Success With Hyperlinking is on a Hot Streak

Recruiting is red hot

It’s been quite a week in recruiting for Coach James Franklin and his staff, nabbing 5 commits in 5 days – with a five star, a host of four stars, and a three star, filling up critical positions and placing Penn State football’s 2019 class at 14^th nationally and third in the Big Ten.

Five-star linebacker Brandon Smith and four star safety Tyler Rudolph announced on Monday, joining four-star Devyn Ford (the nation’s top 3 running back), four-star cornerback Marquis Wilson and three-star safety JUCO transfer Jaquan Brisker, all who committed in just the past week.

Is Penn State turning into RBU?

Penn State is loading up on top running backs, since they can’t handle just one top talent in the position, adding Ford to a full lineup of five star players Ricky Slade and Miles Sanders and three star Journey Brown. 247 breaks down the why behind it, going back to some of the top teams and top backs in Penn State history.

Northwestern and Purdue possibilities for a top QB transfer?

The Nittany Lions aren’t the only team with their eyes on five-star recruits. According to 247 Sports, Northwestern is dead-set on nabbing former five-star quarterback Hunter Johnson, a recruit in the 2017 class, who announced he’ll be transferring from Clemson.

Does Northwestern have a chance? Maybe. Johnson’s brother Cole played at Northwestern as a walk-on and the Wildcats had already offered Hunter a scholarship during his sophomore year of high school. Maybe the second time’s a charm… but apparently Johnson, an Indiana native, is also eyeing up the Purdue Boilermakers.

Heisman Race for the Nittany Lions again?

Yes, please. NFL.com has published their breakdown of 2018’s potential Heisman hopefuls and Nittany Lion quarterback Trace McSorley is on their list at number 9 for number 9. If you remember from about 5 months ago, Sports Illustrated took note, too and placed McSorley square in their list, and recently, Penn Live and your very own Black Shoe Diaries weighed in on his chances. Get ready, Nittany Nation.

Ranking the Big Ten’s toughest schedules

If it’s not too early to talk about the 2018 Heisman race, then it’s definitely the right time to talk about the Big Ten’s toughest schedules. Nebraska and has the toughest lineup with away games at Wisconsin, Northwestern, Iowa and road trips to Michigan and Ohio State plus hosting MSU. Michigan and OSU are right behind with tough away games.

Penn State is squarely in the middle, with tough home games against Ohio State and Michigan State, then playing away at Michigan and hosting Wisconsin in back-to-back weeks. But with the Heisman hopeful quarterback, Penn Staters won’t be too worried.

From the hot seat to winning big

From a 3-5 record in January and calls from fans to “Fiur Chambers” to winning the NIT championship, there’s no question that Penn State basketball, under the guidance of head coach Pat Chambers, flipped the conversation and the season. Forbes posted a nice writeup of how Pat Chambers helped himself and his team find success.

Penn State and the British royal connection

Finally, in case you missed the news this weekend, American actress and Northwestern University graduate Meghan Markle married some British guy this weekend in a widely-televised international spectacle, and became a duchess and member of the British royal family in the process. Apparently, she was a Rugrats and Penn State fan as a kid, as evidenced by her choice of sweatshirt in her pre-teen years. Smart girl.