Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1410640
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 1 5 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M He's ranked as the No. 121 prospect and No. 6 athlete in the nation by Ri- vals. Penn State believes he could play either tight end or defensive end at the next level. Jaden Rashada | QB It's not often that Penn State is able to get a player from California to take an unofficial visit, but Franklin and staff did just that earlier this summer when Rashada flew to State College July 27. One factor that could help PSU's chances with the 6-4, 180-pound sig- nal-caller is that Rashada trains with one of Franklin's former players, Aus- tyn Carta-Samuels, who transferred to Vanderbilt in 2011. Those two have kept in contact ever since. "It's pretty cool because he knows Coach Franklin well. He played for him and still keeps in contact with him," Rashada said. "That's somebody who I trust a lot. His word on a coach means a lot. When I got to meet Coach Frank- lin — and I think I have pretty good judgment of people — you could tell that he was a great guy." This summer, Rashada, Rivals' No. 113 player and No. 6 pro-style quarterback in the junior class, also visited Clemson, Arizona, Arizona State, California and Mississippi. He clearly wants an offer from Clemson, but the Tigers have tar- gets higher on the board. It will be hard for him to visit Penn State this season because of the distance from his home in the Bay Area. But if he does return in the fall or even this winter or spring, then game on. DEFENSE Semaj Bridgeman | ILB Bridgeman picked up an offer from Penn State in April 2020. Back when he received his tender, he was attending Bishop McDevitt in Wyncote, Pa., but the school was shut down this summer and he has since transferred to Arch- bishop Wood in Warminster, where some of his former coaches are now on staff. Earlier this year, Bridgeman told Ri- vals that Penn State and LSU were the two schools standing out the most. He then came to State College twice this summer, visiting first June 6 before returning June 17 for a more in-depth visit. Rutgers also got Bridgeman on campus twice this summer, once in June and again in July. The Scarlet Knights have done a good job so far, and they will be a factor in his recruit- ment, but this is a player Penn State should be able to land. Listed at 6-1, 220 pounds, Bridge- man is listed as the No. 111 prospect and No. 6 inside linebacker in the na- tion by Rivals, and the third-ranked player in Pennsylvania. Lamont Payne | CB Payne earned an offer in April and has steadily moved up Penn State's re- cruiting board. Pitt and West Virginia were the only two schools he visited this summer, and he is expected to pick up quite a few offers once the season kicks off. At Penn State's Whiteout Camp, Payne, who stands 6-1, 170 pounds, ran a 4.6-second 40 and did well when facing future Nittany Lion wide receiver commit Kaden Saunders. That's when he truly emerged as one of Penn State's top targets at the Lamont Payne, a cornerback from Bridgeville, Pa., reportedly impressed Penn State's coaching staff with a strong summer camp performance against future PSU receiver Kaden Saunders. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM Penn State doesn't often land players from the West Coast, but it's pursuing quarterback Jaden Rashada of Pittsburg, Calif. Rashada trains with one of James Franklin's former Vanderbilt players, Austyn Carta-Samuels. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS.COM