2009 PSU Recruiting

[wadc45]

http://bwi.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=807746

Good premium read on some of the younger players in the program plus some recruits in the '09 class.

[immikefazz]

Well, in light of the Shrive development (should it stick; not doubting it will but just hedging my bet a little), I think 2009 could end up being a stellar recruiting year for Penn State, similar to 2006.

PSU has a chance to win a lot of football games this year with so many returning starters and addition through subtraction at QB. That, coupled with some early momentum in recruiting, might allow PSU to fill all of their needs in recruiting with some top-flight players.

This is exactly what happened after the 2005 season. A bunch of guys got hyped over PSU and ended up filling out a great (#6 nationally) class. Hopefully things on the field will go the same way.

[FrankBooth]

The thing that seems most similar to the '06 class so far is how some kids are taking an active role in recruiting their teammates -- Willis is obviously on it, Givens may be helping and now Shrive says he'll join in. That kind of enthusiasm can be infectious as we saw in '04 and '06 and tOSU saw last year.

[wadc45]

ESPN - Pep Rally: Napier powers Clemson recruiting - Insider

Penn State's class comes to life
By Billy Tucker

Penn State's once stagnant '09 recruiting class certainly has been revived in the matter of a week as PSU quickly elevated its class with the commitments of three ESPN 150 Watch List prospects. Hopefully, offensive tackle Eric Shrive (Scranton, Pa./West), safety Derrick Thomas (Greenbelt, Md./Eleanor Roosevelt) and corner Darrell Givens (Indian Head, Md./Lackey) will relieve a little pressure off Joe Paterno. The 81-year-old head coach, who was released Thursday from Mount Nittany Medical Center after being treated for dehydration, has taken a lot of heat for the lackluster class in '08 and the slow start in '09.

Some Penn State fans have been making a case that Paterno's age coupled with no clear apparent predecessor have presumably created a feeling of instability among the program and thus precipitated the sub-par recruiting. While still early, this week was an auspicious sign that both PSU can rebound from its marginal '08 class that failed to crack the top-25 and the ageless Paterno still has some energy left on the recruiting trail.

Under Armour All-American Givens told us this week he made his switch from Ohio State to Penn State Saturday mainly because he saw the opportunity to start as a freshmen in Happy Valley and optimistically thought Paterno would be there for all four years.

"He is still active among the Penn State players and recruits," explained Givens. "When we talked, he said he would still be there for my whole four years at college and still felt great with a lot of energy.

[GoRU]

Originally Posted by FrankBooth

I like that theory UB -- I just looked at the UGA commit list and the only DB they have is one safety, so they ain't filling up yet. I figure they'll take a class of 25+ recruits like usual.

Actually, based on some of the AJC articles I've read, they're taking a very small class this year. There are some high *** and **** players from Georgia who aren't getting offers from them.

And Devon Smith, has he done anything besides run a 40 at a Combine?

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by GoRU

Actually, based on some of the AJC articles I've read, they're taking a very small class this year. There are some high *** and **** players from Georgia who aren't getting offers from them.

And Devon Smith, has he done anything besides run a 40 at a Combine?

With all due respect, there is room for Smith him on this roster. He can be used in different ways. Given your comment, you are a Combine/Camp guy over the full body of work. That explains why you are high on Tom Savage because he is only a Combine/Camp freak.

[GoRU]

Originally Posted by Undercover Brother

With all due respect, there is room for Smith him on this roster. He can be used in different ways. Given your comment, you are a Combine/Camp guy over the full body of work. That explains why you are high on Tom Savage because he is only a Combine/Camp freak.

How is he going to put up a big junior year when he was injured? I like Savage because he was the #1 QB we had a chance at, and a lot of good schools wanted him.

Actually, I think a lot of these combines are wastes of time for the most part. It's fine to give Smith's film a second look because of his time, but it's a little dubious for Rivals and Scout to pump him up overnight. Take last year, that DE from Delaware who had bad grades. He didn't do anything, he was all hype.

If schools suddenly decide Smith is worth offering I'll change my tune.

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by GoRU

How is he going to put up a big junior year when he was injured? I like Savage because he was the #1 QB we had a chance at, and a lot of good schools wanted him.

Actually, I think a lot of these combines are wastes of time for the most part. It's fine to give Smith's film a second look because of his time, but it's a little dubious for Rivals and Scout to pump him up overnight. Take last year, that DE from Delaware who had bad grades. He didn't do anything, he was all hype.

If schools suddenly decide Smith is worth offering I'll change my tune.

Relax my man ... it was pretty obvious you took a pot shot at Devon Smith with his has he done anything else besides run fast comment, but yet use the injury excuse for Savage. You aren't sold on Smith, I get it and that is fine. I just am not sold on Savage. Think he is Morelli equivalent in every shape of the term and I'm glad he isn't part of this class. Both of us will see down the road who was right and who was wrong. Nice pick up on Andre Civil though.

[FrankBooth]

I wonder if we'll see a kicker in this class. It's Kelly's last year and Boone will be a junior.

Breen is supposed to be a punter but could also do kick-offs, I suppose. Here are the kids listed on the '07 roster, with 4 returning in the fall:

position yr name
P SO* Jeremy Boone
P FR Ryan Breen
K SR* Joe Hughes
K JR Kevin Kelly
K FR* Collin Wagner

[GoRU]

Looks like we'll get Carrezola too. My eternal thanks to whoever decided to run the spread HD in Happy Valley.

[Undercover Brother]

Originally Posted by GoRU

Looks like we'll get Carrezola too. My eternal thanks to whoever decided to run the spread HD in Happy Valley.

LOL ... Pitt fans thought he was a lock for them. They remain verbaless.

[GoRU]

It was close, but Savage was the deciding factor. Can't imagine why he'd go there though with DeCicco a silent.

Thanks for the kind words though. If it wasn't already clear, Civil (who'll be a DT probably) getting an offer is a concession on Stanley and Arnett, no doubt.

I didn't really mean anything negative by my Smith comment, I was just making a general point about these camp wonders.

Expounding on my spread point, it's interesting to see PSU suddenly making up a ton of ground with Austin (and the other MD kids). You'll be set if you can get a QB, and meanwhile we're reaping the benefits of PSU and Michigan dumping their pro-style schemes.

Anyway, I'm going to move these tangent discussions out of the Love thread...

[AustinScottistheone]

Good idea with moving the stuff out of the Love thread...I posted a bunch of crap I probably should have brought to this thread. I always thought we were in decent position with Tavon, but if he outright said Penn State leads then that would be a development for sure. His uncle or whoever it is that played LB at Maryland downplayed his interest in Penn State a bit, saying he has had the most contact with Penn State thus the interest; but I'm really expecting when it is all said and done that he will be a part of this class.

We aren't going to bring a kicker in Frank, we have David Soldner from PA who is walking on (preferred walk-on I believe...probably better than Kelly, I'm sure he will earn a scholarship ala P Jeremy Boone if he proves it)...from his Scout profile:

Biography: As a junior, Soldner earned first team Class AAAA Associated Press All-State honors. Soldner was named as a second team All-American by USA Today. He holds ten place kicking records at Manheim Township.