Penn State Sports Magazine
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5 0 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M While there's still some unfinished business in 2023, most of the prospects on the Lasch Bash guest list are just now entering their junior seasons. All told, Penn State hosted two dozen prospects in the class of 2024. That list was headlined by five-star athlete Quinton Martin of Belle Vernon, Pa. Ranked as the No. 18 overall pros- pect nationally in the On3 Consensus, Martin is arguably Penn State's most important recruit in next year's class. He's listed at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds and has the potential to play a number of positions. For now, though, Penn State is recruiting him as a running back. Martin has taken six visits to State College so far, which is substantially more than he's made to any other school. "Growing up, Penn State was always my dream school," he said. "I've al- ways liked the White Out. The White Out game is what made them my dream school. That's what started it. Then I started learning more about them, being recruited by them. "I really have a strong love for that school, most definitely. I really like the coaching staff. I like to talk to the players. So, I would definitely say they're one of the schools toward the top of my list." Penn State also hosted one of the nation's top overall quarter- back prospects in Jayden Brad- ford. A native of Chapin, S.C., Bradford had visited twice previ- ously but hadn't been on campus since last year's White Out game against Auburn. Since transferring to IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., Bradford has had more difficulty arranging trips. Getting him on campus for the Lasch Bash was a major win for offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich, offensive analyst Danny O'Brien and the entire staff. "I've been texting with Coach O'Brien and Coach Yurcich a good amount. I've been talking to them on the phone, too," Bradford said. "They've done a great job staying in touch. With me being so far away, they've done their fair share of reaching out, letting me know that I'm important to them in my class." Bradford is the sixth-ranked quarter- back in the junior class and the No. 48 overall prospect nationally according to the On3 Consensus. Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Texas are among the top schools he's visited so far. Bradford wasn't the only quarterback on hand for the Lasch Bash. Three-star prospect KJ Jackson of Montgomery, Ala., also made the trip north for the gathering at PSU. Although he's not as highly ranked as Bradford, Jackson has had an offer from Penn State since Feb- ruary 2021, so he's long been a top target for Yurcich. " T h e L a sc h B a s h wa s great. The scavenger hunt was really fun," Jackson said. "It was a fun way to get to know the campus and bond with all the other recruits there. I really enjoyed that. … I loved the visit. I loved the Lasch Bash. It was fun, and they kept everyone entertained throughout the whole day." Jackson has now visited Penn State twice, having also spent a personal day with the coaching staff in June. The 6-3, 215-pound signal-caller has also taken multiple visits to Auburn, Georgia and Mississippi. In addition to Martin, there were a handful of quality in-state 2024 pros- Jayden Bradford of Chapin, S.C., is the No. 6 quarterback and No. 48 overall prospect nationally in the class of 2024, according to the On3 Consensus. BWI STAFF Rk. School Commits 1. Alabama 18 2. Notre Dame 23 3. Georgia 18 4. Texas 22 5. Ohio State 19 Rk. School Commits 6. LSU 19 7. Miami 18 8. Clemson 19 9. Oklahoma 19 10. Penn State 18 ON3 CONSENSUS 2023 TEAM RANKINGS As of Aug. 11