Blue White Illustrated

R E C R U I T I N G PSU to host largest recruiting contingent of the season RYA N   S N Y D E R Penn State's big recruiting weekend is almost here. If the turnout is anything like it was for last year's game against Ohio State, Nittany Lion fans should be expecting quite a crowd. Since Bill O'Brien took over as head coach in January 2012, he and his staff have emphasized the annual White Out game as the most important single day for recruiting – bigger than a junior day in February or March. In fact, last year's game against the Buckeyes may have been the biggest recruiting turnout ever seen at Beaver Stadium. It was estimated that more than 125 prospects were in attendance. So far, Blue White Illustrated has confirmed roughly 60 prospects who are looking to make the trip for Saturday's game vs. the Wolverines, including Penn State's No. 1 overall target at any position: defensive tackle Thomas Holley of Brooklyn, N.Y. The Rivals100 member (ranked No. 67 overall in the nation) has been very quiet in the past month about his recruitment, but it's believed that he will take an un- | BLUE WHITE ILLUSTRATED official visit to State College this weekend. If that is the case, it will still allow him to take an official visit in December. That's important for Penn State, since the coaching staff would prefer that he take his official visit with the prospects who are currently committed to the Class of 2014. Look for that official visit weekend to be held in early December. As for the competition, it appears as if Ohio State is Penn State's top opponent for Holley. However, it looks as if he'll use at least the majority of his five official visits. Therefore, programs like Notre Dame, Rutgers and Syracuse are still being considered. Penn State will also host Jason Cabinda, a linebacker prospect from Flemington, N.J., who is currently committed to Syracuse. Cabinda picked up an offer from Penn State's staff on Sept. 29, two days after Ron Vanderlinden and John Butler scouted one of his games. Currently rated as a two-star prospect, Cabinda has been on the staff's radar since the summer when he camped at PSU. Many believe there's an excellent MICHIGAN VISITORS* NAME POS HT WT HOME CLASS Neil Bodley Alex Bookser Jason Cabinda Louie Dibileo Mike Gesicki Thomas Holley Travis Krall Montae Nicholson Ryan Paulish Brett Brumbaugh Irvin Charles Austin Clark C.J. Conrad Andrew Davidson Andrew Dowell David Dowell Minkah Fitzpatrick Charles Fessler Darius Fullwood Chris Green Steven Gonzalez Chance Hall Tommy Hatton Trevon Hill Justin Hilliard 210 295 220 235 215 299 285 202 270 195 207 285 220 210 200 177 183 195 240 226 321 290 280 233 225 Mifflintown, Pa. Mt. Lebanon Flemington, N.J. Scranton, Pa. Manahawkin, N.J. Brooklyn, N.Y. Milton, Pa. Monroeville, Pa. Old Forge, Pa. McDonald, Pa. Haddonfield, N.J. Lexington, Va. La Grange, Ohio Emmaus, Pa. Lakewood, Ohio Lakewood, Ohio Jersey City, N.J. Erie, Pa. Olney, Md. Toledo, Ohio Union City, N.J. Roanoke, Va. Montvale, N.J. Virginia Beach, Va. Cincinnati, Ohio 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2014 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 Ath. OT LB TE TE DT OL DB OL QB WR OT TE TE/LB RB Ath. CB WR DL LB OG OL OG DE LB 5-11 6-6 6-1 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-2 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-2 O C T O B E R 9 , 2 0 1 3 Jon Holland Sterling Jenkins Devell Jones Daiquan Kelly Andrew Koester Hunter Littlejohn Levon Livngston Harry Lewis Shareef Miller Ayron Monroe Anthony Palazzolo John Reid Andre Robinson Elijah Sindelar Chad Smith Tre Tipton Devonte Williams Reagan Williams Brandon Wimbush Jordan Whitehead Cam Chambers Jarrett Guarantano Austin Kendall Delontae Moore Michael Shuster DE OL RB WR QB OG OT DL DE Ath. OT DB RB QB LB Ath. DB LB QB Ath. WR QB QB Ath. QB chance that he will switch his commitment from Syracuse to Penn State in the next month or two. Another notable 2014 prospect who will visit is Mike Gesicki, a four-star tight end from Manahawkin, N.J. After visiting Ohio State in late September, Gesicki is expected to take an official visit to Penn State this weekend. It's also been reported that it will be his last visit before he announces his decision, which should come before the end of October. Many believe that Ohio State holds a slight edge. Of course, Penn State's coaching staff always keeps one eye on the future, and that'll be evident this weekend. Some of the top Class of 2015 prospects who are expected to attend include five-star defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, offensive lineman Sterling Jenkins, defensive back John Reid, linebacker Justin Hilliard and tight end C.J. Conrad. Those five have already earned at least a four-star rating and have the potential be ranked among the top 250 prospects in their class. 6-4 225 6-8 296 6-0 204 6-3 201 6-4 185 6-3 269 6-7 250 6-0 250 6-4 200 6-0 187 6-6 295 5-10 175 5-10 190 6-4 200 6-3 200 6-0 160 5-9 162 6-2 235 6-2 208 5-10 165 6-3 195 6-3 172 6-2 197 6-1 170 6-2 175 Potomac, Md. Pittsburgh, Pa. Jersey City, N.J. Union City, N.J. Imperial, Pa. Powell, Ohio Washington, D.C. Hampton, Va. Philadelphia, Pa. Washington, D.C. Fairfield, Conn. Philadelphia, Pa. Harrisburg, Pa. Princeton, Ky. Sterling, Va. Spring Church, Pa. Potomac, Md. Jackson, Ohio Jersey City, N.J. Monaca, Pa. Sicklerville, N.J. Oradell, N.J. Waxhaw, N.C. Washington, D.C. Camp Hill, Pa. * Prospects not committed to Penn State 9 B L UEWH I T E ON L I N E . COM 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2015 2016 2016 2016 2016 2016

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