Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1486024
5 6 D E C 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 about my family just much as they care about me. "They do the same thing with the players on their team, too. I've been talking to players like [sophomore receiver KeAndre Lambert-Smith]. When I was at the game last week, he was telling me that they're always go- ing to be making sure that everyone is doing well. They really care about making sure they do what's best for their players." A few other four-star 2024 prospects who attended included defensive end Brian Robinson of Austintown, Ohio; quarterback Michael Van Buren of Baltimore; cornerback Asaad Brown of Portsmouth, Va., and safety Vaboue Toure of Irvington, N.J. Robinson visited on back-to-back weekends, attending the game against Minnesota one week prior. The 6-4, 225-pound edge rusher has already said that Penn State is on pace to be one of his top schools when the time comes to narrow his list. "I just want to see consistency, and that's definitely what Penn State showed me," Robinson said. "Coach Franklin is the real deal. From Day 1, I bonded with him. He's a cool fam- ily guy. He is very genuine. "When you first meet him, you al- most question it a bit, because he's different than most head coaches. But the more you're around him, you can see he's created a great organization. He's a class act." Brown was one of the first corner- backs that assistant coach Terry Smith offered in the 2024 class. He had visited previously when he was young, but this was his first trip to State College in a few years. He said it won't be his last. "I definitely plan on going back up to Penn State, probably in the spring," he said. "Talking with Coach Smith, me and him do have a really good relation- ship, even with his family. I know that's going to be a school I have to see again. "He took a chance on me when I was younger, offering me early. I haven't forgotten that. Watching how his cor- ners played during that Ohio State game, it's definitely a place I could see myself at." The games against Maryland and Michigan State featured a large group of potential walk-on targets for the 2023 class, but in addition, the Lions welcomed an official visitor when they faced the Terrapins. Running back Cameron Wallace, a 5-10, 170-pounder from Mount Vernon, Ga., was on hand for the game against Maryland. Wallace didn't pick up his first Power Five scholarship offer until September, but he now holds more than 10 offers, with schools such as Georgia Tech, Florida State, Michigan State, Washing- ton State and West Virginia among Penn State's main competitors. "It was a really good visit," Wallace said. "They have great personalities. I never saw any negativity in anything they were saying. Everything they said was just the truth. They're a very honest staff. It was really cool seeing every- thing there." Defensive linemen Nigel Smith of Rk. School Commits 1. Alabama 23 2. Georgia 21 3. Notre Dame 24 4. Ohio State 19 5. LSU 24 Rk. School Commits 6. Texas 21 7. Florida 22 8. Oklahoma 22 9. Clemson 23 10. Miami 19 13. Penn State 19 ON3 CONSENSUS 2023 TEAM RANKINGS As of Nov. 28 Running back, Quinton Martin of Belle Vernon, Pa., visited for the game against the Buckeyes. The top-ranked 2024 prospect in Pennsylvania, Martin said PSU's staff has been in frequent contact. "They talk to me way more than a lot of schools," he said. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER