Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1276571
For daily and breaking news updates on Penn State football recruiting, visit bwi.rivals.com. ment. Just like Barnwell, he then attended the game against Michigan in October, followed by the Feb. 1 junior day. "That's a place where I went there my 6rst visit and I felt comfortable," Buddin said. "I felt like I could see myself there and playing at a very high level. I feel like they are going to develop me as a player and a person the best. "I know that they'll develop you, they love you and at the end of the day you're going to get a great education and have a great time in college. I already know some guys coming in who are really hardwork- ing guys." Buddin is a four-star prospect and a member of the Rivals250, coming in at No. 226 overall. He's also the 16th-ranked linebacker in the nation. His commit- ment completes Penn State's linebacker class, as he's joining fellow Michigan na- tive Kobe King. King is expected to play the middle linebacker position, while Buddin will play outside. The Nittany Lions kick-started the Class of 2022 on July 25 when Ohio wide receiver Kaden Saunders announced his commitment. A resident of Westerville, Saunders earned an o7er from the sta7 well over a year ago in March 2019. Unlike many in his class, who still haven't been able to visit their top schools, Saunders began his process early, traveling to 10 schools in 2019. Penn State hosted him four times between March and November of last year. "I just knew where I wanted to be. Penn State always felt like home to me," Saun- ders said. "The sta7 cares about me gen- uinely. I feel like they'll always take care of me well when I get there. They've al- ways made it clear that I'm a priority to them, so that made this easy for me. I knew where I wanted to be." Penn State assistant Terry Smith was the 6rst coach to make contact with Saun- ders, who holds a four-star rating from Rivals.com. Smith's e7orts piqued his in- terest in the sta7, but once Taylor Stub- ble6eld joined as the new wide receivers coach, Saunders felt more comfortable with the Nittany Lions, knowing he had a bond with his would-be position coach. "Coach Smith was the 6rst coach I be- came real close with," Saunders said. "We've been close since my freshman year, and I'm still very close with him, but Coach Stubble6eld kind of took over my recruitment when he got here so I could become close with him. "We get along great. We joke around a lot. I know I can talk to him about more than just football. He really knows what he's doing, especially with the slot posi- tion. He played that in college and ex- celled at it, leading the Big Ten in catches. So I feel very comfortable with him. He's a chill coach and someone who has proven himself." Saunders narrowed his list to seven schools in June. Arizona State, Indiana, Michigan and TCU all made the cut, but he said his decision came down to Penn State, Notre Dame and West Virginia. Penn State added its second Class of 2022 commitment on July 28 when tight end Jerry Cross of Milwaukee announced for the Lions. Listed at 6-6, 220 pounds, Cross earned an o7er from Penn State in late April. He began building a relation- YOUTH MOVEMENT Barnwell, a tight end from Spotsylvania, Va., became the youngest player ever to give the Nittany Lions a verbal commitment when he an- nounced for Penn State in June. Photo courtesy of Barnwell family