Black Shoe Diaries - National Signing Day 2015: Penn State EditionDOMINATE THE STATEhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/47529/blackshoediaries_fave.png2015-02-06T19:53:58-05:00http://www.blackshoediaries.com/rss/stream/77135582015-02-06T19:53:58-05:002015-02-06T19:53:58-05:00NSD 2015: Big Ten West Division Podcast
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<figcaption>Mary Langenfeld-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>More Big Ten Recruiting fun!</p> <p>Welcome Big Ten fans! As you know, all of our Big Ten blogs do an absolutely fantastic job of covering National Signing Day. One thing that we could stand to do more of, though, is covering the recruiting classes of our biggest rivals and our future foes. To be <i>true</i> B1G fans, we need to know everything there is to know about ALL of our Big Ten brethren. To help with those efforts, we've decided to give you all a very special treat. Myself and some honored guests will be getting together tonight, to talk about our own teams' recruiting classes, and how we view the rest of the Big Ten! This evening, I will be joined by Jake Kocorowski from Bucky's 5th Quarter (Wisconsin), Adam Jacobi from Black Heart Gold Pants (Iowa) and Brian Towle from Corn Nation (Nebraska).</p>
<p>Join us, as we give everyone an overview of our own teams' classes, our thoughts on who will be the breakout stars for years to come, and some thoughts on our favorite players/teams in the Big Ten other than our own. We go live at 9:30 PM (ET) tonight (2/5/14). Leave questions in the comments section, and we will try to get to them if we have time!</p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/qrM_wRi_1W0" height="315" width="560"></iframe></p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting/2015/2/6/7994405/national-signing-day-2015-big-ten-west-division-podcastNick Polak2015-02-05T20:44:25-05:002015-02-05T20:44:25-05:00NSD 2015: Big Ten East Division Podcast
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<figcaption>Matthew O'Haren-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A comprehensive breakdown of everything Big Ten East related!</p> <p>Welcome Big Ten fans! As you know, all of our Big Ten blogs do an absolutely fantastic job of covering National Signing Day. One thing that we could stand to do more of, though, is covering the recruiting classes of our biggest rivals and our future foes. To be<i> true</i> B1G fans, we need to know everything there is to know about ALL of our Big Ten brethren. To help with those efforts, we've decided to give you all a very special treat. Myself and some honored guests will be getting together tonight, to talk about our own teams' recruiting classes, and how we view the rest of the Big Ten! This evening, I will be joined by Matt Brown of Land Grant Holy Land (Ohio State), Pete Volk of Testudo Times (Maryland) and Anthony Broome of Maize N Brew (Michigan).</p>
<p>Join us, as we give everyone an overview of our own teams' classes, our thoughts on who will be the breakout stars for years to come, and some thoughts on our favorite players/teams in the Big Ten other than our own. We go live at 9:30 PM (ET) tonight (2/5/14). Leave questions in the comments section, and we will try to get to them if we have time!</p>
<p>(Apologies for the giant picture of me on here)</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/G3yt8ZXbU_E" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Enjoy!</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/5/7989983/national-signing-day-2015-big-ten-east-division-podcastNick Polak2015-02-05T08:00:05-05:002015-02-05T08:00:05-05:00Black Shoe Podcast - National Signing Day
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<p>Two hours and seventeen minutes of Penn State recruiting talk. And insults.</p> <p>As we all know, yesterday was National Signing Day, in which Penn State locked up one of the best recruiting classes in America. The Nittany Lions' 2015 class was the No. 14 class in America, according to <a href="http://247sports.com/Season/2015-Football/CompositeTeamRankings" target="_blank">247 Sports</a>, and it featured a bevy of fantastic players. You can check out the guys James Franklin signed <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7969309/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-draft-board-recruiting-james-franklin-nittany-lions" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>To celebrate the special occasion, we decided to come together and bang out a special podcast! It's more than two hours long, and features hot take purveyors Bill DiFilippo (<a href="https://twitter.com/bflip33" target="_blank">@bflip33</a>), Matt de Bear (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/PSUMatt2005" target="_blank">@PSUMatt2005</a>) and Nick Polak (<a href="http://www.twitter.com/TheREALNPolak)" target="_blank">@TheREALNPolak</a>). Here are some of the things they talked about:</p>
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<li><span>The 2015 class, which is one of the best in school history. The guys break it down from just about every angle you can imagine. What do all of the commits bring to the table? Who will be the biggest stars? Who are the hidden gems who can go on to have great careers in Happy Valley?</span></li>
<li><span>The guys think that some players in the 2015 class have the potential to step in and play right away.</span></li>
<li><span>Nick talks about some of the things Penn State could potentially do with the remaining two scholarships it has on hand.</span></li>
<li><span>All of this talk about true freshman leads to Bill asking about the redshirt freshmen from the class of 2014. Matt and Nick tell you which guys should get you really, really excited.</span></li>
<li><span>Since recruiting never stops, the trio looks at the class of 2016. It has the potential to be the best class in school history. Seriously.</span></li>
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<p>All of this, and more! Here's the pod:</p>
<p><iframe width="400" height="370" src="http://player.cinchcast.com/?platformId=1&assetType=single&assetId=7323081" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<div style="font-size: 10px;text-align: center;width:400px;">Check Out Sports Podcasts at Blog Talk Radio with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/blackshoepodcast" rel="nofollow">Black Shoe Podcast</a> on BlogTalkRadio</div>
<p>Also, if you're into reading things while you listen to podcasts, here's <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7980523/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-football">Nick's piece</a> about the new era in Penn State recruiting. It was pretty good.</p>
<div>Make sure to follow <a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/BSDtweet">@BSDtweet</a> on Twitter and to like us on Facebook. As always, subscribe to the <a target="_blank" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/black-shoe-podcast/id687089782?mt=2" style="background-color: #ffffff;">Black Shoe Podcast</a> on iTunes, where you'll receive every Black Shoe Diaries podcast.</div>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/5/7983029/black-shoe-podcast-national-signing-day-podstravaganzaBill DiFilippo2015-02-04T16:18:11-05:002015-02-04T16:18:11-05:00Welcome to a New Era in Penn State Recruiting
