Blue White Illustrated

PENNSYLVANIA'S TOP 15 IN '15 BWI's Phil Grosz analyzes the top junior prospects in the state lthough the Class of 2014 is still months from signing its letters of intent, there is too much talent in the Class of 2015 to ignore, especially in Pennsylvania. Below, Blue White Illustrated publisher Phil Grosz looks at the top 15 prospects in Pennsylvania's junior class. And as you might notice, many of these players have serious interest in Penn State. So if you're watching any high school football around the state this fall, here are some names to look for. A 1. STERLING JENKINS OT | 6-8 | 305 | Pittsburgh| Baldwin I believe Jenkins has the potential to earn five stars from Rivals.com and to be regarded as one of the top three left tackles in the country in this class. Jenkins, who is being recruited by Penn State assistants Charles London and Mac McWhorter, is an excellent candidate for a Rivals 100 rating. In addition to his offer from Penn State – which he received during a barbecue at the Lasch Building on June 27 – Jenkins has gotten offers from 11 other programs, including Arizona, Michigan, Ohio State, Pitt, Tennessee, Temple, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Jenkins has a personal connection, too. His uncle, Chappie Hill, who passed away in 2004, was a former player for the Nittany Lions. At this early point in the recruiting process, Jenkins isn't close to a decision, but PSU, Michigan and Pitt have caught his attention. 2. JOHN REID CB | 5-10 | 182 | Philadelphia | St. Joseph's Prep Reid is a two-time Philadelphia Catholic League selection, and he's projected to be a four-year starter for the Hawks – only the third player to start his freshman year in the past 20 years of the program. Reid has seven verbal scholarship offers to his name, in addition to the offer he received from Penn State in March. His other offers are from Alabama, Arizona, Boston College, Colorado, Maryland, Notre Dame, UCF and West Virginia. Boston College offered when Reid was in eighth grade. Reid is already rated by some as a top-100 prospect, and I definitely believe he has the potential to receive four or five stars from Rivals. Penn State appears to be in excellent shape, considering that Reid has visited the campus three times and is being recruited by Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler. 3. JOSH ADAMS southeast Pennsylvania in close to a decade. 4. ANDRE ROBINSON RB | 5-10 | 210 | Harrisburg| Bishop McDevitt If Robinson hadn't been sharing the tailback spot with two other Division I running back prospects in 2012, I believe he would be more highly valued going into his junior season. Despite receiving just over 100 carries as a junior, he rushed for 1,009 yards and 18 touchdowns, averaging more than 9 yards per carry. He was a secondteam Class AAAA All-State selection and is rated, along with Adams, as one of the top two running back prospects in this class. Robinson lists scholarship offers from Boston College, Maryland, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Penn State. Assistant coaches Larry Johnson and London are recruiting Robinson for the Nittany Lions. RB | 6-2 | 202 | Warrington| Central Bucks South Adams might be the most underpublicized big-time prospect in this junior class. Central Bucks South head coach Dave Rackovan keeps total control of his players' recruitment and limits media contact until after their junior season. "Josh is a phenomenal talent and a better human being," Rackovan said. "He's as good a person and player as I've had the privilege to coach at the high school level." Following the 2012 season, Adams was named a first-team Class AAAA All-State selection and made the Philadelphia Inquirer's All-Area squad. He rushed for 2,089 yards on 255 carries, averaged 8.13 yards per carry and 174.1 yards per game and totaled 32 touchdowns. Adams reportedly runs the 40-yard dash in under 4.5 seconds. Rackovan projects him to grow into a 6-2, 225-pound running back at the college level. Adams received a verbal scholarship offer from Bill O'Brien while attending Penn State's junior day on Feb. 23. He holds close to 15 verbal scholarship offers. In my opinion, Adams is the top running back prospect to emerge from 5. RYAN BATES OT | 6-6 | 285 | Warminster| Archbishop Wood Along with Jenkins, Bates is rated as one of the top two offensive line prospects in Pennsylvania's junior class, and he was an All-Suburban selection by the Philadelphia Inquirer following the 2012 season. One of the fastest-rising prospects in this cycle, Bates has scholarship offers from Georgia Tech, Rutgers, South Carolina, Temple, Vanderbilt and Virginia in addition to Penn State. He is being recruited by assistant coaches John Butler and Mac McWhorter. On July 27, he made his third unofficial visit to University Park, so Penn State appears to be in excellent shape. 6. JORDAN WHITEHEAD CB | 5-10 | 175 | Moaca | Central Valley Whitehead was a Class AA All-WPIAL and All-State selection following the 2012 season, even though he played in the shadow of All-America teammate Robert Foster, an Alabama signee this past February. Whitehead will enter the 2013 season as the top-rated cornerback in the WPIAL. He lists schol-

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