Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1488968
5 0 J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Defensive line coach John Scott also added two edge rushers in Joseph Mupoyi and Mason Robinson. Mupoyi is a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He came to the United States to pursue a basketball scholarship more than three years ago but ended up giving football a try in 2021. Listed at 6-4, 235 pounds, Mupoyi is still inexperienced but ath- letically has a lot of potential. Robinson played at the McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md. He was thought to be leaning toward the Lions back in the spring before he suddenly committed to Northwestern in May. However, following a tough season for the Wildcats, Robinson took an official visit to Penn State on the weekend of Dec. 9-11. The three-star edge rusher, who stands 6-3, 230 pounds, commit- ted two days later. The final addition came Dec. 19, two days before the start of the early signing period. Running back Cameron Wal- lace, a native of Mount Vernon, Ga., was a late riser, earning his first Power Five offer in September. Once Penn State offered a month later, he quickly followed that up with an of- ficial visit in November. Georgia Tech hosted him for an official visit the week- end before he committed, but by that point, Penn State was the clear front- runner. With 22 players signed, Franklin did admit that there's room to add others once the February signing period arrives. Offensive tackle and defensive tackle are the two positions the Lions are most interested in, although defensive back could also be a priority. When it comes to how the coaches ad- dressed their overall needs, there's a lot for Penn State fans to be excited about. The addition of Williams, Alex Birchmeier and Anthony Donkoh, all of whom hold four- star ratings or better, gives Penn State one of the best offensive line classes in the country. Wil- liams is the top-ranked interior lineman in the nation, while Birchmeier ranks fourth and Donkoh 20th. Franklin said that Williams and Birchmeier will likely start at offen- sive tackle when they enroll in January. The linebacker class is also among the best in the country. In addition to Keys (No. 15 linebacker nationally), both Tony Rojas (No. 8) and Ta'Mere Robinson (No. 26) were four-star prospects ranked among the best in the land. Only defend- ing national champion Georgia signed three linebackers that rank higher than Penn State's trio. Tight end is a position group where PSU excelled. Andrew Rappleyea is cur- rently the second-ranked tight end in the nation, while Joey Schlaffer sits at No. 10. Mathias Barnwell, who is rated as an athlete, will start his career at that posi- tion. He holds a high three-star rating. ■ P E N N S T A T E ' S C L A S S O F 2 0 2 3 * N A M E P O S H T W T R A T I N G * * H O M E S C H O O L Mathias Barnwell Ath. 6-6 245 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fredericksburg, Va. Riverbend Alex Birchmeier OL 6-5 280 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Ashburn, Va. Broad Run Tyriq Blanding DL 6-2 265 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Middle Village, N.Y. Christ The King Regional Anthony Donkoh OL 6-5 315 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Aldie, Va. Lightridge Kaveion Keys LB 6-2 190 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Richmond, Va. Varina Jameial Lyons DE 6-5 245 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Philadelphia Roman Catholic King Mack S 5-10 175 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fort Lauderdale, Fla. St. Thomas Aquinas London Montgomery RB 5-10 185 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Scranton, Pa. Scranton Prep Joseph Mupoyi DE 6-4 235 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Oakdale, Conn. St. Thomas More DaKaari Nelson S 6-3 194 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Selma, Ala. Selma Lamont Payne S 6-0 190 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Bridgeville, Pa. Chartiers Valley Andrew Rappleyea TE 6-4 230 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Millbrook, N.Y. Milton (Mass.) Academy Mason Robinson DE 6-3 230 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Baltimore McDonogh School Ta'Mere Robinson LB 6-3 225 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Pittsburgh Brashear Tony Rojas LB 6-2 195 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Fairfax, Va. Fairfax Joey Schlaffer TE 6-5 215 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Reading, Pa. Exeter Township Jaxon Smolik QB 6-1 205 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ West Des Moines, Iowa Dowling Catholic Carmelo Taylor WR 5-11 155 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Roanoke, Va. Patrick Henry Zion Tracy CB 5-11 170 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Hempstead, N.Y. St. Thomas More (Conn.) Cameron Wallace RB 5-10 170 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Mount Vernon, Ga. Montgomery County Elliot Washington CB 6-0 195 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Venice, Fla. Venice J'ven Williams OL 6-5 290 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Reading, Pa. Wyomissing * As of Dec. 21 | ** On3 player rating as of Dec. 21 Rk. School Signees 1. Alabama 27 2. Georgia 26 3. Miami 26 4. Texas 22 5. Ohio State 20 6. LSU 25 7. Oregon 30 8. Notre Dame 24 9. Oklahoma 24 10. Florida 20 14. Penn State 22 ON3 CONSENSUS 2023 TEAM RANKINGS As of Dec. 22