Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1030409
Porter is the ninth-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania in the Class of 2019. He's only the second in-state prospect to commit to Penn State this year, joining cornerback Keaton Ellis, who is from State College. In addition to Porter, it became appar- ent last month that the Lions are in seri- ous contention with a few prospects from outside of the region. One of those players is running back Mark Antony-Richards of Palm Beach, Fla. A four-star prospect, Antony-Richards announced that Penn States is one of 3ve schools he's consid- ering, along with Auburn, Florida, Miami and Tennessee. He is the younger brother of Ahmmon Richards, a junior receiver at Miami (Fla.). The family connection has led some to speculate that the Hurricanes hold a slight edge, but Antony-Richards has said he wants to follow his own path. "I've spoken with Coach Franklin a few times and I really like what he has planned," he said. "I've seen drastic change in the program [since he's taken over]. Honestly, I see greatness there, so why not be part of something special that's brewing?" His con3dence in Franklin is a plus for the Lions, but it's his relationship with Ja'Juan Seider that put Penn State in the mix. Antony-Richards has been speaking regularly to Seider on the phone, but the connection runs deeper than that, as the 3rst-year PSU running backs coach has known his mother for years. "He knows my mom from Glades Cen- tral [High School]," Antony-Richards said. "She ran track there. That's where we get our speed. So they go way back. That's why my family really likes Coach Seider." The Nittany Lions have also become serious contenders for four-star wide receiver Jalen Curry of Houston. Penn State extended an offer to the 6-3, 190- pound wideout in early August and have quickly shot toward the top of his list of favorites. He cited Franklin as a major reason why. "Honestly, it's been a pretty good rela- tionship with Penn State," Curry told Ri- vals.com reporter Nick Krueger in late August. "They got a hold of my film, just CLASS OF 2019 NAME POS HT WT RATING HOME SCHOOL Hakeem Beamon DL 6-3 255 ★★★★ Chesterfield, Va. Lloyd C. Bird JaQuan Brisker DB 6-2 200 ★★★ Monroeville, Pa. Lackawanna College Lance Dixon LB 6-2 200 ★★★ West Bloomfield, Mich. West Bloomfield John Dunmore WR 6-3 170 ★★★★ Hollywood, Fla. Chaminade Madonna Keaton Ellis DB 6-0 160 ★★★ State College, Pa. State College Area Devyn Ford RB 5-11 195 ★★★★★ Stafford, Va. North Stafford Michael Johnson Jr. QB 6-3 202 ★★★★ Eugene, Ore. Sheldon Joey Porter Jr. DB 6-2 185 ★★★ Pittsburgh, Pa. North Allegheny Taquan Roberson QB 6-0 198 ★★★★ Wayne, N.J. DePaul Catholic Tyler Rudolph DB 6-1 205 ★★★★ Oakdale, Conn. St. Thomas More Emery Simmons WR 6-1 186 ★★★ Fayetteville, N.C. South View Brandon Smith LB 6-3 218 ★★★★ Mineral, Va. Louisa County Caedan Wallace OL 6-4 330 ★★★★ Princeton, N.J. Hun School Anthony Whigan OL 6-5 295 ★★★ Great Mills, Md. Lackawanna College Marquis Wilson DB 6-0 175 ★★★★ Windsor, Conn. Windsor Saleem Wormley OL 6-4 300 ★★★★ Smyrna, Del. Smyrna * As of Sept. 16 P E N N S T A T E R E C R U I T S * C L A S S O F 2 0 1 9