Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/260491
quarterback/safety Trace McSorley and
cornerbacks
Amani Oruwariye and Grant
Haley. The Lions also received commit-
ments from two four-star prospects who
had previously committed elsewhere: wide
receiver Saeed Blacknall and safety Koa
Farmer. Blacknall had been pledged to
Rutgers, while Farmer was a member of
California's class, but both eagerly enlisted
with Penn State following Franklin's ap-
pointment as head coach.
Holley's departure – he committed to
Florida shortly a>er Johnson, his would-
be position coach with the Nittany Lions,
took a job at Ohio State in January – de:-
nitely stung. The Lions need immediate
help on their graduation-depleted defen-
sive line, and the four-star prospect from
Brooklyn would likely have supplied it.
But most analysts seemed to think that
Franklin did a remarkable job of not only
keeping Penn State's existing class from
splintering but strengthening that class
in the waning days of the recruiting cal-
endar.
Franklin himself was pleased with what
he and his sta< were able to accomplish
a>er their arrival at Penn State. The team,
he said, succeeded in "building on the
foundation that was already here." He
conceded that he was not happy about
the Nittany Lions' third-place :nish in
the recruiting services' rankings but was
hardly discouraged. "We'll get that :xed
in the near future," he said.
The Lions' late success was, in part, a
testament to Franklin's charisma and
name-recognition. If there was a di