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<p>Welcome to a New Era in Penn State Recruiting</p> <p style="margin-top:50px"> </p>
<p>When Bill O'Brien stepped into his new office in the Lasch Building back in 2012, his job was supposed to be damage control. He was simply supposed to do everything in his power to tread water with a roster that was going to be decimated by transfers. In recruiting, it was expected that O'Brien would never draw interest from anything resembling a big time recruit for years.</p>
<p>Instead, the man whose most notable accomplishment to that point was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33V0hSri6BM" target="_blank">yelling at Tom Brady</a> on national television ended up doing far more than simply tread water.</p>
<p>Despite all of the adversity that O'Brien faced, he led the 2012 Penn State football team to one of the most miraculous seasons in school history. You know that story well. The other half of the equation was what he did for Penn State in recruiting. Using his knowledge of how to coach quarterbacks and what it took to get to the NFL, O'Brien was able to land a commitment from the nation's top pro-style quarterback, Christian Hackenberg. The 2013 Penn State class was filled out with the nation's No. 2 tight end in Adam Breneman, a top-ten defensive end in Garrett Sickels and several other players who have gone on to make an impact in Happy Valley. The 2014 class would bring much of the same, holding commitments from numerous four-star players even though O'Brien eventually left State College for the Houston Texans.</p>
<p>O'Brien will go down in Penn State history for many reasons, but the job he was able to do in recruiting in 2013 may be the most impactful part of his time in Happy Valley. His ability to draw in one of the nation's top players in Hackenberg showed the entire country that Penn State wasn't going anywhere. In fact, it showed the country that Penn State was about to reestablish itself among the blue chip recruiters in a big way.</p>
<p>James Franklin was introduced as the new head coach of Penn State football on Jan. 20, 2014. He came to State College armed with most of his coaching staff from Vanderbilt, his loving family and his coaching philosophies. He also came with a great reputation for -- and a great love of -- recruiting. Although he and his staff were able to add some of their own flair to the tail end of the 2014 recruiting class, those kids' commitments were mostly O'Brien's doing. This meant that the 2015 cycle would be the first year that Franklin would truly get his chance to show what he could do with his own recruiting prowess and the power of the Pennsylvania State University behind him.</p>
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<em><q>I talk about the whole package. You can get a world-class education and play football at the very highest level.</q></em>
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<p>After the celebration that was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQcRUL8CtaQ" target="_blank">2014 National Signing Day</a>, Franklin didn't waste any time getting to work on his first, true recruiting class at Penn State. In fact, by the staff's own standards, they were already behind where they wanted to be -- Franklin operates under the belief that it takes one and one-half to two years to truly build a class. So the staff didn't rest on their laurels of their 2014 success, rather, they began putting the finishing touches on the plans for the big 2015 and 2016 prospect weekend that was to be held a mere week and a half later.</p>
<p>There were numerous visitors that weekend in State College who would eventually choose to commit to Penn State, but three in particular felt it necessary to pledge their allegiance nearly a year before their National Signing Day. The unheralded safety Jarvis Miller, the human bulldozer Ryan Bates, and the über-versatile Kamonte Carter all felt comfortable enough with the Penn State atmosphere to make their college decisions that weekend. It was a powerful way to announce to the country that Penn State recruiting was back, despite the scholarship sanctions that were still going to limit their efforts to an extent.</p>
<p>One of other players who took in the Penn State experience that weekend was Whitehall (PA) running back Saquon Barkley. At the time, Barkley was still a somewhat under-the-radar prospect. Further complicating things was that he was already committed to become a Scarlet Knight and play his college football in New Jersey. Barkley had received his Nittany Lion offer back in October, but hadn't yet chosen to take another trip to State College. When Franklin took over the role of head coach, one of his first points of order was to make plans to get Barkley on campus. Barkley decided that it was in his best interest to do so, and one visit later, he found himself calling Kyle Flood to let him know that he would be attending school in Happy Valley. Although Barkley was still a three-star player at this point, Franklin's ability to flip him to Penn State showed fans everywhere that the new guy's "Dominate the State" tagline was no joke.</p>
<p>Linebacker Jake Cooper and defensive end Ryan Buchholz were the next two to hop on the James Franklin express, although neither was much of a surprise. Cooper in particular had made it no secret he was coveting a Penn State offer for the entirety of his recruitment. Buchholz felt similar, and both decided to make things official while visiting the campus. These commitments yielded Black Shoe Diaries the first inside look into what a commitment looks like in a Franklin-led office, courtesy of Cooper (from a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/2/28/5454904/jake-cooper-commit-penn-state-recruiting-2015-james-franklin-archbishop-wood">February interview</a> with BSD):</p>
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<p>Yeah, Coach Franklin ran out of his office down the hallway screaming that I committed, and everybody came up. Coach Spencer gave me a chest bump, a lot of people gave me hugs. It was great.</p>
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<p>This is what recruiting looks like in today's Penn State: pure energy and enthusiasm. Not only does the staff use "attack" as a philosophy on the football field, but in the recruiting world as well. One of the first things Franklin mentioned in his introductory press conference was that they were going to be aggressive recruiters. That's the kind of effort that it takes to recruit in the Big Ten, when there is only so much top-flight talent to go around in the region. Recruiting against the likes of college football legend and master recruiter Urban Meyer demands a dedicated and aggressive approach to grabbing top talent whenever you can.</p>
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<h4 class="special">"To me, it's about people." <br>
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<p>Despite the massive success that the month of February had already brought, Franklin wasn't done just yet. An often-overlooked aspect of recruiting is the relationship building between college coach and high school coach. Joe Paterno had fantastic relationships with coaches all over the northeast, but one that had faltered in recent years was that with Pennsylvania powerhouse Bishop McDevitt. At the time, Bishop McDevitt running back Andre Robinson was one of the top three recruits in the state of Pennsylvania. When Franklin gained his commitment on Feb. 27, it not only gave Penn State yet another outstanding running back prospect, but it gave Franklin a perfect introduction to the McDevitt coaches who he will likely speak to many times in the future. Building strong relationships is another Franklin-ism, and one that will serve him very well during his time in State College.</p>
<p>The next two commits would fall in line in middle/late March in the form of wide receiver standouts Juwan Johnson and Brandon Polk. Johnson, who held an Alabama offer, told me that the family atmosphere was what drove him to the Nittany Lions. He told me that, "right when I stepped on the campus, I felt like I was at home. If I went away from my real home, I would still be at my home at Penn State."</p>
<p>The idea of Penn State being a family and not just a football team is not one that started under Franklin (and is not specific just to Penn State). However, it's something that he and the staff have worked hard to cultivate and keep alive after his predecessors did so much to build said family (Paterno) and keep it together (O'Brien). Johnson was hardly the first recruit to notice this, but his is just another in a long line of stories about players coming to Penn State to be a part of something more than just a football team. Polk felt the love as well, and simultaneously provided Franklin with another speedy slot weapon to pair with 2014 commit De'Andre Thompkins. The Virginia native also helped Franklin further his reach into his old DMV stomping grounds.</p>
<p>To close out the month of March, Penn State pulled off two of what still might be the most surprising commitments of the 2015 class, even if one didn't stick. Offensive guard Steven Gonzalez and linebacker Josh Barajas were both pegged for other schools. It was decided. Done. Yet Gonzalez, who according to the 247Sports' Crystal Ball was a 100 percent lock for the Buckeyes, told me that being at Penn State just "feels right in my heart" and that he felt at home. This was the first blow Franklin struck against Meyer's Buckeyes and one that sent some waves through the Big Ten.</p>
<p>The commitment from Barajas was similarly shocking. The Andrean High School linebacker who lives a mere hour and a half from South Bend and was considered a lock to head to Notre Dame. The linebacker echoed Gonzalez's statements about the comfort factor of State College, and how it was something he never truly felt anywhere else. To be able to pull a stud linebacker out of Brian Kelly's own backyard and bring him to Happy Valley was a major coup for Franklin.</p>
<p>Next up for the Lions was the annual spring game, aka the Blue/White game. It would be the first glimpse for fans to see what the 2014 team's offense was going to loosely look like, along with seeing some of their favorite backups and freshmen get some playing time in Beaver Stadium. For years, Blue/White weekend has been one of the premiere weekends to make a pilgrimage back to Happy Valley to watch free football and catch up with old friends. For the coaching staff, it's all business.</p>
<p>The Blue/White game has always been a big draw for recruits, as it's one of the best chances to see Penn State playing in warm weather outside of a bowl game (despite the usual rain shower). The commit from that weekend, Adam McLean, would end up becoming one of the more polarizing figures in recent memory for Penn State recruiting, but at the time, he was a huge pickup. McLean was the first major step in rebuilding the depth on the defensive line that had allowed it to consistently be one of the country's best over the years. And of course, it was yet another step into the DMV for Franklin.</p>
<p>The very early part of May brought the next wave of commits, starting off with one who received a Florida State offer just before committing, which threw things into a little bit of doubt. Tight end/defensive end Jonathan Holland's offer sheet exploded in April, as he found himself with opportunities to play for Georgia, Nebraska, Clemson and the aforementioned Seminoles. Despite all of those high profile offers and the chance to play football in the warmth of the south, Franklin was still able to convince Holland to join the Lions and secured himself a quality player with the ability to play on either side of the ball in college.</p>
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<em><q>We are going to dominate the state. That is the very first thing that we're going to do.</q></em>
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<p>"We are going to dominate the state. That is the first thing that we're going to do," was the cherry on top of what was overall an intoxicating introductory press conference. Franklin answered every question not only with the correct answer, but he did so with passion and purpose. When the questions finally shifted into his recruiting philosophy, he provided Penn State internet its new favorite hashtag/mindset/catchphrase: Dominate the State. So simple, yet so elegant and so meaningful. After gaining commitments from exactly one top-ten player in the state every year from 2011 to 2014, Penn State needed a new approach.<i> </i>Franklin made sure that everyone watching his press conference knew that he was going to take back Pennsylvania. To truly do that though, he needed to secure a commitment from the state's best.</p>
<p>Offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins was finally ready to make a decision. He had finally narrowed things down. Despite playing in and living in Pittsburgh, he was going to make his decision between Ohio State and Penn State. Upon his announcement through his local radio station that he would be continuing his education in Happy Valley, it became clear that not only was James Franklin holding his own and then some against Urban Meyer, but he was following through on his promise. With a commitment from Jenkins, Penn State held verbal pledges from six of the top players in the state before the summer even began.</p>
<p>Also committing on that day was highly touted dual-threat quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The New Jersey native from private school power house St. Peter's Prep represented another dominating step into the New Jersey talent pool. Wimbush would go on to have one of the greatest high school seasons in state history, providing Penn State fans a look at the future of their offense every time he played on national television.</p>
<p>Soon after, another DMV resident chose the Nittany Lions. Safety Ayron Monroe -- brother of Maryland Terrapin Andre Monroe -- was the first major victory for Franklin over Randy Edsall and the Terps, his former school where he was anointed the coach in waiting. Although it isn't uncommon to see little brothers of college players go to different schools from their siblings to forge their own paths, it still spoke volumes that Franklin and co. were able to persuade the DC native to make his way up to Penn State.</p>
