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Lions' class continues to grow Recent additions to 2019 contingent include blue-chip running back, defensive backs | P enn State went on a commitment binge in May and June, adding six players to what had been a three- member recruiting class. Among those who announced for the Nittany Lions were elite Vir- ginia prospects Devyn Ford, Brandon Smith and Hakeem Beamon. Ford, a :ve-star running back as rated by Ri- vals.com, was the most highly regarded player in Penn State's class as of late June, while Beamon, a de- fensive lineman, and Smith, a linebacker, have both received four stars from Rivals. In addition, the Lions shored up their secondary with commitments from a trio of defensive backs: JaQuan Brisker of Lackawanna College in Scranton, Pa., Tyler Rudolph of Oakdale, Conn., and Marquis Wilson of Windsor, Conn. The last of those commitments was Beamon's, and his announcement boosted Penn State to 12th place in the Rivals.com team rankings for the Class of 2019. By late June, the Lions had slipped to 21st, but that was primarily because of the class's small size. As of this writing, they were the only team in the top 50 with fewer than 10 commitments. However, the average star rating of their nine play- ers was 3.89. Only two of the 20 teams ahead of them had better averages: Geor- gia (4.1) and Florida State (3.92). Here, listed in the order of their com- mitments, are the prospects who have re- cently announced plans to sign with the Lions: JaQUAN BRISKER A safety who is origi- nally from Monroeville, Pa., Brisker joined the Nittany Lions' class on May 17. The Lackawanna College standout had paid his :rst visit to campus the previous weekend along with teammate Anthony Whigan, and Lackawanna o;ensive co- ordinator Josh Pardini said the two en- joyed their time. Brisker "really loved everything about it," Pardini said. "He's known Coach [Terry] Smith for years now, and I think he did a great job rekindling that relation- ship with JaQuan. He also had a good day with Coach [Brent] Pry and Coach [James] Franklin." A=er emerging last season as a fresh- man at Lackawanna, Brisker earned 14 verbal scholarship o;ers. Among the more notable schools that showed inter- est were Alabama, Maryland, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Pitt, Utah and West Virginia. The 6-foot-2, 200-pounder had been planning to take an o

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