Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1532761
4 8 M A R C H 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 2 5 / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / I n July 2023, trainer Onix Salva brought one of his athletes, Brooklyn receiver Lyrick Samuel, to Penn State for the Lasch Bash barbeque. Salva, the operator of Speed Island in Garden City, N.Y., thought at the time that Samuel was an underrated prospect na- tionally, perhaps because he hadn't been as active on the summer camp circuit as some other receivers. When Samuel committed to Penn State the following February, Salva still felt that Samuel wasn't getting his due. "He's still so underrated, and Penn State was one of the first to really see his potential," Salva said. "In our area, we know what Lyrick is and what he could be on the next level. I feel like nationally, they still don't know, but they will know soon enough. Just wait." The Nittany Lions are hoping Salva's assessment proves accurate. The three-star Erasmus Hall prospect was the first receiver to join Penn State's class. At 6-foot-4, 170 pounds, he brings unique physical attributes to the PSU receivers room, but after a senior season that was curtailed by injuries, Samuel remains a bit under the radar. Penn State knows him quite well, though. In the year leading up to his commitment, Samuel made seven visits to Happy Valley. He attended the Blue- White Game in April 2023, as well as the Lasch Bash and the season opener against West Virginia. He also camped for the staff twice that summer. Samuel reported offers from Michi- gan State, Rutgers, Syracuse and West Virginia, but his connection with head coach James Franklin and wide receivers coach Marques Hagans drew him to the Nittany Lions. "Coach Hagans and Coach Franklin are amazing to me," Samuel said. "They both noticed things about me from our interactions that weren't on my high- light tape. "Also, I'm the oldest brother with a little sister and brother who look up to me. [Penn State] treated them special, as did everyone on campus." Samuel caught 27 passes for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior to help Erasmus Hall win its fifth consecutive city title in the Public Schools Athletic League. He had a pair of touchdown catches in the city final against Tot- tenville. The year before that, Samuel caught 22 passes for 422 yards and 8 touchdowns as a sophomore. Samuel is close with Penn State red- shirt freshman wideout Josiah Brown, a 2024 arrival from Malverne (N.Y.) High. The two met while competing on a youth track team and later played youth football together. They went their sepa- rate ways in high school but both trained at Speed Island. Last June, the two receivers recon- nected at Penn State during Samuel's official visit to campus. "Josiah Brown was my host player," Samuel said. "With him being my child- hood friend, it was good to see him in a college atmosphere. I also got to meet players from different positions, and they all made me feel like I was already a part of the 'We Are' family." — Sean Fitz Samuel, who committed last February, was one of Penn State's top receiver targets in the 2025 class. PHOTO BY SEAN FITZ LYRICK SAMUEL Brooklyn receiver appreciated PSU's family-friendly environment WR | 6-4 | 170 Erasmus Hall Brooklyn, N.Y. Rankings Stars Nat. Pos. State On3 Industry ★★★ 466 69 1 On3 ★★★ — 61 2 247Sports ★★★ — 100 3 ESPN ★★★★ 206 29 1 Rivals ★★★ — 98 3 Statistics • Caught 27 passes for 693 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior • Had 22 catches for 422 yards and 8 touch- downs as a sophomore Notable • Led the Dutchmen to a 9-2 record in 2024 • Was named team MVP as a junior, when he played a starring role in a 10-0 season • Enrolled at Penn State in January Recruitment • Committed to Penn State on Feb. 19, 2024 • Recruited by wide receivers coach Marques Hagans • Picked Penn State over Michigan State, Rut- gers and Syracuse • Officially visited on June 14, 2024 2025 Projection We've said it about the other three wide re- ceivers in Penn State's freshman class, and we'll say it here, too: There's an enormous opportu- nity awaiting anyone who can show in the com- ing months that he's ready to step in and com- pete at this level. Samuel is already on campus working out, so that's positive. However, his senior season at Erasmus Hall was derailed by injuries, so a redshirt year is a good bet. They Said It On3 scouting director Charles Power: "Lyr- ick Samuel is a guy who has a ton of tools. He didn't have the best of senior years, but I think in a couple years, after the coaching and develop- ment that he's going to get at Penn State, he could be one who reaches that very high upside that I believe he has." T H E S A M U E L F I L E