Blue White Illustrated

November 2021

Penn State Sports Magazine

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6 0 N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State fans had more than one reason to celebrate on Sept. 18, the night of the team's first White Out game in nearly two years. In addition to a 28-20 victory over Auburn, the Nittany Lions picked up a verbal commitment from 2023 cornerback Lamont Payne, a Rivals.com four-star prospect from Chartiers Valley High in Bridgeville, Pa. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Payne had earned an offer from Penn State back in April, but it was after he camped with head coach James Franklin, cornerbacks coach Terry Smith and the rest of the PSU staff in early June that he emerged as one of their top targets at the position. Payne said he actually thought about ending his recruitment after that camp, but he elected to return two more times over the summer, in addition to his visit for the Auburn game. "Honestly, I thought about doing it way sooner," he said. "When I camped with them in the summer, I was feeling it, but my dad and I talked and we de- cided that it wasn't good to rush it. He was right, and that allowed me to take a few more visits. That's how I learned that this is really one of those schools that I'm set on. They provide everything I need. It's just a good decision for me and the family." Payne hadn't announced a list of his favorite schools during the offseason, nor did he set a commitment date. He took visits to Pitt and West Virginia over the summer, but in the end he was con- vinced that Penn State was where he be- longed. "One thing I really like is that they're very diverse at Penn State," Payne said. "Black, white, whatever, it's just a great combination there, and they're a family. I really like that about their program. "Also, they're competitive in every- thing they do. Whether it's Spikeball or in the weight room or whatever, everyone is always ready to compete. I like that kind of atmosphere. So, all of that, and just the relationship I've built with their coaches really feels like a great fit for me." Payne is listed by Rivals as the No. 228 overall prospect and the No. 32 corner- back nationally in the class of 2023, as well as the No. 8 player in Pennsylvania. He said that Franklin played a major role in his decision not just to commit to Penn State but to end his recruitment early. "Coach Franklin just has that swag. He's such a cool dude," Payne said. "I'll be on a FaceTime with Coach Terry, and Coach Franklin will just pop in, joke with me, have fun. I really love what he has going on with the program. I love his achievements and I love his goals in the future. You know Penn State is going to be successful with him." ■ Penn State is already hard at work on its 2023 class, and those efforts yielded a big commit- ment on Sept. 18 when four-star cornerback Lamont Payne announced for the Nittany Lions. The Pittsburgh-area native ranks 228th nation- ally according to Rivals.com and 32nd overall at his position. STRENGTHS Size/length: P a y n e i s n o t t h e b i g g e s t cornerback that the Nittany Lions have recruited in recent years, standing just under 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. But he plays with physi- cality at every part of the route. His work at the line of scrimmage in press coverage is very impressive and he frequently bullies receivers out of the play. Ball production: Penn State has prioritized players who can find the ball in the air, and Payne has shown he can do that. His ability to come off his man and make plays is something you don't find everywhere. Coverage versatility: Payne has the tools to play press man coverage. He's very balanced on his feet and is never stumbling despite his aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Speed: His 4.6-second 40-yard speed will get better over time, but he'll have to work to im- prove in this area. Over-aggressiveness: It's a good problem to have when a cornerback plays with such confidence and aggressiveness at the line of scrimmage that he has to dial it back. Most of the time, Payne is on-balance and intentional about his engagement with receivers. But when facing an equally competitive player, he can get too physical and lose his leverage or get pulled off-balance. PROJECTION Boundary corner: The size, arm length and hip mobility that Payne shows on tape make him an excellent candidate to play the boundary corner position for Penn State. He can use his size to box receivers in on the short side of the field and has the length to go up against more- physical pass catchers. Payne has the low center of gravity and transition skills to be a high-quality starter. Field safety: Penn State has a pretty good track record of taking bigger corners and moving them to safety if they don't develop the movement skills expected over time. Payne is a great physical presence on defense and is a feisty blocker on offense. It's not the most likely sce- nario, but he has the frame and skills to be a quality free safety prospect. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Four-Star Cornerback Joins Lions' 2023 Class RYA N S N Y D E R | S N Y D E R 4 2 0 8 8 @ G M A I L . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE LAMONT PAYNE Payne and coach James Franklin embrace after the cor- nerback prospect from Bridgeville, Pa., revealed that he plans to sign with Penn State next year. PHOTO BY GREG PICKEL

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