Now that the season is over, it is time to start concentrating on the ‘second season’, which is recruiting. While Penn State has consistently done well in recruiting over the past few decades, getting classes that are ranked somewhere between 15-25 overall in the nation, this year seems to be special. Penn State is on pace to have a Top 5 recruiting class this year, one that is on par with teams like Alabama, Florida, Texas and Oklahoma.
This might be the best recruiting class Penn State has ever had and it has all been established with Joe Paterno not taking one in home visit (something he stopped a few years ago). While there is no doubt Joe Paterno plays a huge roll in luring these kids to Penn State, it is his assistants like Larry Johnson Sr., Tom Bradley and Ron Vanderlendin, who pound the pavement and get these kids to sign with Penn State.
For those that don’t follow recruiting too much, basically kids are rated by giving them a number of stars, 5 stars being the top rating; they are then ranked by position (numerically, so the best RB in the nation is #1). Now it is not uncommon for Penn State to land a couple 4 and 5 star players and maybe few who are highly ranked within their position. But usually this comes on the defensive side of the ball, where Penn State has been successful in developing NFL caliber players.
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We rarely get top offensive talent or if we do we get one great offensive player in a class. But this year the talent is on the both sides of the ball and we beating the likes of Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Florida and many other high profile schools in the recruiting battle. The 2010 Penn State Recruiting class consists of the following:
- Penn State has 18 total ‘committed’ players right now, and 15 of the 18 have a rating of either 5-stars or 4-stars (only Alabama, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma have more 4/5 stars players committed)
- Penn State commits have an ‘average’ rating of 3.89; only Florida or Texas have a higher average rating, both at 4.0.
- As for the Big Ten, Ohio State’s average ranking is 3.63 and only has 9 kids ranked with 4 or 5 stars. And Michigan’s average ranking is 3.25 and only has 7 kids ranked with 4 or 5 stars
- Penn State has 9 players who are rated within top 10 for their specific position – this includes the following
- QB’s (2) & (9)
- Center (6)
- Full Back (1)
- Tight End (5)
- Middle Line Backer (2) & Outside Line Backer (5)
- Defensive Tackles (9) & (10) – we also have the 11th best DT too
Now, national signing day is not till February 3rd, and there are still a few gems which Penn State is competing for including the nation’s top running back, Marcus Lattimore from South Carolina. He is considering Penn State, South Carolina, Oregon and Auburn. Most experts think this is two team race between the Gamecocks and the Nittany Lions. There are even rumors that Joe Paterno will take one visit this year, and I heard South Carolina is not that bad in late January / early February.
At the end of the day a good or even great recruiting class guarantees nothing, but it can’t hurt. We will not know how successful this class really is till 2012 or 2013, but it sure does look good right now.
We are Penn State.
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
WE ARE PENN STATE!
Too bad we lost Lattimore to either South Carolina or Auburn, it really sounded like we had a good chance to get that kid. Hopefully we close out the class by getting Michael Thornton, four-star DE from Stone Mountain, GA.
Regardless, this is going to be a great class. Now, let’s coach’m up and star competing for the big prize.