Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
1 0 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M As is usually the case when a Florida prospect joins the Nittany Lions, running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider opened the door to Antonio Branch's commitment. But the veteran Penn State assistant had plenty of help in landing Branch, a Miami native. Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter also played a pivotal role in the three-star defensive back's decision. "My relationship with Coach Dex is real good," Branch said. "We've been locked in ever since they came down there and offered me, so we've been in touch for a minute. He's everything you can ask for in a coach. Not too many can say they're in the College Football Hall of Fame at what they coach." Branch picked up an offer from Penn State during the December contact pe- riod following the 2023 season. Over the course of his recruitment, the 6-foot-2, 175-pounder totaled a dozen offers. He took unofficial visits to Flor- ida State and Miami in 2022 and '23, while Au- burn, Michigan, Texas A&M and West Virginia also offered. When it came time to narrow his schools, Nebraska and Louisville were PSU's primary competitors. Word started to leak in the week leading up to his Penn State official visit May 31- June 2 that the Lions were the team to beat. There were reports that he considered committing during a meeting with the staff in mid-May, but his family decided it was better for him to visit the school first. Branch's visit went well. He ended up canceling a scheduled trip to Florida the next weekend and committed on June 19. Coming off a junior season at Booker T. Washington High in which he had 28 tackles and an interception, Branch is the No. 37 cornerback and No. 54 prospect in Florida according to On3's scouts. How- ever, he could end up at safety with the Lions and is excited about that possibility. "They love me at the safety position," he said. "I'll be ready to play anywhere they need me to win games." — Ryan Snyder Four-star Philadelphia prospect Jabree Wallace-Coleman has a championship pedigree at a school that has sent its share of players to Penn State in recent years. As a junior at Philadelphia Imhotep Char- ter, the 6-foot, 210-pound running back rushed for more than 1,500 yards and 28 touchdowns, helping lead the Panthers to a PIAA 5A state title. Two of Wallace-Coleman's former teammates — receiver Tyseer Denmark and cornerback Kenny Woseley Jr. — are freshmen with the Nittany Lions, while linebacker Keon Wylie signed with PSU as part of its 2022 class. Next year, Wallace- Coleman will join them in State College, having committed to the Lions on June 22. Penn State extended an offer to Wal- lace-Coleman in December 2021, shortly after his freshman season. He went on to earn more than 20 scholarship offers and committed to Georgia in July 2022 before reopening his recruitment in December. Wallace-Coleman kept a low profile while mulling his offers, but he did pub- licly announce that he was planning to check out North Carolina in April, and he followed up with an official visit to Chapel Hill in June. Penn State had three running backs com- mitted at that point: Tiqwai Hayes, Kiandrea Barker and Al- vin Henderson. On June 21, Henderson switched his commitment to Auburn. Wallace-Coleman had long been one of the staff's top targets at the position. That made the loss of Henderson eas- ier to take than most decommitments. Running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider and defensive line coach Deion Barnes, who recruits Philadelphia, went all-in on Wallace-Coleman, and he was receptive to their message. "I have a great relationship with Coa c h Se i d e r a n d Coa c h De i o n ," Wallace-Coleman said. "Also, when- ever I've been up there, I talk to Coach [James] Franklin a lot. He gives me good vibes. … I think with them, it's bigger than football." On3's scouts list Wallace-Coleman as the No. 8 running back and No. 153 prospect nationally, as well as the No. 7 player in Pennsylvania. — Ryan Snyder COMMITMENT PROFILE ANTONIO BRANCH COMMITMENT PROFILE JABREE WALLACE-COLEMAN Relationships Crucial In Swaying Florida Prospect Imhotep Ball Carrier Feels At Home In PSU Backfield Safeties coach Anthony Poindexter wants players who can close on the ball. I think An- tonio Branch is a willing tackler, but the tech- nique needs to get better. He needs to wrap up a little more and not dive at ankles. I like the potential. This class is all about betting on the upside of these athletes, and more weight will make Branch faster and more explosive. He doesn't really jump off the tape from an athletic standpoint, but all the building blocks are there. If you put a little more horsepower under the hood, this is a guy who will pop off the film a little better. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N Just because Jabree Wallace-Coleman doesn't wow you with speed doesn't mean new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki can't use him. The 6-foot, 210-pound runner can bring a strength element to the Penn State backfield with a great blend of power and elusiveness. While he does play similarly to classmate Tiqwai Hayes, he's also reminiscent of former Nittany Lion Noah Cain, who lacked a breakaway gear but still showed elusiveness and dynamic traits while being a power back. Wallace-Coleman's size and willingness to block, paired with his advanced understanding of football, mean that he can likely jump into the competition for reps early in his career. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N