Blue White Illustrated

M A R C H 5 , 2 0 1 4 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 5 KEEP ON ROLLING Seven prospects – including four 4-stars – have already joined Penn State's Class of 2015, giving the Lions the No. 7-rated class in the country in Rivals.com's early team rankings. Meet the first round of PSU's verbally committed prospects, here FRANKLIN WANTS CLASSIC FORMAT FOR BLUE-WHITE GAME ON APRIL 12 Penn State's annual Blue-White Game kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. on April 12. It will be James Franklin's first game coaching the Nittany Lions – albeit for a spring scrimmage. The game will air on the Penn State Sports Network. As in previ- ous years, there will be no admis- sion or parking fee for the Blue-White Game. Unlike the previous two years, however, Franklin wants the game to return to a normal scoring for- mat. Instead of Bill O'Brien's of- fense-defense format with alternative scoring, Franklin said on 970 WBLF that he hopes to re- turn the spring game to normal scoring and use live plays, save for on special teams. "I'd like to have a true game," Franklin said. "I think that's where the fans will enjoy it. Probably won't be live on special teams like that. We won't punt the ball; we'll just fair catch, rather than return and things like that." Franklin also mentioned the pos- sibility of using the same offensive line for both teams, due to the lack of depth across the position unit. Stadium parking lots will open at 8 a.m., for the 2014 Blue-White Game. The times for stadium gate openings for the fans will be an- nounced later this month. The popular autograph session with the team returns to Beaver Sta- dium and will be held in the late morning prior to the Blue-White Game presented by AAA. The time for the autograph session will also be announced later this month. The Penn State football gameday Fan Festival, with numerous dis- plays and vendors, will be held on Curtin Road as it is during the sea- son. KAMONTE CARTER Ath./DE | 6-4 | 230 Gaithersburg, Md. Gaithersburg SAQUON BARKLEY RB |5-11| 190 Whitehall, Pa. Whitehall RYAN BATES OL | 6-5 | 285 Warminster, Pa. Archbishop Wood Catholic JAKE COOPER LB | 6-2 | 226 Warminster, Pa. Archbishop Wood Catholic RYAN BUCHHOLZ DE | 6-6 | 230 Malvern, Pa. Great Valley JARVIS MILLER DB | 6-2 | 185 West Suffield, Conn. Suffield ANDRE ROBINSON RB | 5-10 | 210 Harrisburg, Pa. Bishop McDevitt THE LATEST Robinson was expected to draw out his recruit- ment, like most prospects from Bishop McDevitt, but he sur- prised everyone when he made a return visit to PSU Feb. 27 – after visiting the day before – to personally give Franklin his verbal commitment. Rivals ranks Robinson as a four-star prospect and the No. 20 RB in the country. THE LATEST Barkley was committed to Rutgers since the fall, but he took a visit to Penn State on Junior Day Feb. 15. He ini- tially stayed quiet about the visit, but announced his switch four days later. Bill O'Brien had previously put PSU in good position, and then James Franklin picked up where he left off. Rivals ranks Barkley as a four-star and the No. 17 RB in the country. THE LATEST Bates had been leaning toward Penn State for most of his recruitment, but finally pulled the trigger on his commitment when he visited Penn State for Junior Day Feb. 15. "I love it up there," he said after he left, "and that's where I want to play my college football." Rivals ranks Bates as a four-star and the No. 21 offensive tackle in the country. THE LATEST Carter had been recruited to play various posi- tions, but Penn State projects him as a pass-rushing defen- sive end. Carter said he "liked Penn State for a long time" and committed to the coaching staff on Junior Day Feb. 15. Rivals ranks Carter as a four-star prospect and the No. 22 DE in the country. He recently fell out of the Rivals250. THE LATEST Like Bates, Buchholz had been considered a PSU lean before visiting for Junior Day Feb. 15, but Buchholz didn't commit right away. He waited and returned Feb. 24 to inform the staff about his decision. "It wasn't a hard decision once I met everyone on the new staff," he said. Rivals ranks him as a three-star and the the No. 21 defensive end in the country. THE LATEST O'Brien hadn't offered Cooper, but after Franklin's arrival, one of the first new offers he extended in the Class of 2015 went to Cooper, which, he said, "is some- thing I value a lot." Cooper said he "idolized" linebacker Dan Conner growing up and also models his game after the PSU great. Rivals ranks Cooper as a three-star prospect. THE LATEST Miller became Penn State's first public verbal commitment in its Class of 2015. Previously a little-known two-star prospect, Miller has burst onto the scene since his commitment. Rivals recently upgraded him to a three-star and the fourth-best prospect in Connecticut. Miller is a hard- hitting safety who is also a standout running back.

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