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fans were full of hope for Menet and short on patience. "Menet gets here and he was a highly recruited guy, but because he didn't start game two of his freshman year, it's almost been like, 'Is everything OK for Michal Menet?' " head coach James Franklin said earlier this month. "Michal Menet is doing extremely well." Preoccupied with the recruiting hype, some might have found it easy to overlook the talent that already existed along the Nittany Lions' o4ensive line – despite a few beleaguered seasons that predated Menet's arrival. He was part of a class that also brought Con- nor McGovern, and the four-star line- man from Larksville, Pa., won a starting nod at guard as a true fresh- man. McGovern's early success might have given the impression that Menet was lagging behind. In reality, he was right on schedule. Now a redshirt sophomore, Menet has been working during preseason practice to solidify a role as PSU's starting center, taking the place of McGovern, who is expected to move back to his original position with the Nittany Lions. "This recruiting process sometimes creates false expectations for the fans and for our players and for their par- ents and for everybody, [including] their communities sometimes," Franklin said. "Michal Menet is doing great. We've been pleased with him all along." It's just part of the marinating process, as Franklin has frequently re- ferred to it throughout his 3rst four seasons at PSU. Few high school prospects are equipped with the physi- cal tools and mental acuity to jump immediately into a Division I starting lineup. It takes time, and that's espe- cially true for o4ensive linemen. Fur- thermore, as top-ranked recruiting classes continue to stack, it becomes even harder to crack the depth chart in year one. But not impossible. And that's where things get tricky. Because on Penn State's practice 3elds right now, the true freshmen who are just arriving – members of the 35h-rated signing class in 2018 according to Rivals.com – are challenging this very concept. Sixteen of the 22 players in that class were awarded either four or 3ve stars coming out of high school. It's a group that exudes promise, even more than the other classes currently on campus. And so far, those players are delivering. Will Levis is chucking touchdowns to Justin Shorter on the practice 3eld, while early buzz centers on Shorter's fellow receiver Jahan Dotson. Micah Parsons and/or Jesse Luketa are push- ing for time at linebacker, and at both the tight end and defensive tackle po- sitions, at least one freshman is mak- ing a case for a signi3cant role. As high as the expectations were coming in, this class could be on its way to ex- ceeding them. "I think this freshman class in gen- eral is really doing well and is really ad- vanced. It doesn't seem too big for them," Franklin said. "They're much more aggressive, they're much more competitive, and that's not a knock on other classes. My point is, most of these freshman classes have to come in and they have to feel it out 3rst. ... [But] right now there's a large percent- age of them who are competing at a pretty high level." It's their mentality that has caught the coaches' attention. In addition, their approach to practice, their body types and athleticism have had the sta4 "very impressed," Franklin said a5er the 3rst few days of preseason camp. There's nothing like a 3rsthand look, once they're at last on the college practice 3eld, to reveal what the sta4 has with its latest freshmen. Better yet, coaches have a chance to see a game-time example without ex- pending a year of eligibility. With the NCAA a4ording athletes the opportu- nity to play in as many as four games without losing freshman status, this class has the ability to meet all these ex- pectations sooner than ever. What kind of e4ect that has on their development, however, remains to be seen. ■ 111 E. Beaver Ave s State College, PA 16801 www.The-Phyrst.com 814.234.4406 137 Elmwood St. s State College, PA 16801 www.HappyValleyBeer.com Wood-fire Grill 12 Beers on Tap 200 Year Old Barn 821 Cricklewood Dr. s Toftrees, State College www.AmericanAleHouse.net 814.237.9701 s Piano Bar s Sommelier 814.238.1406 814.234.7700 s 1611 Atherton St. s State College 814.941.7788 s Plank Rd. Exit s Altoona www.ChampsSportsGrill.net s Best Game Bar s Large Groups Welcome c lc e W We s p u o r G e g r a L s a e B m a st G e B s S n S h 1 A 1 6 1 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 me co r a l l C S r G s rt o p S s p m a h C . www s t i x . E d k R n a l P s 8 8 7 7 1. 4 9 . 4 1 8 S s . t n S o t r e h t 1 A 1 6 1 s 0 0 7 7 4. 3 2 4. 1 8 t e n . l l i r na o o t l A e g e l l o C e at t S

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