Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/260491
not until shortly before signing day. Brown
accepted without having visited University
Park.
Even though he has signed, he is
still permitted to take an o;cial visit and
is expected to do so at a future date.
WHO OPENED THE DOOR James Franklin and
co-defensive coordinator Brent Pry had
gotten to know Brown while at Vanderbilt
and began talking to him again a few weeks
before signing day. It was uncertain initially
whether Penn State would have a scholarship
available, but when Lloyd Tubman recanted
his verbal commitment just before signing
day, the Lions were able to extend an o:er.
QUOTABLE Brown: "Southern Miss is a
great school, but Penn State is also a real
historic football school. Coach Pry and
Coach Franklin have been telling me about
how they have great fans. I know their
stadium seats 107,000 people or something
like that, which is crazy. The academics
are great, too… so that's a great opportunity
for me."
PHIL'S TAKE Brown
could turn out to be
one of the more versatile players in Penn
State's class. He played multiple positions
on offense and defense in high school
and has a chance to play on the punt and
kickoff coverage teams as a freshman at
Penn State. Although he certainly appears
capable of fitting in at outside linebacker,
Franklin has said that Brown will be a
defensive end.
JASON
CABINDA
LB, 6-1, 240
Flemington, N.J.
Hunterdon Central HS
WHAT HE DID Cabinda returned from a mid-
season appendicitis to lead Hunterdon
Central past Saeed Blacknall's Manalapan
team, 21-0, in the NJSIAA Central Jersey
Group
5 championship game. Not just a
standout linebacker, Cabinda also was a
workhorse running back. Despite missing
three games as a senior, he rushed for
1,258 yards and 17 touchdowns on 205
carries, nearly matching the totals from
his junior season (1,490 yards and 22 TDs
on 233 carries).
WHAT
HE WON
Cabinda is rated a three-
star inside linebacker by Rivals.com and
the No. 26 player in New Jersey.
WHERE HE VISITED Cabinda was committed
to Syracuse, but when Bill O'Brien o:ered
him a scholarship in September, he began
to rethink his decision. A