Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
M A R C H 2 0 2 2 51 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M T here were plenty of names that Penn State defensive recruiting coordina- tor Terry Smith could have brought up when asked recently if the Nittany Lions had landed some "hidden gems" in their 2022 recruiting haul. But Smith didn't need any time to think it over. One fu- ture Nittany Lion fit the bill: three-star linebacker Keon Wylie. "I think he's going to be really tal- ented for us," Smith said on the early signing day in December. "I think he just has something extra. I don't think he gets the acclaim that he deserves." A 6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect out of Philadelphia's Imhotep Institute Charter, Wylie has not gone completely unnoticed. Coming off a senior season in which he delivered nine sacks and 10 tackles for loss, Wylie was one of four future Nittany Lions selected to partici- pate in the 2022 U.S. Army All-Ameri- can Bowl in San Antonio in January. He also was a three-time PIAA All- State selection and ranked 520th among all 2022 prospects nationally in the On3 Consensus. But internally, the expecta- tions for Wylie at Penn State are much loftier. "I think he may be the best [signee] on the defensive side," Smith said. "This guy is a humble servant. He just doesn't say much, but when you look at the pro- duction on his film, I mean, this guy gets after it every snap. He plays relentless to the football." Most of that film showed Wylie play- ing defensive end. He didn't begin seeing extensive time as a linebacker until the practice sessions for the All- American Bowl. Former Philadelphia Eagles great Jeremiah Trotter served as an assistant coach at the game and said he displayed a range of attributes that make him a good fit at the position. "I couldn't tell that he hadn't played linebacker before. They're two totally different positions and the way you at- tack is different, so he impressed me," Trotter told BWI. "He'll do great at Penn State. He's physical, smart and has a good feel for the position." Even so, Wylie isn't rushing the pro- cess. He acknowledged that he will be facing a challenge as he transitions to a new position and a new level of football. "I'm not looking to come in and de- mand anything right away. It's who- ever earns it," Wylie said. "I just want to come in, give my all, and we'll see what happens." If Smith's assessment proves correct, that approach could make Wylie's name one for Penn State fans to keep in mind moving forward. "When he comes here and we put a couple of pounds on him, get him a little bit stronger, I think the upside of this guy is tremendous," Smith said. "We're just excited about what he brings to the table." ■ Wylie excelled as a defensive end at Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, but he will be moving to linebacker at Penn State. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER Keon Wylie Is Seen As A 'Hidden Gem' In Nittany Lions' Class N AT E B A U E R | N B A U E R @ B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M KEON WYLIE LB | 6-2 | 200 IMHOTEP INSTITUTE CHARTER HIGH PHILADELPHIA, PA. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE consensus ✪ ✪ ✪ 520 51 15 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 68 17 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 63 17 ✪ ✪ ✪ ✪ — 20 9 ✪ ✪ ✪ — 64 14 STATISTICS • Had nine sacks and 10 tackles last fall. • Finished with 25 tackles, 12 sacks, 15 tackles for loss and three forced fumbles in 2020. • Made 53 tackles, 13 sacks and 20 tackles for loss as a sophomore. NOTABLE • Primarily played defensive end in high school. • 2022 U.S. Army All-American. • Three-year captain at Imhotep Charter. • Three-time all-state selection. RECRUITMENT • Committed to Penn State on July 3, 2021. • Took official visits to Pitt, Penn State and Ken- tucky in June 2021. 2022 PROJECTION Along with adjusting to the FBS level, Wylie will also need to transition into a new position. He's expected to play the outside linebacker spot and will most likely redshirt this coming fall. THEY SAID IT Jeremiah Trotter, All-American Bowl lineback- ers coach: "He's very intelligent. He asks all the right questions and has a high football IQ." Alan Zemaitis, Penn State assistant recruiting coordinator: "The one thing I loved about Micah Parsons when he was playing here at Penn State was, he could play the linebacker position as good as anybody in the country. But then when you put him in a pass-rushing situation, he instantly became the best player in the country, the best player on the field. "That's what I see in Keon Wylie. I think he's got some of those traits. I think we're just scratching the surface with him. I think the sky's the limit. When we get him in our program, get him in our culture and get him within [defensive coordina- tor] Manny Diaz's scheme, I think he's going to be making a lot of plays in the next four years. A lot." BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "He's going to be good at the point of attack as a linebacker for sure. He's stronger than his size and mass metrics might indicate. He has good size, but it's not like he's a hulking defensive end with a classic body type. He's undersized, but he's strong and he's controlling players at the point of attack who are 30 or 40 pounds heavier than he is."