Blue White Illustrated

| Class of '15 o to strong start E ven the most optimistic Penn State football fans probably couldn't have imagined that James Franklin and his sta8 would get o8 to such a strong start on the recruiting trail. Following a 7urry of successes leading up to signing day for the Class of 2014, the sta8 kept its momentum going throughout February, earning an eye- catching seven verbal commitments in a 12-day span, including four from prospects who have earned a four-star rating from Rivals.com. "Say [Franklin] is 6shing and he's throw- ing hooks out," said running back Saquon Barkley. "We're all going for the bite." Barkley, along with fellow running back Andre Robinson are the two most well- known prospects in Penn State's bur- geoning Class of 2015, but o8ensive line- man Ryan Bates is arguably the most cov- eted of the seven. Before his commitment, the Warminster, Pa., native had earned 14 verbal scholarship o8ers. He was be- coming a nationally touted prospect as well, with Auburn, Ohio State, Miami and South Carolina all extending o8ers and making a serious push to sign the 6- foot-5, 285-pound o8ensive guard. But he committed to Penn State on Feb. 15 while on campus for one of the Nittany Lions' junior days. "The 6rst thing that comes to mind when I think about Penn State is family," Bates said. "Everyone is so nice, and they treat you like family. The facilities are some of the best in the country. I don't really know what else to say about it. "I love it up there, and that's where I want to play my college football." Barkley, from Whitehall, Pa., is the high- est-ranked of the seven prospects in Penn State's class, coming in at No. 199 in the Rivals250. The 5-11, 190-pounder had originally committed to Rutgers, but on Feb. 19, a few days a9er visiting University Park, he decided to switch that commit- ment. He is the third-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania and is one of the shi9ier tailbacks in the Mid-Atlantic region this year, which should make him an excellent counterpoint to Robinson of Bishop McDe- vitt High. Robinson, a Harrisburg, Pa., native, has a few moves of his own, but it's his vision and power that set him apart from Barkley. He's also been a workhorse for McDevitt since his freshman year, having amassed more than 4,200 yards rushing and 63 touchdowns during the past three seasons, all while averaging an impressive 8.02 yards per carry. His strength and speed make him a good fit for the Big Ten. "I just think Coach Franklin and Coach [Charles] Hu8 are good guys. I think they're really going to make sure that Penn State is a top-6ve or top-10 program in the country," Robinson said. "I really like them, I really trust them. I know these guys are Seven junior prospects – including four 4-stars – commit to PSU in 12-day span JAKE COOPER "I've played linebacker my whole life. Having a chance to see Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny really is what sparked my passion for the sport. That's what kicked off my dream." FOLLOW RECRUITING ONLINE Visit bwi.rivals.com for updated news on PSU's scholarship offers and commitments. F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G

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