<p>The end of May wouldn't be a happy time for Penn State fans, and would also be the first time Franklin showed that he wasn't perfect. Upon reconsideration of his choice, Barajas realized that Notre Dame was the place for him after all, and Penn State was left with just Jake Cooper to carry on the Linebacker U legacy. Luckily for Penn State, there was another option waiting in the wings.</p>
<p>Manny Bowen was one of the hottest recruits on the east coast from March on. After earning his Nittany Lion offer in late March (an offer he had long coveted), he received scholarship offers from Miami, Virginia, Louisville, Oregon, South Carolina and Florida. He also held offers from defensive juggernauts Alabama, Michigan State and Wisconsin. Suffice to say, Bowen could have gone anywhere he wanted. Franklin once again proved himself to be up to the challenge of recruiting against the Nick Sabans of the world and landed Bowen's commitment in late June.</p>
<p>The next two months would produce one more recruit each, but both big enough to warrant waiting for the news to drop. In July, longtime target Irvin Charles pulled the trigger for the Nittany Lions. Charles had been a Penn State priority at wide receiver for some time, but had to back off in his recruitment for a while due to personal reasons. It would have been very easy for Penn State to shift its focus elsewhere and leave Charles behind, especially because it had already sealed two wide receiver commitments in this class. Instead, they stuck to their guns. They knew that they wanted Charles as part of the class, and they didn't back off. When he finally did commit, it was thanks to a ton of hard and patient work by the staff.</p>
<p>Such was the case with the next commitment, cornerback John Reid. At the time, Reid was the player jockeying with Jenkins for the top spot on the list of Pennsylvania prospects. He was also still fresh off of earning the cornerback MVP of the New Jersey Nike National Football Training Camp earlier in the spring over five-star Alabama commit and former Penn State target Minkah Fitzpatrick. Reid's quiet recruitment came to an end when he chose the Nittany Lions over offers from pretty much everywhere (again, including Alabama), pushing Penn State into an even more dominant position in Pennsylvania.</p>
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<h4 class="special">"This is an unrivaled fan base." <br>
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<p>The beginning of September would not only bring the end of the scholarship restrictions for Penn State (along with an end to the bowl ban), but it would bring another commit as well. With the added flexibility of being able to once again have a roster of 85 guys, Franklin wasted no time passing out an offer to athlete Daiquan Kelly, teammate of Gonzalez. Kelly was a guy who was always high on Penn State's list, but was going to be someone who Penn State would have to wait until the end of the 2015 recruitment period, due to the uncertainty surrounding how many scholarships it had to give. Once he received that offer, it didn't take long for him to flip from his Syracuse commitment.</p>
<p>The next month or so would be trying times for Nittany Lion fans and coaches. First, the other top cornerback in Pennsylvania, Jordan Whitehead, chose to commit to his hometown Panthers over Penn State and West Virginia. Then, Wimbush chose to take his talents to South Bend after gaining a previously non-existent offer from the Irish. Penn State would bounce back, stealing another dual-threat quarterback in Tommy Stevens from Indiana. Penn State only had one shot to make a good impression on Stevens, who didn't initially want to visit at all due to his commitment to Kevin Wilson's Hoosiers. Luckily, thanks to one of the most exhilarating crowds of the year for the Ohio State whiteout game and some solid recruiting during the game by Jenkins, Stevens was blown away by Happy Valley. His commitment became public a few weeks later.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, it would be more rough seas ahead for Penn State. A week after Stevens committed, McLean decided to de-commit. He would later end up committing to Maryland, his in-state school. The day after, Matthew Burrell made his college choice. The four-star offensive tackle had things down to Penn State, Ohio State and LSU. Meyer flexed his recruiting muscles, and Burrell was on his way to joining the soon-to-be national champs. In a little over one month's time, Penn State had lost out on its top remaining offensive line and cornerback targets and saw its blue chip quarterback and defensive tackle go elsewhere. It was nearly enough to send Penn State fans off the ledge.</p>
<p>Franklin didn't let the bad feelings last long, though. Less than two weeks after Burrell chose Ohio State, Penn State picked up a commitment from one of the Michigan defectors. Cornerback Garrett Taylor was Franklin's answer to losing Jordan Whitehead, and was a fantastic answer at that. Aside from being one of the more highly ranked corners in the country and pairing with Reid to form one of the fiercest DB combos in the 2015 class, Taylor's commitment reestablished the belief that anything is possible after a kid gets on Penn State's campus. Despite visiting LSU and Ohio State earlier in the month of November, Taylor felt comfortable enough with Penn State during his visit for the Michigan State game to commit before leaving campus.</p>
<p>Things were getting down to the wire for the 2015 class with the holiday season quickly approaching. The early enrollment period approached rapidly as well, meaning the chance to sign any Junior College commits in time to enroll early was quickly evaporating. Penn State had a need at offensive tackle. Rumors of Donovan Smith leaving early for the NFL Draft were swirling and the depth of the position was being called into question. So what did Franklin do? He went out and flipped the No. 1 JuCo offensive tackle, Paris Palmer, from South Carolina thanks to a tireless effort that left Steve Spurrier's staff speechless. Suddenly, the arrow for Penn State's 2015 class was shooting straight up once more.</p>
<p>The final dead period came and went following the turn of the calendar to 2015, and Penn State had one last shot to impress its final group of targets. Defensive end Shareef Miller, defensive tackle Robert Windsor, tight end Nick Bowers and safety Johnny Petrishen all visited Happy Valley at the end of January. All four had very legitimate reasons to want to play football elsewhere. All four decided to commit to Penn State anyway. Miller and Windsor decided to make the call the day of, while Bowers and Petrishen took a few extra days to think over their choice between Penn State and Pittsburgh. Alongside those two in choosing Lions over Panthers, was James Franklin's final performance of the 2015 cycle. Kevin Givens, a linebacker/defensive end who had committed to Pitt over a year ago, was swayed into joining Sean Spencer's Wild Dogs, and changed his future residence from Pittsburgh to State College. It was the final step in Franklin's arrival into the hall of college football's recruiting elite.</p>
<p>After all the festivities of National Signing Day have finished, Penn State will have signed one of the nation's top-15 classes. Penn State was supposed to be broken. Penn State was supposed to be irrelevant. Penn State was supposed to disappear. Thanks to Bill O'Brien, Penn State persevered and fought back. Thanks to James Franklin, Penn State is rising back up, and it will come back stronger than ever.</p>
<p style="margin-bottom:45px">Welcome to a new era in Penn State recruiting.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7980523/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-footballNick Polak2015-02-04T15:15:40-05:002015-02-04T15:15:40-05:00NSD 2015: Live NSD Show and PSU Positional Rundown
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<p>Now that Penn State's 2015 class is official, let's take a look at exactly what the Nittany Lions are gaining. Also, be sure to tune in a 5:20 ET today to hear me talk on SB Nation's official Signing Day broadcast.</p> <p>The 2015 Penn State recruiting class is now a part of history. No longer will fans have to wonder whether or not "Player X" is going to flip, or if "Player Y" is interested in leaving his current commitment and come to Penn State. It's all not etched in stone, and <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7969309/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-draft-board-recruiting-james-franklin-nittany-lions">upon our lovely draft board</a>. Now that things are official, the breakdowns of the classes will begin. Now that things are official, we can do a more precise breakdown of exactly what Penn State is gaining at each position. All star rankings are based off of the 247Composite Rankings. Before we get to that though, be sure to tune in to SB Nation's official Signing Day live report, which will go live again at 5:00 ET today (February 4, 2015). I will be calling in at 5:20 ET, to talk about Penn State's class, so if you're into that sort of thing, be sure you're around at 5:20.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://new.livestream.com/accounts/690164/events/3749885/player?width=640&height=360&autoPlay=true&mute=false" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"> </iframe></p>
<h3>Penn State's 2015 Recruiting Class Positional Breakdown</h3>
<h4>Quarterback</h4>
<p>Tommy Stevens (★★★)</p>
<h4>Running Back</h4>
<p>Saquon Barkley (★★★★)</p>
<p><span>Andre Robinson</span> (★★★★)</p>
<h4>Wide Receiver</h4>
<p>Juwan Johnson (★★★★)</p>
<p>Brandon Polk (★★★★)</p>
<p>Irvin Charles (★★★★)</p>
<h4>Tight End</h4>
<p>Nick Bowers (★★★)</p>
<p>Jonathan Holland (★★★</p>
<h4>Offensive Line</h4>
<p>Sterling Jenkins (OT) (★★★★)</p>
<p>Paris Palmer (JuCo) (OT) (★★★★)</p>
<p>Ryan Bates (OG) (★★★★)</p>
<p>Steven Gonzalez (OG) (★★★)</p>
<p><span>Kevin Reihner</span> (C/OG) (Graduate Transfer from Stanford)</p>
<h4>Defensive Line</h4>
<p>Ryan Buchholz (DE) (★★★★)</p>
<p>Shareef Miller (DE) (★★★)</p>
<p>Kevin Givens (DE) (★★★)</p>
<p>Robert Windsor (DT) (★★★)</p>
<h4>Linebacker</h4>
<p>Manny Bowen (★★★★)</p>
<p>Jake Cooper (★★★)</p>
<h4>Cornerback</h4>
<p>Garrett Taylor (★★★★)</p>
<p><span>John Reid</span> (★★★★)</p>
<h4>Safety</h4>
<p>Ayron Monroe (★★★)</p>
<p>John Petrishen (★★★)</p>
<p>Jarvis Miller (★★★)</p>
<h4>Athlete</h4>
<p>Kamonte Carter (★★★★)</p>
<p>Daiquan Kelly (★★★)</p>
<h3>Nick's Picks</h3>
<p><b>Best Overall Recruit: Saquon Barkley</b></p>
<p>It was really difficult to not pick Juwan Johnson here, but everything about Barkley just screams star. I already <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/10/20/6996155/saquon-barkley-penn-state-highlight-tape-analysis-whitehall-recruiting-running-back-james-franklin">gushed over his incredible highlight film</a> in the past, and my feelings haven't changed. Barkley has everything you want to see out of a high school running back. He's a powerful and electrifying athlete. But he's also a mature runner. He understands what he can and can't do on the football field. He knows when to set up his blocks, he knows when to get to the edge and he knows when to bust out the juke moves. He just gets it. I expect him to be the starting running back as early as the 2016 season.</p>
<p><b>Most Underrated Recruit: Jake Cooper</b></p>
<p>It seems like a high school middle linebacker for a team with multiple state championships under their belt should be easy to overrate, rather than underrate. And yet, here is Jake Cooper, rated as a mid-high three star by the 247Composite rankings (he is, however, a four star in 247's own rankings). Cooper still needs some work with his technique, sure, but what high school prospect doesn't? Even the most impressive linebacker recruits have a few things they need to learn. What makes Cooper so special in my eyes, is his ferocity in attacking the ball and his range. He admitted to me that he still needs to work on his man coverage skills, but as far as tracking the ball from sideline to sideline, he is already ahead of where most are. I think Cooper will be fighting for regular playing time at one of the linebacker spots by 2016.</p>
<p><b>Biggest Immediate Impact: Paris Palmer</b></p>
<p>Yeah, it's the easy answer, but it's also clear as day. Penn State desperately needs a boost at the offensive tackle spot. That much was true even before <span>Donovan Smith</span> declared for the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft" class="sbn-auto-link">NFL Draft</a>. With Smith now out the door, Palmer becomes even more likely to play right away. Not to mention the fact that he's a Junior College recruit, so he only has two years remaining to play anyway and the staff won't waste any of those years. Where Palmer ends up, I'm not so sure of just yet (whether it's right tackle or left tackle). Regardless, he is clearly the recruit who will make the quickest impact.</p>
<p><b>Best Long Term Potential: Garrett Taylor</b></p>
<p>I had this one narrowed down to Taylor, Sterling Jenkins and Manny Bowen. While I think all three will be stars one day for the Nittany Lions, I can't help but feel like Garrett Taylor will be the kind of player you tell your kids about one day. He has fantastic size already, as well as the versatility to play both safety and corner. I see him developing into the kind of player that quarterbacks just start avoiding altogether, or the kind of player that wide receivers dread when they're coming across the middle of the field. Either way, I think Taylor has superstar written all over him.</p>
<p><b>Most Fun: Juwan Johnson</b></p>
<p>The dude's going to straight up mug any cornerback that tries to cover him. He's going to be a force of nature, and has the potential to add a true number one receiver presence to the offense.</p>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7979359/national-signing-day-2015-live-signing-day-show-and-positional-rundown-penn-state-james-franklinNick Polak2015-02-04T11:26:04-05:002015-02-04T11:26:04-05:00NSD 2015: Welcome to Penn State, Kevin Givens
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U09E9SSxyy6QwFKtlPgdlejnJwU=/0x0:720x480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45622588/Kevin_Givens__cover.0.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>One day before National Signing Day, James Franklin grabbed a former Pitt commit who oozes potential.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting"><img src="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o786/nickpolak51/BannerFinal_zpsfd58cdec.jpg"></a></p>
