Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1476228
5 2 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 Power Five recruiting can oftentimes feel like a roster coaster. The ups and downs are what make the ride fun. In June and July, Penn State had plenty of ups on the recruiting trail, landing 10 total commitments in the class of 2023. Unfortunately for James Franklin and his staff, the second half of the sum- mer hasn't gone as well as the first. Out of those 10 recent commitments, two have already left the class, with wide receiver Yazeed Haynes and defensive end Tomarrion Parker opting to decommit. In addition, several talented players who were serious about Penn State at one point or another ended up elsewhere, too. Top-100 defensive line prospects Jason Moore and Derrick LeBlanc ended up at Ohio State and Oklahoma, respectively. Of- fensive tackle prospects Evan Link and Stanton Ramil both picked Big Ten rival schools. Their com- mitments happened on the same day, Aug. 1, with Link choosing Michigan and Ramil selecting Michi- gan State. When you add in athlete Cam Seldon going to Tennessee, plus running back Treyaun Webb and cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson both selecting Florida, that's seven quality four-star players who were serious about the Lions but ultimately ended up elsewhere. Then came a positive surprise, with wide re- ceiver Carmelo Taylor of Roanoke, Va., making a sudden commitment to Penn State on Aug. 10. An On3 Consensus four-star prospect, Taylor took an official visit to PSU on June 24. South Carolina and Virginia Tech also hosted him for official visits in June. The Hokies even got him on campus for an unofficial visit in July, but Taylor, the No. 47 receiver nationally and No. 6 prospect in Virginia in the On3 Consensus, said he and his family felt as though the Nittany Lions were the best fit. "We all really liked Penn State. My mama felt good that if I went to Penn State, I would be in safe hands," Taylor said. "We have a few friends up there, so she felt like I'd be in a safe spot if I go up there. And my dad was just ex- cited because his favorite college team was Penn State." With the class back up to 18 commitments following Taylor's addition, the staff can likely add five more players for a total of 23. It's possible that Penn State will bring in as many as 25 prospects, but the 85-scholarship limit could make that a bit more difficult, and it would also give the Nittany Lions less flexibility as they eye the transfer portal in the coming offseason. Of course, the Lions still need a quarterback following the decommitment of Marcus Stokes in July. As of early August, all signs were pointing toward Jaxon Smolik of West Des Moines, Iowa. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound signal- caller camped at Penn State at the end of July and left town with an offer that evening. He also backed out of his commitment to Tulane, suggesting that a pledge to the Nittany Lions may be imminent. A three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, Smolik impressed at the Elite 11 Finals in Los Angeles in June. He had been a late addition to the event following another player's decision to drop out, and he took advantage of the situation, earning top-performer honors from On3 scouting director Charles Power. Power wrote that Smolik "showed he belonged alongside the nation's best and got better and better each day. [He] had one of the better 7-on-7 sessions on Thursday, with On3 charting him on target for 9 of 17 passes for three touchdowns and one dropped interception. Smolik got hot during the middle of his turn, ripping two impressive touchdowns in rapid succession. He spins the ball well and throws with velocity." Elsewhere on offense, the staff still has interest in adding another wide receiver and a tackle. BWI expects the search at both positions to drag into the regular season. Edwin Joseph of Chaminade Madonna in Hollywood, Fla., could be a player to monitor. Penn State is working to get the three-star receiver on campus early in the season, but the staff will have to outduel Georgia Tech, Indiana, Maryland, Texas A&M, Utah and West Virginia to earn his commitment. Defensively, linebacker Kavein Keys of Richmond, Va., took an official visit to Penn State in June. However, he's expected to end up at North Carolina. The staff has needs along the defensive line, too, but top targets such as Will Norman of IMG Academy in Florida and Jalen Thompson of Cass Tech in Detroit both were leaning elsewhere. The Nittany Lions appeared to be the team to beat with cornerback Zion Tracy. Following a strong camp performance at the end of July in which he ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash, Tracy set up an official visit to Penn State for the home opener against Ohio. The 5-11, 170-pound Connecticut native is also considering Rutgers and Syracuse, but he's made it clear that the Nit- tany Lions are the team to beat. Tracy does not yet have a rating in the On3 Consensus, but we'll be watching for a potential commitment Sept. 10-11. — Ryan Snyder Penn State Looks To Regain Recruiting Momentum Receiver Carmelo Taylor, a four-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, became a surprise addition to Penn State's class when he announced his commitment on Aug. 10. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER