Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1052705
Lions focus on backfield, defensive line Penn State coaching staff welcomes prospects for games against Iowa, Wisconsin | O ctober and early November were quiet for Penn State on the recruit- ing trail, but there were still a hand- ful of developments that will likely have an impact on the Nittany Lions' Class of 2019. Penn State's push to add more depth along its defensive line became all the more apparent on Nov. 2, as James Franklin and defensive line coach Sean Spencer extended another scholarship o4er, this one to defensive end Smith Vil- bert. Listed at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Vil- bert is originally from Haiti and only began playing football three years ago. The Class of 2019 prospect began picking up scholarship o4ers this past summer and has recently seen his stock skyrocket, as Boston College, Nebraska, Oregon, Pitt, Syracuse and Virginia have also o4ered in just the past two months. A Montvale, N.J., resident, Vilbert hasn't been able to visit many schools, but he did make the trip to Penn State in September for the game against Ohio State. That re- mains the only college football game he's seen to this point. "It was crazy," Vilbert said. "I couldn't even hear the people next to me. I had a good time. I also got to meet with the coaches a little bit before the game, but that was pretty much it. I just went to the game and went home. That's why I need to see more still." Vilbert, who holds a three-star rating from Rivals.com, should get that chance next month, as he's in the process of set- ting up an o5cial visit to Penn State. It will likely take place Dec. 7-9, but nothing was set as of Nov. 11. Oregon, Rutgers and Virginia should also receive o5cial visits, but that could change depending on which other schools o4er a scholarship in the coming months. However, regardless of other o4ers, we F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G For daily and breaking news updates on Penn State football recruiting, visit bwi.rivals.com. PRAISING CAIN Penn State has built a good relationship with Cain, a four-star running back from IMG Academy in Florida. Photo cour- tesy of Cain family