Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1499919
5 0 J U N E / J U L 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 J ust five months after signing On3 five-star offensive lineman J'ven Wil- liams from Wyomissing (Pa.) High, Penn State added one of his former team- mates to its 2024 recruiting class, earning a commitment from two-way prospect Caleb Brewer on April 15. Checking in at 6-foot-4, 295 pounds, Brewer could play either offensive guard or defensive tackle when he arrives in State College next year. He's a high three- star prospect in the On3 Industry Rank- ing, as well as the No. 15 player in Penn- sylvania and the No. 24 athlete nationally. Brewer visited Maryland, NC State, Rutgers and Syracuse, but Penn State, Duke, Michigan and Notre Dame were his leaders, largely because of their academic reputations. "Once he took that unofficial visit to Penn State in January, it changed every- thing for him," Wyomissing assistant coach Steve O'Neil said. "I don't think he realized how important academics were to Coach [James] Franklin. That made a huge impact on him and his recruitment. I don't think he realized that Penn State had similar standards to Michigan and Notre Dame." Proximity also played a role in his deci- sion. When Brewer began traveling to see the schools he was interested in, he came to realize that he might be better off stay- ing close to home. "He started thinking more and more about his family having to take flights all the time to see him play," O'Neil said. "I think that, plus Franklin stressing gradu- ation rates, won Caleb over. Those two factors changed everything." Brewer has played tight end at Wyo- missing, but if he ends up on offense in college, it will be as a lineman. He could also fit in at defensive tackle, a position the PSU staff has prioritized this year. "He plays with such physicality and a nastiness," O'Neil said. "One thing I love is that he always finishes. Sometimes he'll play through the whistle. As long as he doesn't get called for it, I love it. "When you watch his highlights, he also does a great job blocking one guy and then transitioning to the next." On defense, Brewer played mostly at nose tackle in prior seasons but will likely see action this fall at the three-technique spot to take advantage of his athleticism. "He knows how to use leverage, which is so important as a defensive tackle," O'Neil said. "I think he absolutely could play on the defensive line for Penn State if he's not going to be a guard." ■ Caleb Brewer is an intriguing prospect in that we don't know what position he will play at Penn State. He has seen action at tight end but is viewed as either an offensive or defensive lineman at the college level. Here's a look at the skills he'll bring to whichever meeting room he ends up in: STRENGTHS Movement skills: Brewer is one of the fastest linemen Penn State has recruited in some time. His agility and acceleration are impressive. Pos- sibly the best compliment one could give Brewer at this stage of his career is that he doesn't look out of place running routes as a tight end. Size: Brewer has a great frame and will likely be able to carry 310 pounds or more once he gets to Penn State. Assignment football: If you ask him to do some- thing, Brewer completes the assignment well. His great movement skills make him an ideal second- level blocker in most offensive systems. As a de- fensive lineman, he holds his gap as expected. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Hand usage: Brewer doesn't make great use of his hands. On offense, he's more of a shover than a blocker and struggles to stay attached to defenders at times. From a defensive standpoint, he essentially has one move (a low rip) to try and bully his way into the gap. Frame: Brewer doesn't have long arms. This will diminish his effectiveness when facing long, powerful defensive tackles. The same is true when you reverse-engineer Brewer's skills and project his potential as a pass rusher. No matter how good his moves become, he will struggle to shed blockers. Pass Protection: Wyomissing rarely throws the ball, so Brewer has almost no experience as a pass blocker. If he ends up playing offense, he will need some time before he's ready to step on the field. PROJECTION Defensive tackle: While Brewer has the physi- cal strength to play on either side of the ball, arm length is less of an issue at defensive tackle. There are ways for players such as Brewer to engage and beat offensive linemen. Left guard: Assistant coach Phil Trautwein has raised the standard in the Lions' offensive line room. Can Brewer play at Penn State? Yes, he prob- ably can. But while he's a great fallback option, the team should try to find players with better length and positional experience to fill this role. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Academics Attract Two-Way Lineman To Penn State 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 CALEB BREWER Brewer earned more than two dozen scholarship offers and chose the Nittany Lions over Duke, Michigan and Notre Dame. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER