Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1063223
CLASS IN SESSION PSU went into the signing period with a sizable contingent, but there was more work to be done | P enn State's season may have ended a month ago, but for James Franklin and his 10 assistant coaches, there wasn't much time for rest in the weeks that followed. Unless, of course, it was on an airplane. Throughout the 2nal week of November and the 2rst two weeks of December, the entire sta3 spent nearly every day criss- crossing the country, meeting with the Nittany Lions' top remaining 2019 tar- gets, their families and coaches. They also met with the coaches of elite 2020 prospects. Last year, the Lions went into the early signing period with 19 players verbally committed. It appeared as though the number this year would be 17, but that total fell to 16 on Dec. 8, as wide receiver Emery Simmons decided to switch his commit- ment back to his in-state school, North Carolina. A native of Fayetteville, Sim- mons had been committed to the Tar Heels before switching to Penn State this past summer. The announcement that Mack Brown would be taking over the program, coupled with pressure from friends and family, led Simmons to decide that Chapel Hill was the place for him, a5er all. Losing Simmons hurt, but the sta3 had also improved its chances with another wide receiver, Cornelius Johnson of Greenwich, Conn., following his o4cial visit Dec. 7-9. Heading into that week- end, it appeared as though the Lions were outside of his top three, but in the days leading up to the start of the signing pe- riod, it looked as though Johnson was poised to commit to either Penn State or Michigan on Dec. 19. Another target, In- dianapolis native David Bell, was ex- pected to sign with Purdue. At running back, there was a lot of buzz surrounding Penn State's chances with Rivals100 prospect Noah Cain in the week leading up to his commitment, which was expected to take place Dec. 19. An IMG Acad- emy prospect who is originally from Denton, Texas, Cain took a late o4cial visit to Tennessee F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G CLASS PHOTO Franklin poses with committed and uncommit- ted prospects during a visit weekend in De- cember. Photo courtesy of Wormley family