Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/215616
Looking ahead The NCAA's reduction in scholarship penalties is likely to have a big impact on the Class of 2015 | W hen the NCAA announced in September that it was reducing the sanctions it had levied against Penn State the previous year, it was clear that the Nittany Lion coaching staff would have to adjust its recruiting strategy. Suddenly, Bill O'Brien and his assistants had the ability to recruit 23 prospects in the Class of 2014, and they would be able to bring in a full 25-member class in JUNIOR 2015. ACHIEVEMENT But recruiting is not simply a matter of cold, Robinson is one of hard numbers. It's about several running relationships, the kind back prospects that develop over months who have shown and years, not days and weeks. Given the need to an interest in the recruit prospects over an Nittany Lions. extended period of time, it might prove difficult for O'Brien and his staff to fill its five extra openings in the upcoming recruiting class. After all, those wouldbe Nittany Lions weren't hearing from Penn State before the sanctions were reduced in September, and they have been hearing from a lot of other schools. That's not to say the staff isn't looking to add quality players to the Class of 2014. It's pursuing a number of talented prospects, including juco offensive lineman Kareem Are of Fort Scott (Kan.) Community College, defensive back Shawn Boone of West Palm Beach, Fla., linebacker Melvin Keihn of Baltimore and juco de- stars by Rivals.com, while Keihn is a fourfensive lineman Tarow Barney of North- star prospect. west Mississippi Community College. But while the Lions' upcoming class could Slade and Boone have been given three get a boost from the addition of five schol- Bill Anderson arship availabilities, the modifications will have a much bigger impact on the Class of 2015. To date, more than 30 prospects from that class of current high school juniors