Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1490816
F E B R 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 I t had been nearly a year since Penn State picked up a verbal commitment from a prospect in the 2024 class. After four- star offensive lineman Cooper Cousins of Erie, Pa., announced for the Nittany Lions in January 2022, no one chose to join him in the spring, summer or fall. That quiet stretch ended on Jan. 17 when James Franklin and his staff added one of their top defensive targets in An- thony Speca, a linebacker out of Pitts- burgh Central Catholic with a three-star rating from On3. Speca said the coaching staff earned his verbal pledge by convincing him that he was a good fit for PSU on and off the field. "I committed to Penn State because it feels like home," he said. "It allows me to get everything I want, even outside of football. I believe in James Franklin and what the staff has built. "I decided to commit this early because I knew in my heart it's where I want to be, and I am blessed to be in the position I am." Listed at 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Speca has become well acquainted with State College, visiting seven times since the summer of 2021. Even so, Penn State had to work hard to win over the Pittsburgh native. Throughout the spring and sum- mer of 2022, Michigan was considered the team to beat. The situation began shifting in Penn State's favor last July, however. Instead of attending the Lasch Bash barbecue, Speca elected to spend a personal day with the staff a few days ahead of the Nittany Li- ons' big summer recruiting event. The one-on-one time he got with the staff, particularly defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and analyst Dan Connor, made a strong impression. "It was awesome," Speca said at the time. "It cleared up any uncertainty I had, really, because I finally got to meet with Coach Diaz, and I spent more time with Coach Connor. I spent a lot of time with [Connor] at the Michigan game, but this time it was more so in a football setting and seeing what he's actually like as a coach. "I really never got to see the campus either, so that was cool for me, too. It's re- ally cool compared to what I've seen with some other campuses." Speca returned in October for the White Out game against Minnesota. Michigan also got him on campus this past season, but by late fall, the Lions were beginning to edge out the Wolverines. Penn State's position became clear af- ter Speca returned home from a visit to campus in mid-January for a junior day. He described PSU as "the favorite" after that trip. Two days later, he announced his com- mitment. Speca had been planning to visit Michi- gan and Pitt in late January but ended up canceling those visits. He had also received scholarship offers from Florida State, LSU, Notre Dame, Ohio State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Wisconsin, among others. According to On3, Speca is the No. 64 linebacker prospect nationally and No. 19 player in Pennsylvania. He's ranked higher in the On3 Consensus, which takes into account other recruiting sites with an equal-weighted average score. In the Con- sensus, he's the No. 287 overall prospect nationally, No. 27 linebacker and No. 7 player in Pennsylvania for his class. ■ Three-star linebacker Anthony Speca chose Penn State over Michigan in a decision that quickly snowballed in favor of the Nittany Lions. Here's a look at what made him such a valuable prospect to both Big Ten schools: Strengths Fluidity and mobility: One of the first things that stands out about Speca is that he's an incredibly fluid player. He's got very loose hips and can turn and run in any direction. Aggression: Manny Diaz's defense requires con- fident, aggressive players at the second level who have the speed and the confidence to fly downhill and fit gaps. In that aspect, Speca is a perfect fit. Coverage: Speca's pass coverage is potentially his best trait. He can open up his hips and turn to play underneath zones in coverage. Areas of Development Arm length: This is Speca's biggest red flag. Arm length is critical for a middle linebacker so that he can wrap up and tackle consistently. Reading keys: Speca is the classic case of a line- backer who attacks first and thinks later. Learning to read his keys and follow his rules will take time, but it is entirely coachable when he gets to Penn State. Projection Mike linebacker: Speca has a lot to learn before he's ready to step onto a college football field. However, his three-down potential makes him a quality addition to the Lions' 2024 class. If he rep- resents the baseline level of athleticism that Diaz is looking for in the middle, he's setting a high floor. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Pittsburgh Linebacker Feels Right At Home With Nittany Lions RYA N S N Y D E R | R YA N. S N Y D E R @ O N 3 . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE ANTHONY SPECA A standout at Pittsburgh Central Catholic, Speca ranks as the No. 27 linebacker nationally and No. 7 prospect in Pennsylvania in the On3 Consensus. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER