Welcome back to Committany Nation! As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to tweet at Eli (@misdreavus79) or myself (@PatKoerbler).
Recapping the Week That Was; Penn State Climbs To No. 21
Penn State had another successful week on the recruiting trail, picking up three commitments — three-star prospects Brailyn Franklin and Desmond Holmes for the class of 2017, and four-star Justin Shorter for 2018. With the verbal commitments of Franklin and Holmes, the Nittany Lions now find themselves with the 21st ranked recruiting class in the nation.
So...Who’s Jumping Onboard Next?
Probably no one. And really, after a month of multiple commitments, that’s okay. Unless Donovan Johnson or Lamont Wade decide to ends things early, Penn State probably isn’t in a position in to land anyone at this moment. Prospects like Tariq Castro-Fields and Dalyn Wade-Perry (more hyphens) could certainly end up with the Nittany Lions when all is said and done, but there’s work to be done on both fronts.
Mark Webb Pushes Back His Decision
More good news, folks. One time Penn State lean Mark Webb has decided to not decide before his senior season, and instead will be taking official visits, with the Nittany Lions getting one. While Webb continues to look towards the south will Alabama and Georgia in the lead, it’s only a positive that Penn State will get to display Joe Moorhead’s offense to Webb before he makes a decision.
On that same note, D’Andre Swift is still expected to decide before the season.
Penn State Makes Jaylen Harris’ Top Five
After visiting Happy Valley in July, Jaylen Harris must have liked what he saw as Penn State landed a spot in the Ohio receiver’s final five.
Truly Blessed, final 5 pic.twitter.com/DF4WjumByt
— Jaylen Harris (@JHarris5_) August 4, 2016
Harris probably isn’t a take at Ohio State or Alabama, meaning the Nittany Lions’ main opposition will be Michigan State and Tennessee. Harris doesn’t seem to be leaning any one way, so official visits should prove critical.
Micah Parsons Doesn’t Visit Michigan
Penn State commit and five-star thoroughbred Micah Parsons was expected to visit Michigan for its Big House BBQ, but instead he cancelled his visit to Ann Arbor.
While there’s no real positive in Parsons taking visits — or in this case, looking to take visits — I wouldn’t fret too much. As long as Penn State makes the strides they’re expected to on the field, I’d expect Parsons to stay in the fold.
2019 CB Nyquee Hawkins Visits and Lands Offer
James Franklin and company hosted rising sophomore Nyquee Hawkins last Friday, and the New Jersey product walked away with a Penn State offer. It’s only the second offer Hawkins has received, but it appears that the Nittany Lions could be the favorite for the 2019 prospect, as Sean Fitz of Lions247 put in his crystal ball for Penn State.
Being that Hawkins won’t be signing his NLOI for another two-and-a-half years, I doubt Penn State is pushing all that hard for a commitment — both for its own sake and for Hawkins’ sake, too. Still, it isn’t a bad sign when a prospect is trending to your school, even if he hasn’t played his junior season yet.