Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476228
S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 4 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State welcomed many of its top high school prospects from across the country to State College on July 30 for its final recruiting event of the summer. The Lasch Bash Barbecue, which began under Bill O'Brien's leadership, has steadily grown into one of the most important events of the year on Penn State's recruiting calendar. With no on-campus visits allowed during the August dead period, the Lasch Bash offers one final opportunity for James Franklin and his staff to host their most important prospects before everyone shifts focus to the upcoming season. It also provides an opportunity for prospects' families to meet each other, including the families of players who are already verbally committed. This year, Penn State's class is about 80 percent finished, and the Lasch Bash almost al- ways strengthens those bonds. In the class of 2023, 11 of the 18 play- ers who were committed to Penn State at the time were in attendance, along with two uncommitted prospects in wide receiver Justin Brown of Mur- freesboro, Tenn., and running back Sam Singleton of Orange Park, Fla. A three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, Brown put together a strong workout for the staff the day before the Lasch Bash. He said afterward that wide receivers coach Taylor Stubblefield told him Penn State planned to make him a "priority" in the coming weeks, but the Nittany Lions never got that chance. On Aug. 5, less than a week after his trip to PSU, Brown committed to Mississippi State. Singleton, who was visiting Penn State for the first time, also ended up committing elsewhere. The same day that Brown joined Mississippi State's class, Singleton announced that he plans to attend Florida State. Penn State will continue to recruit both players in the months ahead, but the staff will likely have to look elsewhere to meet its needs at the wide receiver and running back spots. The Nittany Lions did pick up a ver- bal commitment in early August, but it was from a player who didn't attend the Lasch Bash. Receiver Carmelo Taylor of Roanoke, Va., announced for Penn State on Aug. 10. Taylor is a three-star pros- pect according to On3's scouts but has a four-star rating in the On3 Consensus, which takes into account other major recruiting sites. Lasch Bash Gives PSU A Chance To Make Its Case To Prospects In The 2024 And '25 Classes RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M FOOTBALL RECRUITING Ranked in the On3 Consensus as the No. 18 overall prospect in the 2024 cycle, Quinton Martin is being recruited by Penn State as a running back, though the Belle Vernon, Pa., standout could play a variety of positions. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER