we haven’t had a stronger presence in NJ. That appears to be changing with the new staff.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 7:41 PM EST up reply actions
Would really be nice.
Seems like UF has a lock there. Speaking of pipelines, what’s the Calvert Hall talent like this year? Also, Youngstown has some talent this year I think, will we be in the running there at all?
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Feb 14, 2012 7:46 PM EST up reply actions
Mostly meaning the dude from Mooney.
"Today we have experienced a great loss. This loss is incomparable to what we gained from coach Paterno." - Mike Wallace
by PSUinBOSSton on Feb 14, 2012 7:49 PM EST up reply actions
Calvert has a safety we're high on, Delando Johnson.
In Ohio, there is a running back from Howland (Anthony Stanko’s school) named DeVeon Smith. He has offers from OSU and UM, and will be at PSU this weekend.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 8:26 PM EST up reply actions
and my school too!
I hadn’t been to a game in years but went back to check out Smith this past season. I honestly believe he will be a Heisman contender if he stays healthy and motivated. Maurice Clarett was also from Warren, and I though Smith blew him out of the water. I saw Smith run for 300 yards against one of the top teams in Ohio. All he did was run straight up the middle too. No tosses or counters or anything. He would have rushed for 500 yards that game if he didn’t play for the most conservative coach imaginable.
by Jared Slanina on Feb 14, 2012 10:04 PM EST up reply actions
Howland's QB will be there too
I was a little surprised, but not sure what his skill set is since he throws about 5 passes a game.
by Jared Slanina on Feb 14, 2012 10:06 PM EST up reply actions
New Strength
I hadn’t seen the video before. Coach Fitzgerald scares me. I don’t think we’ll have to worry about our team getting pushed around any more.
I assume there are no restrictions
on a S&T coach calling / texting / emailing with a recruit, other than the normal quiet periods that all coaches must observe?
I'm not sure.
I know there are limits on the number of actual coaching staff members (HC + 9), and a limit on the number of coaches that can be on the road recruiting at any one time. But I don’t think there are any restrictions on additional staff members talking with recruits. I know the recruits will be given tours of the weight rooms (which are undergoing major renovations to comply with Fitzgerald’s vision of the program), so I’m sure they’ll also speak in-depth with Fitz.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 6:04 PM EST up reply actions
(undergoing major renovations)
UPS guy: Only one stop today for a bunch of packages? This should be an easy one….where we going?…/makespunchtogutsound
So, what, we're looking to take four LB's and he could be one of them?
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by ICEICETHATGUY13 on Feb 14, 2012 6:19 PM EST reply actions
I put the LBs at 2-3, but it could just as easily be 4.
Like Jared said, we’ve taken two linebackers in the last two years. That’s future depth chart russian roulette talk.
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by Jeff Junstrom on Feb 14, 2012 6:34 PM EST up reply actions
Thanks BSD for the football info.
I am already looking foward to springball. Keep the information flowing.
Plonski just sounds like a badass LB
that needs to play for PSU.
I am not but but
I think he applied for one.
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