Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M A fter Penn State signed a top-five recruiting class in 2018, head coach James Franklin and his staff followed up with another strong show- ing the next year. The Nittany Lions landed 23 players, including 16 prospects with four-star grades in the On3 Indus- try Ranking. The Lions even signed a five-star prospect in linebacker Bran- don Smith. The 2019 class's 73 percent blue-chip ratio remains the highest of any class during the Franklin era at PSU. Despite taking a step back during the 2018 season with a 9-4 record, the Lions were able to use the momentum from the 2016 and '17 campaigns to sign a strong class that so far has seen seven of its members drafted into the NFL. Cor- nerback Joey Porter Jr., safety Jaquan Brisker and tight end Brenton Strange have enjoyed the most pro success to date, but there's plenty of time for the class's three 2024 draftees to make their mark. In the meantime, let's look back at how the class of 2019 fared. Safety Jaquan Brisker came to Penn State after two seasons at Lackawanna College and developed into an All-American and a second-round NFL Draft pick. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL Stopping Stopping Power Power A contingent of future NFL A contingent of future NFL defenders highlighted defenders highlighted the Nittany Lions' 2019 the Nittany Lions' 2019 recruiting haul recruiting haul RYA N S N Y D E R A N D G R E G P I C K E L RYA N S N Y D E R A N D G R E G P I C K E L | B L U E W H I T E I L L U S T R AT E D | B L U E W H I T E I L L U S T R AT E D CLASS OF 2019 REWIND A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 10 7