<p>Welcome to Black Shoe Diaries' coverage of National Signing Day 2015. We're here to make sure that you know exactly who the newest Nittany Lions are, where they come from, and what we can expect of them. Each of these reports will include their vital information, their high school statistics, highlight tape analysis, outlook for their freshmen seasons and more. We sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know the stars of tomorrow. If you've been reading along with our recruiting coverage all year, we appreciate the support and are glad you hung around with us for the ride that was the 2015 recruiting class. If you are a new reader, welcome! We're glad you're here, and we hope you stick around for 2016!</p>
<p>To navigate your way to other members of the 2015 recruiting class,<a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7969309/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-draft-board-recruiting-james-franklin-nittany-lions"> simply head back to our draft board</a> and click on the player of your choice.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">* * *</h3>
<p>Until a recruit signs on the bottom line, he is fair game. This is apparently James Franklin's mentality, as he snatched Kevin Givens away from Pittsburgh the day before National Signing Day. While Givens isn't as highly regarded as some of the other recruits in the 2015 class, he is one of the most intriguing, as he has the potential to be a devastating lineman down the road.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/B1G?src=hash">#B1G</a> welcome to Kevin Givens, the final addition to our <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSUFBfamily?src=hash">#PSUFBfamily</a> on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NSD2015?src=hash">#NSD2015</a>. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSUSigningDay?src=hash">#PSUSigningDay</a> <a href="http://t.co/1a3TMjX6TP">pic.twitter.com/1a3TMjX6TP</a></p>
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) <a href="https://twitter.com/PennStateFball/status/563010083203067905">February 4, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>Stats</h3>
<p><b>Hometown: </b>Altoona, PA</p>
<p><b>High School: </b>Altoona</p>
<p><b>Position:</b> DE/LB</p>
<p><b>Height/Weight: </b>6'2"/245</p>
<p><b>247Composite Rank: </b><span>★</span><span>★</span><span>★</span><span> (0.8498)</span></p>
<p><b>Positional Rank: </b>#42 Weakside Defensive End, #18 Player in Pennsylvania</p>
<p><b>Commitment Date: </b>February 3, 2015</p>
<p><b>247 Crystal Ball:</b></p>
<p><iframe class="twofourseven-embed" style="max-width: 100%" frameborder="0" width="600px" height="200px" src="http://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/Kevin-Givens-at-Altoona-38122/CurrentExpertPredictions/Embed?SnapShot=635585603706991874"></iframe>
<script src="http://media.247sports.com/scripts/shared/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>High School Stats</h3>
<p>There are no stats for Givens, because MaxPreps.</p>
<h3>Highlight Tape</h3>
<p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2023481/highlights/107502376" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe> <iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/2023481/highlights/206626382" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h3>Scouting Report</h3>
<p>Givens' raw talent should make you really, really excited. He is somewhere between 6'2" and 6'4", and he is between 227 and 245 lbs. That is all awesome, but he also runs a 4.6 40, which doesn't just mean that he's huge, but it means that he's explosive and carries his weight well (he does play running back in high school, which means he has some kind of athleticism). Givens' strength and athleticism make him a tantalizing prospect, and both of those things are on display on the two highlight videos. Once he puts it all together, he has the potential to be a dynamic pass rusher for the Nittany Lions.</p>
<h2>Immediate Outlook</h2>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Redshirt, Yes" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/xIC9rsOc8RwhlmzFwQPOibIP-VA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3352576/Redshirt__Yes.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p>Givens is interesting, because Penn State could use some depth at defensive end, where he will line up once he gets to Happy Valley. With his speed, strength and athleticism, he can probably play from day one, or at least have the opportunity to earn a chance to play from day one.</p>
<p>However, Penn State still has some serious talent on the edges, and there are a few more higher profile recruits that are coming in that play the same position. Plus Givens could certainly use a year to put it all together and mold himself into a college defensive end into a, well, whatever he is in high school (some weird defensive end/linebacker/running back mashup). He obviously has all of the physical tools to be really good down the road, but that's a few years into the future. Ergo, he's probably going to redshirt.</p>
<h2>Everything Else</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/3/7971291/oh-hello-pa-lb-kevin-givens-commits-to-penn-state-james-franklin-nittany-lions-lol-pitt">Kevin Givens Commits to Penn State</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hudl.com/athlete/2023481/kevin-givens">Kevin Givens' Hudl</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/kevin-givens/3DmkVfTsEeKZ5AAmVebBJg/default.htm">Kevin Givens' MaxPreps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Kevin-Givens-23810">Kevin Givens' 247 Profile</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span>Welcome to Penn State, Kevin!</span></h4>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting/2015/2/4/7975627/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-kevin-givens-pittsburgh-flip-james-franklin-pat-narduzziBill DiFilippo2015-02-04T10:53:58-05:002015-02-04T10:53:58-05:00NSD 2015: Welcome to Penn State, Robert Windsor
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fK7E6NrzIGkZS4RNkiSFQyreoco=/0x0:373x249/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45603794/Winsdor__action.0.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>One of the final additions to the 2015 class fills a position of need for the Nittany Lions--and comes from deep inside Big Ten territory.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting"><img src="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o786/nickpolak51/BannerFinal_zpsfd58cdec.jpg"></a></p>
<p>Welcome to Black Shoe Diaries' coverage of National Signing Day 2015. We're here to make sure that you know exactly who the newest Nittany Lions are, where they come from, and what we can expect of them. Each of these reports will include their vital information, their high school statistics, highlight tape analysis, outlook for their freshmen seasons and more. We sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know the stars of tomorrow. If you've been reading along with our recruiting coverage all year, we appreciate the support and are glad you hung around with us for the ride that was the 2015 recruiting class. If you are a new reader, welcome! We're glad you're here, and we hope you stick around for 2016!</p>
<p>To navigate your way to other members of the 2015 recruiting class, <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7969309/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-draft-board-recruiting-james-franklin-nittany-lions">simply head back to our draft board</a> and click on the player of your choice.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">* * *</h3>
<p>Soon after they missed out on Christian Wilkins, James Franklin and co zeroed in on Robert Windsor--and they weren't disappointed. It took a few months after he got the initial offer, but the Wisconsin product pulled the trigger on an official visit in January, helping round out the 2015 class and solidifying Sean Spencer's Wild Dogs for years to come.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>The <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSUSigningDay?src=hash">#PSUSigningDay</a> celebration rolls on with a spirited welcome to <a href="https://twitter.com/Wild_Windsor">@Wild_Windsor</a> from future Coach <a href="https://twitter.com/SpenceChaos">@spencechaos</a>! <a href="http://t.co/Ok40jQTY9J">pic.twitter.com/Ok40jQTY9J</a></p>
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) <a href="https://twitter.com/PennStateFball/status/563002369496350720">February 4, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>Stats</h3>
<p><b>Hometown: </b>Fond Du Lac, WI</p>
<p><b>High School: </b>Fond Du Lac</p>
<p><b>Position:</b> Athlete/DE</p>
<p><b>Height/Weight: </b>6'5"/278</p>
<p><b>247Composite Rank: </b><span>★</span><span>★</span><span>★</span><span> (0.8367)</span></p>
<p><b>Positional Rank: </b>#81 Defensive Tackle, #4 Player in Wisconsin</p>
<p><b>Commitment Date: </b>January 25, 2015</p>
<p><b>247 Crystal Ball:</b></p>
<p><iframe src="http://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/Robert-Windsor-at-Fond-Du-Lac-134604/CurrentExpertPredictions/Embed?SnapShot=635583871132450392" height="200px" width="600px" frameborder="0" style="max-width: 100%" class="twofourseven-embed"></iframe></p>
<h3>High School Stats</h3>
<p>Robert doesn't have any high school stats available on Maxpreps (probably because it's Wisconsin and he didn't play on the Packers).</p>
<h3>Highlight Tape</h3>
<p><iframe src="//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/1770261/highlights/167622384" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<h3>Scouting Report</h3>
<p>Wisconsin isn't known for its overwhelming talent, and though Windsor has tremendous upside, a lot of his highlights came while overpowering lesser competition. Windsor definitely has a nose for the ball and isn't easily fooled on the field. 247 Scouts were <a href="http://pennstate.247sports.com/Article/Doc-Talk-The-newest-Nittany-Lion-35040811" target="_blank">concerned he's not quite ready to take on double teams</a>--something that most Penn State DTs will have to learn to fight through--and he'll need to refine his technique a bit to compete at the next level.</p>
<p><img src="http://giant.gfycat.com/VainScaredEagle.gif"></p>
<p>But overall athleticism and quickness, as well as a good feel for where the ball is most of the time, isn't something you can teach--and the rest will come with time with this staff, and in the Penn State program. Despite the fact that he is a good deal larger than his opponents in the video and the gif, you can still see the natural quickness and nose for the ball. Some added (good) weight paired with D1 experience could lead to Windsor chasing down Big Ten quarterbacks one day.</p>
<h2>Immediate Outlook</h2>
<div class="sidebar"> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Windsor, action" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/i2oaKqAzptY4t6CRNc6Jw8EfXnY=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3365276/Winsdor__action.0.jpg">
</figure>
</div>
<p> <figure class="e-image">
<img alt="Redshirt No" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Ds58gZVSiY8jMvvwR-z0xWwXrA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3363534/Redshirt__No.0.png">
</figure>
</p>
<p>With almost the entirety of the two deep at defensive tackle from 2014 returning to the squad in 2015, Windsor is likely a lock to redshirt his first fall in Happy Valley. Windsor is also on the smaller side, weight-wise, for a defensive tackle, so he'll likely use the extra year to fill out his frame.</p>
<p>Windsor will also use the extra time to refine his technique, better learn the three-tech, and learn the ropes from All-Big Ten caliber DTs, Anthony Zettel and <span>Austin Johnson</span>. If he can put on that necessary weight and performs well on the scout team, he could be one of the underclassmen hearing their name called in 2016, when Anthony Zettel has moved on, possibly taking his partner in crime (Austin Johnson) with him.</p>
<h2>Everything Else</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/1/25/7887071/penn-state-football-recruiting-robert-windsor-commits-james-franklin-sean-spencer-wisconsin-badgers" target="_blank">Robert Windsor Commits to Penn State</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1770261/robert-windsor" target="_blank">Robert Windsor's Hudl Page</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/robert-windsor/6k9ScyQsEeS00gAmVebEWg/default.htm" target="_blank">Robert Windsor's MaxPreps Page</a></li>
<li><a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Robert-Windsor-77197" target="_blank">Robert Windsor 247Sports Profile</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span>Welcome to Penn State, Robert!</span></h4>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting/2015/2/4/7959763/robert-windsor-penn-state-recruiting-national-signing-day-wisconsin-big-ten-franklin-defenseCari Greene2015-02-04T10:50:55-05:002015-02-04T10:50:55-05:00NSD 2015: Welcome to Penn State, Saquon Barkley
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B9-g28c7IACeGss46obVcWPWc3k=/0x0:720x480/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45620832/barkley_copy.0.0.jpg" />
</figure>
<p>The do-it-all running back from Whitehall, PA makes things official.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting"><img src="http://i1343.photobucket.com/albums/o786/nickpolak51/BannerFinal_zpsfd58cdec.jpg"></a></p>
<p>Welcome to Black Shoe Diaries' coverage of National Signing Day 2015. We're here to make sure that you know exactly who the newest Nittany Lions are, where they come from, and what we can expect of them. Each of these reports will include their vital information, their high school statistics, highlight tape analysis, outlook for their freshmen seasons and more. We sincerely hope you enjoy getting to know the stars of tomorrow. If you've been reading along with our recruiting coverage all year, we appreciate the support and are glad you hung around with us for the ride that was the 2015 recruiting class. If you are a new reader, welcome! We're glad you're here, and we hope you stick around for 2016!</p>
<p>To navigate your way to other members of the 2015 recruiting class, <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2015/2/4/7969309/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-draft-board-recruiting-james-franklin-nittany-lions">simply head back to our draft board</a> and click on the player of your choice.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">* * *</h3>
