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Committany Nation (11.20.15): The Biggest Recruiting Weekend of the Year

Oh boy, everyone's coming to Happy Valley this weekend.

By Bill DiFilippo
247Sports

The List

This is Penn State's biggest recruiting weekend of the year. This isn't too terribly surprising since, you know, it's the White Out game against a marquee opponent, but it's still awesome. There is a full list of recruits behind a paywall on 247Sports, and hot dang, is it something else. Here are some of the guys who we know are attending:

Maybe the most surprising (and biggest) name in attendance will be five-star 2017 offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson. He confirmed the news on his Twitter account on Thursday morning:

Wilson currently holds 27 offers, and his Crystal Ball features six predictions – three for Rutgers, two for Penn State, one for Michigan. He is the No. 17 player in the class of 2017, the No. 5 offensive tackle, and the top prospect in the state of New York, per 247. If James Franklin could pull in Wilson, it would mark the second consecutive year that he was able to pull the top recruit in the Empire State. However, Wilson named a top-eight that did not include Penn State last week, so the coaching staff has plenty of work to do here.

As for guys not making the trip, it looks like four-star New Jersey defensive tackle Fred Hansard can't come. Well, it looks like he can't make the trip right now, but if he is able to get a ride, he'll be in State College.

Some people offered rides, but one guy's offer stood out.

He definitely gets an A for effort.

Also not coming is three-star 2016 athlete Ikenna Okeke, who planned on taking the trip but has a game on Friday night that will interfere with his ability to come up from Tennessee, according to ESPN's Tom VanHaaren. We have been able to confirm that New Jersey DT and three-star Penn State commit Michael Dwumfour is not able to make the trip this weekend. He was expected to visit Happy Valley, but he will be busy with his school's game against Delbarton.

Sure, We're Down to Talk Brendan Ferns

Penn State's top remaining linebacker target in the class of 2016 is four-star Ohio product Brendan Ferns. Steve Wiltfong of 247 wrote about Ferns, who seems just as remarkable off of the field as he is on it (and he's really, really, REALLY good as a football player). Definitely read the whole article, but here's what he had to say about the Nittany Lions:

"Coach Franklin came the other day to practice and I feel like he truly is excited about me not only as a football player but as a person," Ferns said. "They got my degree so that’s a check. My brother somehow, he had some type of connection with Penn State and I feel like there is a slight connection with me. He liked it there. It brings off a good vibe. I feel like it’s a stable place. Their defense has been good."

"Not many people get to say you got to play linebacker at Linebacker U, that alone speaks words for the ability and opportunity you’ve gotten," Ferns said.

Now that his high school career is over, Ferns apparently plans on shifting into recruit mode. If you want to know why the Nittany Lions want him so badly, here are his stats from his senior year:

Brendan Ferns: Good at Football.

A Very Important Lavert Hill Update

Lavert Hill is still committed to Penn State. And no, the outcome of this weekend's game will not determine his eventual commitment choice.

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