Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1505647
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 2 5 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P ostgraduate defensive back Zion Tracy might have seemed unde- cided when, in early September, he announced a top four that included Penn State, Buffalo, Rutgers and Syracuse. In reality, he was leaning heavily to- ward the Nittany Lions. Just a few days after revealing his list, he ended the sus- pense, committing to PSU during a visit to campus for the team's home opener against Ohio. Tracy, a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, said the key factor in his de- cision was his trust in the Lions' staff, particularly cornerbacks coach Terry Smith, who took the lead in his recruit- ment. "Their coaches were just upfront and honest with me the entire time," Tracy said. "Whether it was bad or good, they were always telling me what I needed to hear, not just what I wanted to hear. I ap- preciated that." Smith may have led Tracy's recruit- ment, but Penn State head coach James Franklin also played a big role in landing the 5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect from Hempstead, N.Y. "I was talking to Coach Franklin more and more over the past couple of weeks," he said. "I really liked how real he is with you, and Coach Terry just knows how to have that connection with his players. "Outside of football, there's a bond there with his players. It's the same thing with Coach Franklin. I felt like I really connected with both of them." Tracy played last season at Long Island Lutheran, earning second-team Class B All-State honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association. He re- ceived a handful of FBS offers and was even committed to Temple at one point. However, when the Owls dismissed coach Rod Carey and his staff last No- vember, Tracy reconsidered his decision and opted instead to spend a few months at a postgraduate school, enrolling at St. Thomas More in Connecticut. "I was committed to Temple, but the coaching change is why I decommitted," Tracy said in August. "I decided then to just reclassify, become a 2023 player. I'm a postgrad, so I'll only be at St. Thomas More for three months." Tracy had camped at Penn State the past two years, but it was a workout last summer that changed the direction of his recruitment. He ran a 4.3-second 40-yard dash during his appearance at PSU's camp, and that performance, coupled with a strong showing against Ejani Shakir, a wide receiver prospect who had committed to the Lions in May, grabbed the attention of Smith and the entire staff. With his commitment, Tracy became the third cornerback in this year's class, joining Elliot Washington and Lamont Payne. Rated in the On3 Consensus as the No. 58 cornerback nationally and No. 5 prospect in Connecticut, Tracy plans to enroll at Penn State in Janu- ary. ■ Penn State may have picked up a steal in the class of 2023 at a high-value position. Al- though Tracy is a postgraduate player, there is very little full-game footage available to view, so we'll be basing our evaluation on the skills he presents on his highlight tape, which is an incomplete picture. Strengths Fundamentals: Tracy appears to have very good fundamentals. He uses his hands in press coverage without grabbing, controls receivers throughout the route stem, and knows how to legally box receivers out of routes. He also shows great awareness and intelligence as a receiver and a cornerback. Tracy isn't the biggest corner at 5-11, 170 pounds, but he's tough against the run and is willing to tackle. More important, his 33-inch arms are elite for his frame and stand out as a weapon. Physical development: Over the past year, Tracy has transformed himself from a good prospect physically into a great one. He reportedly ran a 4.3-second 40 at a Penn State camp and was explosive in every test- ing metric. Areas of Development Unknowns: Tracy doesn't show any weak- nesses on film, but the film in question is a highlight reel. You wouldn't expect his weak- nesses to be on display. It's important, then, to acknowledge that we don't have a com- plete view of his skillset. His play in contested situations, awareness in double-moves and so on are total unknowns. Projection Cornerback: With elite speed and explo- siveness in a relatively compact frame, Tracy is an excellent candidate to play either the field or slot roles in coordinator Manny Diaz's defensive system. His length will allow him to play outside, and his good timing on blitzes means he can do it all from the slot. With the coaching staff prioritizing the secondary, having more bodies is always an advantage. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Coaches' Honesty Leads Cornerback Prospect To PSU 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 ZION TRACY Tracy had been committed to Temple before a coaching change prompted him to attend prep school instead. He is spending this fall at St. Thomas More in Connecticut and will enroll at Penn State in January. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT