Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1472993
A U G U S T 2 0 2 2 10 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M D e fe n s ive ta c k l e Ty r i q B l a n d - ing didn't want to go too far from home. That's what made the dif- ference when he was thinking about whether to commit to Penn State or Michigan. Blanding, a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus and the No. 3 player in the state of New York, had been talk- ing frequently with PSU defensive line coach John Scott Jr., graduate assistant Deion Barnes and members of the re- cruiting staff. He had received an offer from the Nittany Lions in mid-February, then took an unofficial visit in March and returned for an official visit in June. The trips to State College showed him everything he needed to see, and it wasn't just the campus that made an impression — it was the trips them- selves. They were short. That was a key consideration for the 6-2, 265-pound interior lineman, a standout at Christ the King Regional High in Queens. After his official visit, he canceled a trip to Michigan and committed to the Nittany Lions on June 17. "I chose to commit to Penn State because it's close to home, that was a big thing," Blanding said. "It's actually closer than Syracuse, and they were also in my top schools. "I have a really good relationship with the coaches. I'm really close with Coach Scott and Coach Deion. I've been talking to them like two or three times a week. … Of course, Coach [James] Franklin, too. "I just really like the environment there," he added. "When I got to really see Penn State, it left a good impres- sion on me. … I thought it was just a bunch of farmland, but it's not like that. [Downtown] is great. The campus is great. It's the right place for me." Blanding said that in addition to Penn State and Michigan, the other schools he seriously considered were Oregon, Syracuse and West Virginia. Among those schools, his strongest relation- ships were with the Ducks and Wolver- ines, but distance was a consideration with both. Another factor that worked in Penn State's favor was its standard practice of getting multiple coaches involved in a player's recruitment. Blanding said he was talking with Michigan defensive line coach Mike Elston and head coach Jim Harbaugh, but PSU's recruitment made him feel as though he "was talk- ing to their whole coaching staff, in- cluding [defensive coordinator] Manny Diaz, all of them. So, I felt like Penn State really showed how interested they were in me. They showed they wanted me more." Blanding went on to add, "One thing I discussed with my [high school] coach, too, was that Penn State is pretty stable. Coach Franklin just signed a new deal. Manny Diaz just signed a deal, and they don't think Coach Scott is going any- where. Even if Coach Scott did leave, Coach Deion is there, and he's a great coach. So, it fits for me." ■ Penn State's Proximity Sways New York Defensive Tackle RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE TYRIQ BLANDING Blanding visited Penn State twice before announcing in mid-June that he planned on signing with the Nittany Lions. PHOTO COURTESY BLANDING FAMILY When it comes to defensive tackles, Penn State has a type. In three-star prospect Tyriq Blanding, it added yet another in a long line of undersized interior players with a high upside. Here's a look at what the Lions are getting: STRENGTHS First step: Blanding's first step is a highlight in itself. He fires off the ball with explosiveness and a per- fect pad level, and he typically wins his assignment within the first move of the play. Hand usage/pass rushing: Blanding does an excellent job of using his hands rather than just win- ning with size and speed against inferior competition. As a run defender, he does a good job of gaining initial contact, controlling the block and shedding to get to the ball. For the most part, he seems like an assignment-sound defender who keeps his gap and forces things to bounce when the ball comes his way. Length and frame: Despite being 6-2, Blanding has good reach. He's near the desirable 33-inch thresh- old for defensive linemen. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Weight: Like many Penn State defensive tackle prospects, Blanding is undersized in comparison to the prototypical player at this spot. The good news for PSU is that he's naturally thick and should gain weight over the next two years. As a result, Blanding should get much closer to the traditional weight of a three-technique defensive tackle. Finish: There's no denying that he plays hard and gives great effort on most plays. But if he determines that he's out of the action, he'll kill his pursuit in two steps. Control: Blanding gives excellent effort when engaging but tends to be a bit too aggressive at times and is over his toes. This lack of control causes him to play off-balance and miss some plays he should make. PROJECTION Three-technique defensive tackle: Blanding fits the coaching staff's template at this position. Whether he's able to follow the same path as former PSU standout Kevin Givens remains to be seen, but he's the correct type of player to bet on. He's got a good frame, movement skills and natural strength. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N