<p>Saquon Barkley wouldn't be the first time Penn State fans saw James Franklin flip a Rutgers commit, but he was a huge pickup regardless. As part of the three headed running back monster in Pennsylvania for the 2015 class (along with Penn State commit, Andre Robinson and Notre Dame commit, Josh Adams), he was a must-get for James Franklin's staff. Despite committing to the Scarlet Knights five months prior to National Signing Day for the 2014 class, Franklin didn't have much trouble convincing him to join the team after getting him on campus for a visit.</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p>Mid-year enrollee <a href="https://twitter.com/TS3_ERA">@TS3_ERA</a> helped us welcome his future teammate <a href="https://twitter.com/saquonb21">@saquonb21</a> to the Penn State family. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PSUSigningDay?src=hash">#PSUSigningDay</a> <a href="http://t.co/4czuno5zWl">pic.twitter.com/4czuno5zWl</a></p>
— Penn State Football (@PennStateFball) <a href="https://twitter.com/PennStateFball/status/563001354579619841">February 4, 2015</a>
</blockquote>
<p>
<script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>Stats</h3>
<p><b>Hometown: </b>Whitehall, PA</p>
<p><b>High School: </b>Whitehall High School</p>
<p><b>Position:</b> Running Back</p>
<p><b>Height/Weight: </b>5'11"/190</p>
<p><b>247Composite Rank: </b><span>★</span><span>★</span><span>★</span><span>★ (0.9420)</span></p>
<p><b>Positional Rank: </b>#14 Running Back, #2 Player in Pennsylvania</p>
<p><b>Commitment Date: </b>February 19, 2014</p>
<p><b>247 Crystal Ball:</b></p>
<p><iframe class="twofourseven-embed" style="max-width: 100%" frameborder="0" width="600px" height="200px" src="http://247sports.com/PlayerInstitution/Saquon-Barkley-at-Whitehall-Hs-58834/CurrentExpertPredictions/Embed?SnapShot=635585186568208081"></iframe>
<script src="http://media.247sports.com/scripts/shared/embed.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</p>
<h3>High School Stats</h3>
<p>Unfortunately, Maxpreps is really the only viable option for collecting high school career statistics, and it's only as reliable as the school that posts information on it. Unfortunately in the case of Barkley, only his senior year statistics have been entered. It's better than nothing, though!</p>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Grade</th> <th>GP</th> <th>Rushing Yards</th> <th>Yards per Carry</th> <th>Rushing Yards Per Game</th> <th>Rushing TD</th> <th>Receiving TD</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Senior</td>
<td>11</td>
<td>1,851</td>
<td>8.6</td>
<td>168.3</td>
<td>24</td>
<td>3</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<h3>Highlight Tape</h3>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" src="//www.hudl.com/embed/athlete/1440965/highlights/184329388"></iframe></p>
<h3>Scouting Report</h3>
<p>Barkley has some of my favorite film to watch in this entire class. I broke down what I loved about his game extensively <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/10/20/6996155/saquon-barkley-penn-state-highlight-tape-analysis-whitehall-recruiting-running-back-james-franklin">back in October</a>, and the same kinds of things I said then hold true now. Barkley is a true, all-around running back. He uses power, speed, shiftiness, patience and balance to get the absolute most out of every run. He shows an uncanny knowledge of when to attack a blocker head on, when to juke to get around him, when to outrun him on the edge, and when to wait for a blocker's help. He is an incredibly gifted high school runner, who should only continue to improve with the help of a college weight training program. He's not one who will dance behind the line and wait for a hole to open up. Rather, he will attack the very first opening he can find and create a big play on his own from there.</p>
<p><img src="http://giant.gfycat.com/HandsomePlaintiveAnnelida.gif"></p>
<p>No matter what his path on the field, Barkley is always thinking about just moving forward and gaining more yards. He's exactly the kind of running back that the team could have really used this season, as he is one who should be able to perform despite the condition of his offensive line. He won't be able to pull off all of his same high school tricks in college without getting a little bigger and stronger, but he has all the makings of a superstar back if he can. Barkley could very well end up being one of the very best recruits Penn State has had in recent years.</p>
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<h2>Immediate Outlook</h2>
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<img alt="Redshirt No" data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/5Ds58gZVSiY8jMvvwR-z0xWwXrA=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/3363534/Redshirt__No.0.png">
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<p>Despite the massive talent he possesses, Barkley will still be in a dogfight to earn early playing time. <span>Akeel Lynch</span> will be Penn State's starting running back in 2015, that much is all but certain. After that, Johnathan Thomas was touted as the future of the position after an impressive year behind the scenes as a redshirt. <span>Mark Allen</span> was named the scout team play of the week numerous times throughout the season, and although a position change may be in his future, the other 2014 running back recruit, <span>Nick Scott</span>, still remains as well. In his own class, Barkley will have to compete with Andre Robinson, even though the two play with different styles.</p>
<p>Despite all of the obstacles Barkley will face, I think he will be getting carries at a fairly regular rate by the end of the season. I see Barkley blowing the coaches away in preseason practice, and forcing them to get him early action in the non-conference schedule. Although I firmly believe that Lynch and Thomas will be the 1-2 backs for the Lions this year, Barkley should be able to earn four carries a game as a change of pace back, coming in after the powerful Johnathan Thomas. If he is on the active roster, also expect him to get a chance in the return game. He returned both punts and kicks in high school, and showed some impressive abilities in the punt return game especially. Penn State has gone with about as conservative a punt return style as you can have over the years, and a jolt of energy from a guy like Saquon could be a welcomed influence.</p>
<h2>Everything Else</h2>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/2/19/5427198/saquon-barkley-penn-state-flip-rutgers-commitment-james-frankln-kyle-flood">Saquon Barkley Commits to Penn State</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/2014/10/20/6996155/saquon-barkley-penn-state-highlight-tape-analysis-whitehall-recruiting-running-back-james-franklin">Saquon Barkley Film Breakdown</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.hudl.com/athlete/1440965/saquon-barkley">Saquon Barkley's Hudl</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.maxpreps.com/athlete/saquon-barkley/Q5xrA1OeEeOzMAAmVebBJg/gendersport/football-stats.htm">Saquon Barkley's MaxPreps</a></li>
<li><a href="http://247sports.com/Player/Saquon-Barkley-35574">Saquon Barkley's 247 Profile</a></li>
</ul>
<h4 style="text-align: center;"><span>Welcome to Penn State, Saquon!</span></h4>
https://www.blackshoediaries.com/recruiting/2015/2/4/7974379/national-signing-day-2015-penn-state-saquon-barkley-rutgers-flip-running-back-whitehall-pennsylvaniaNick Polak