Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/260491
c line of scrimmage and then accelerate through the hole. Allen experienced some injury problems in the latter half of his high school career, but he's said to have made a full recovery. Even so, I think it's likely he will be redshirted this fall. When he does get onto the 9eld, Penn State will probably use him as an all-purpose running back, much as the previous coaching sta: used Bill Belton. TROY APKE WR, 6-2, 195 Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Mt. Lebanon HS WHAT HE DID Apke didn't get much support at Mt. Lebanon last season, as the Blue Devils 9nished 3-6. However, he made the most of every opportunity that came his way, 9nishing with 40 receptions for 728 yards (18.2 yards per catch) and seven touchdowns. WHAT HE WON Apke earned a three-star ranking from Rivals.com. He's the 73rd- ranked wide receiver in the nation and the 12th-ranked player in Pennsylvania according to Rivals. Apke also made the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Fabulous 22 team. WHERE HE VISITED Apke wasted little time, verbally committing to Penn State in April. He chose the Nittany Lions over Georgia Tech, Minnesota and Pitt, but the com- petition was never really close. Penn State always had a big edge over the other schools on his short list. WHO OPENED THE DOOR Two members of Penn State's previous coaching sta: – re- cruiting coordinator Charles London and receivers coach Stan Hixon – deserve a lot of credit for helping get Apke's atten- tion. But really, the school sold itself. Apke's father was a linebacker at Pitt and grew up a Panthers fan, but once Troy made the trip to University Park, it became clear very quickly that Penn State was where he wanted to be. QUOTABLE Apke, rebutting speculation that his father wanted him to attend Pitt: "My parents don't care where I go. This is my decision. They're de9nitely not forc- ing me to go anywhere." PHIL'S TAKE Apke might be one of the most underrated members of Penn State's class. He has excellent size, good speed and runs precise routes. As a senior, he played on a Mt. Lebanon team that had real problems throwing the ball, yet he still finished with 40 receptions. Apke is one of the reasons why I believe Penn State has recruited the Big Ten's best wide receiver group. He could end up being this class's biggest surprise on of- fense. during that second season and led the team with 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He added 36 tackles, one forced fumble and 9ve QB hurries. "He can get vertical in a hurry and he's powerful," Coon said. "He has a very high ceiling. He only started play- ing football in his senior season in high school. He has nothing but upside. That's the great thing about him." During his sophomore season, he started to receive serious attention from college coaches. In the spring, South Alabama was the only school showing interest. By the fall, he had collected o:ers from Illinois, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio), UTSA, UAB and UTEP. He also received consideration from Alabama and even visited Tuscaloosa. "In April he's visiting South Ala- bama; the next November he was sit- ting there in front of Nick Saban at the University of Alabama," Coon said. "That's how much progress he made in a short amount of time." Although Barney never received an o:er from the Crimson Tide, he did get one from Penn State, and on Nov. 22 he verbally committed to Bill O'Brien and Larry Johnson. He will now have three years to complete two years of eligibility. Bearing in mind Penn State's widely respected com- puter science program and its modest depth at defensive tackle, Barney said he chose the Nittany Lions for "the education that I'll get there and the opportunity to play." He also built a tight bond with Johnson. When Barney took his o;- cial visit to Penn State for the Nov. 24 game vs. Nebraska, it was Johnson who was awaiting him at the airport. Said Barney, "He was the 9rst person I met when I got o: the plane." That gesture meant a lot. But by the time Johnson le< Penn State's sta:, Barney had already signed his letter of intent, binding him to the univer- sity. He was disappointed to see his main recruiter and position coach depart, but Coon said he has talked to Barney since the coaching switch and is con9dent that things will work out. "I think he's 9red up for the change," Coon said. "Obviously he went there to play for a certain sta:, but then things happen. I think the hire [Penn State] made is very bene- 9cial for him. I think those coaches will do a great job." Barney arrived on campus the same weekend that James Franklin's hiring was announced and has not yet com- mented on the Lions' new coach or his sta:. But before the announce- ment was made, Barney said, "Penn State is about to come up on the rise, and I want to be part of that." D THE BARNEY FILE S T A T I S T I C S Finished with 9.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 36 total tackles, one forced fumble and five quarterback hur- ries as a sophomore at Northwest Mississippi Com- munity College. H O N O R S Rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com. ' 2 0 1 4 P L A Y E R B I O S