Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1276571
F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G Lions add four to future classes Penn State's latest commitments boost classes of 2021, '22 and '23 | J uly is typically one of the slowest months of the recruiting calendar. If all had gone to plan this year, the annual month-long dead period would have ex- tended from June 22 to July 24, assuring James Franklin and his assistants, as well as other coaches across the nation, a few weeks of vacation without the fear that their competitors would be gaining an ad- vantage. Penn State would have then hosted a few dozen prospects for the an- nual Lasch Bash barbecue July 25, followed by one more camp for underclassmen the next day. That would have essentially ended the summer recruiting schedule, with preseason practice beginning at some schools in the 5nal week of July. June is typically much busier, with camps taking place nearly every weekend, but nothing has been normal this year on the recruiting trail. The recruiting calen- dar has been turned on its head since March, and unfortunately for those play- ers who have been trying to visit schools, there are no signs that on-campus visits are going to return in the near future. With teams 5nding it di7cult throughout July to keep their current players from testing positive for COVID-19, it appears unlikely that recruiting visits will resume until a8er the season. But even without visits, recruiting has continued. Conversations over Zoom and FaceTime have always been used, but lately they've become essential tools that are part of the sta6's daily routine. Penn State has not only used video conferenc- ing to show players parts of its campus, but the coaches have also involved mem- bers of their strength and conditioning sta6, the sports science department and nutritionists, to go along with members of the faculty. Simply put, Franklin has asked just about everyone associated with the Nittany Lion football program to help in some form. If prospects can't come see University Park on their own, the sta6 will bring Penn State to them. Those moves helped PSU pull in four commitments over the past two months, with another announcement expected just a8er BWI's deadline in the beginning of August. The 5rst of those commit- ments was from tight end Mathias Barn- well on June 8. Just 15 years old, the Spot- sylvania, Va., native is a member of the Class of 2023, making him the youngest player to ever commit to the Nittany Lions. Listed at 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, Barn- LINEBACKER U Buddin said he could see him- self "playing at a very high level" at Penn State. In July, he commit- ted to the Nit- tany Lions, choosing them over Michigan State. Photo by Ryan Snyder