Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516624
M A R C H 2 0 2 4 4 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P L A Y E R B I O S / / / / / / / W hen it comes to defensive backs, Penn State has a type. The Nittany Lions like big-bodied players with plenty of speed. Vaboue Toure, a four-star prospect from Pleasantville, N.J., fits that descrip- tion. During his four seasons at Irvington High, he was an in-your-face defender, which led to 239 tackles, 6 interceptions and multiple forced turnovers over four years. Penn State safeties coach Anthony Poindexter realized early on that Toure would be one of his top targets in the 2024 class. The Lions extended an offer in March 2022. A number of Power Five programs were even quicker to begin their pursuit, though, with Pitt being the first to offer in April 2021. The delay in joining the race for Toure's services did not hinder Penn State's chances of landing the 6-foot-1, 209-pounder. He visited campus eight times, with four of those trips predating his commitment on July 16, 2023. Penn State and Kentucky were the only schools to receive official visits, and Toure's trip to State College in June was an eye-opener. "Me and my family loved the way Coach [James] Franklin and the staff re- spected us in a great manner and really made it hard for us to not enjoy the expe- rience," he said. "My parents and I loved the way Coach Franklin prioritized edu- cation and graduating with a degree. "What I enjoyed most about the visit was getting to sit down and chop up my game film with Coach Poindexter. One thing that stood out to me was the new weight room, simply because I had never seen it before. It amazed me." Toure is a bit of an outlier within his class. While he carries a four-star grade in the On3 Industry Ranking, he's out- side the top 300, checking in at No. 332 overall. On3's scouts like his collegiate potential, ranking him 24th nationally among safeties. "What impressed me about Vaboue Toure was just the physicality he played with as a senior," On3 scouting director Charles Power said. "He was very active. He's a striker. When you're watching DBs, especially in this cycle, I found myself wanting to see more guys who play with a physical edge. Toure certainly did that. He closes quickly. He's really effective play- ing downhill. He's tough and physical, and a guy who plays fast." Toure is one of 16 incoming freshmen who enrolled at PSU in January. Whether his winter arrival leads to early playing time is an open question, but Irvington coach Smoke Pierre said he has the skills to make an impact at the college level. "Vaboue is a young man who brings physicality and toughness to anyone's defense," Pierre said. "He prides him- self on leading by example on and off the field. Vaboue enjoys being coached tough and enjoys the process of becom- ing a better person. Penn State is get- ting a humble human being who enjoys conquering everything the world has to offer." — Greg Pickel Toure had 179 tackles, 4 interceptions, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries during his junior and senior seasons at Irvington (N.J.) High. PHOTO BY RYAN SNYDER VABOUE TOURE Safety prospect will bring size and speed to Penn State's secondary S | 6-1 | 209 Irvington Pleasantville, N.J. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★★ 332 27 5 On3 ★★★★ 275 24 5 ESPN ★★★★ 245 24 4 Rivals ★★★ — 63 9 247Sports ★★★ — 46 5 Statistics • Recorded 90 tackles, a punt-return touch- down and 8 rushing touchdowns as a senior • Had 89 tackles, 4 interceptions, a forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries, both returned for touchdowns, as a junior • Posted 40 tackles, a sack, 2 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries as a sophomore • Made 20 tackles and threw a touchdown pass as a freshman Notable • Was a captain as a senior • Played on teams that compiled a 33-12 re- cord in his four varsity campaigns • Helped lead Irvington to conference, sec- tional and regional championships during his sophomore season Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on July 16, 2023 • Recruited by safeties coach Anthony Poin- dexter • Picked Penn State over Kentucky and Rutgers • Officially visited on June 9, 2023 2024 Projection Toure was a productive high school player who is getting a jump start on his college career by enrolling early. His versatility at the prep level, where he played offense and defense, should help him in the Big Ten. Despite arriving in Janu- ary, though, Toure needs to add weight and refine his technique, which will lead to a redshirt season in Year 1, in all likelihood. They Said It BWI analyst Thomas Frank Carr: "Toure has the skills and potential to play both the field and boundary safety positions within the Penn State defense. Once he gets in the system and learns to play in single coverage, his game should open up. With great burst and potential as a coverage defender, Toure should see some time at field safety. He's got some technique and speed work to do before you'd put him in single coverage against a slot receiver or receiv- ing tight end. But with work, he can be the ver- satile defender to play wherever you want him." T H E T O U R E F I L E