Blue White Illustrated

January 2023

Penn State Sports Magazine

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was chosen to play in the Alabama- Mississippi All-Star Game in Decem- ber. He picked the Nittany Lions for a few different reasons. "For one, the way they treated my family both times I went up there. I've got three little sisters from ages 4 to 12, and both times I went up there they made sure that they got what they wanted or needed, no matter what," he said. "Then, for two, the way that Coach [Anthony] Poindexter produces and develops athletes my size and at my position, that played a big factor in my decision." Nelson is a three-star prospect ac- cording to On3. He's the No. 58 safety nationally and the No. 28 prospect in Alabama in the 2023 class. LAMONT PAYNE S | 6-0 | 190 One of the first to jump on board back in September 2021, Payne com- mitted to James Franklin on the field before the Nittany Lions' win over Au- burn. Penn State was the longtime fa- vorite for the Bridgeville, Pa., prospect, who earned an offer during the spring of his sophomore year. He picked the Lions because of the combination of academics and athletics, as well as the coaching staff. "It's a real close family up there, ev- erything is a close-knit group," he said. "They show love and hospitality every time. You can tell that they care about you as a person and the type of player you are. They're not just the type of team and school that says they want you just to say it. They care about your values. Coach Franklin is amazing, and Coach Terry [Smith]. I established a great bond with them and just fell in love with the school." Payne played on both sides of the ball at Chartiers Valley. While he was originally pegged as a cornerback by the Nittany Lions, he will likely play safety at the college level. He had 524 yards and 3 touchdowns playing wide receiver this past fall and added 4 interceptions. He's a three-star prospect according to On3, checking in as the No. 77 cornerback nationally and the No. 16 prospect in Pennsylvania. ANDREW RAPPLEYEA TE | 6-4 | 230 If you're looking for a player who could potentially make an early impact, look no further than Rappleyea. He's one of the most physically gifted play- ers in the class, and his performance as a senior at Milton (Mass.) Academy illustrated that he has big-play poten- tial. Rappleyea, a native of Millbrook, N.Y., totaled nearly 500 yards receiving They led the way for James Franklin's staff in the class of 2023, but Seider gets top billing. Top Highlight Reel Our pick here is four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea. On3 is especially bullish on the 6-4, 230-pound prospect from Milton (Mass.) Academy, ranking him No. 80 nationally, 47 spots ahead of his ranking in the On3 Consensus, which takes into account other major recruiting networks. His film is a blast to watch, and it could help him become an instant-impact contributor in 2022. "I think he's going to come in at Penn State and be pretty ready to go," On3 scouting direc- tor Charles Power said. "It looks like he's added some good size, too. Compared to some other tight ends, we never had a ton of exposure with him when it comes to camps and other things, but when you look at his video and what he showed as a senior, I think it's justified moving him up." One To Watch Running back London Montgomery was once a four-star recruit. However, an ACL injury cost him his senior season at Scranton (Pa.) Prep, which caused his stock to drop. Now a three-star, Montgomery could easily out- perform his ranking if he recovers well and still has the same speed and dynamism that he showed before the injury. Most Underrated Signee We'll spotlight Iowa three-star quarterback signee Jaxon Smolik here. His stock soared last summer following a surprise invitation to the Elite 11 camp in Los Angeles, where he shined. Smolik picked Penn State soon afterward. Unless injuries force their hand, the coaches won't need to rush him onto the field. When his time does come, he has all the tools to be ready to compete for the starting job. — Greg Pickel Four-star tight end Andrew Rappleyea has a gaudy highlight video and could be an early contributor at the college level. PHOTO COURTESY RAPPLEYEA FAMILY J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 3 5 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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