EARLY ENROLLEES ARRIVE ON CAMPUS
This past weekend Penn State 11 early enrollees from their 2020 recruiting class arrived on campus.
Welcome Back, #PennState Students!
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) January 13, 2020
All 1⃣2⃣ of our early enrollees are in Happy Valley & geared up for semester 1⃣ as Nittany Lions. #WeAre pic.twitter.com/0IQh8Wa1MC
This year’s EEs are linebacker Tyler Elsdon, safety Enzo Jennings, wide receive KeAndre Lambert, defensive tackle Fatorma Mulbah, running back Caziah Holmes, wide receiver Jaden Dottin, offensive lineman Nick Dawkins, cornerback Joseph Johnson III, defensive tackle Cole Brevard, tight end Theo Johnson, and defensive end Bryce Mostella.
It is beneficial for any player to enroll early. The sooner they can get into Dwight Galt’s strength and conditioning program and begin to adjust to college life the better. However, there are a few that could benefit even more than others.
Lambert will have a great opportunity to crack the wide receiver rotation in the fall, especially since he will now be able to use the next eight months adding needed size and weight to his frame. Holmes and the Johnsons could all see the field as well. The extra work will also benefit the uber athletic, but uber raw, Mostella.
TOP OL TARGET TO RETURN TO CAMPUS
For the first time since the calendar flipped to 2020 the Nittany Lions are preparing for a big recruiting weekend. Among the visitors to campus will be top-100 offensive lineman Wyatt Milum.
Penn State this weekend!! ⚪ @CoachTrautFB @TylerBowen @coachseider @coachjfranklin
— Wyatt Milum (@MilumWyatt) January 14, 2020
Milum has already visited campus multiple times and recently put the Nittany Lions in his top 6. Penn State will be in Milum’s recruitment to the end, and appears to be the current leaders for the West Virginia native.
Of course, the current weather forecast for Saturday is not great. Apparently the weather gods have decided that Penn State is overdue for a recruiting weekend that gets negatively impacted by the weather. If mother nature does not cooperate this weekend may not be as big of a recruiting event as currently anticipated.
This will also be Penn State’s first big recruiting weekend since hiring new offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca and offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. While these two have been in contact with Penn State’s top targets, and may even have prior relationships from their previous schools, it will be important for them to begin to form face-to-face relationships this weekend.
A POTENTIAL GRADUATE TRANSFER TO VISIT
In addition to their junior day group, the Nittany Lions will also host a potential graduate transfer this weekend. According to Brian Dohn of 247Sports, the Nittany Lions will host Howard quarterback Caylin Newton for a visit this weekend.
As a redshirt freshman in 2018 Newton threw for 2,610 yards, rushed for 555 yards and he scored 26 total touchdowns. While he did throw 17 interceptions, he was still named the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Freshman and Player of the Year.
Newton’s stats fell off in 2019 when he had just 876 yards of total offense and 7 touchdowns in four games. However, the Bisons did not have talent around him as they finished the season 2-10.
Newton’s visit is an intriguing one. He walked on at Howard, and with his family’s financial situation walking on again at Penn State would presumably not be an issue. That said, it is unknown if the Nittany Lions would offer Newton a scholarship or not. But with the Nittany Lions currently being over the 85 scholarship limit and quarterback not being an issue it is unlikely that Newton would be offered a scholarship. Also, while is athleticism is not a question, it is unknown if Newton is truly a FBS level quarterback or not.
Where Newton stands with the Nittany Lions could be more clear after this weekend’s visit.
KADEN PRATHER TOP 11
Last week four-star wide receiver Kaden Prather released his top 11 schools. To no surprise, the Nittany Lions found themselves on the list.
I done seen too many mommas cry that's why I gotta get it , I dont want that to be mine .. TOP 11 pic.twitter.com/2cflhe4hCq
— KADEN PRATHER (@KADEN3TIMESSS) January 9, 2020
Prather has already visited campus multiple times and will be back this spring. The Maryland native is one of the top playmakers in the region for 2021, and the Nittany Lions may very well be the current leaders in this recruitment.