Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/277774
I was going to pull the trigger and get it over with." Cooper, meanwhile, picked up an o7er from the coaching sta7 on Feb. 5, which was signing day for the Class of 2014. He, too, went on to visit, but he didn't commit until a9er he'd had an opportunity to speak about it with his family. On Feb. 24, he re- vealed his decision. "I grew up a Penn State fan, a huge Penn State fan. It's Linebacker U, and 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 kinda what kicked o7 my dream. Having that kind of background, it just really made me think about Penn State a lot growing up as a kid. It was something that I had aspired to do one day, so I've al- ways been pumped about the whole Penn State dream." The one surprise commitment was that of defensive back Jarvis Miller. Miller, a native of West Su8eld, Conn., went into his junior day visit as an unknown to most Nittany Lion fans, only to leave as the 6rst prospect to verbally commit to Franklin in the Class of 2015. At 6-2, 185 pounds, Miller holds a three- star ranking from Rivals, but he appears to have excellent physical potential, as he was one of the top 6ve prospects at his local Nike SPARQ combine a few months ago. "Penn State is as big as it gets," Miller said. "When it comes to football in this area, it doesn't get any bigger than Penn State. They play the best competition in the nation, too. Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State – those are some big-time schools, so getting the opportunity to play on the biggest stage, that's big for me. "Also, getting the opportunity to play as a freshman is another thing I really like. I know I'm going to have to work really hard. Nothing is going to be handed to me, but just getting the opportunity is important to me." PSU's recent momentum should continue throughout late March and into April, as the Nittany Lions are expected to host dozens of additional prospects for spring practice, plus at least another 30 for the Blue-White Game on April 12. ■ CLASS OF 2015 HOT LIST NAME POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Josh Adams Ath. 6-2 200 Warrington, Pa. Central Bucks South Jerome Baker LB 6-1 202 Cleveland, Ohio Benedictine Josh Barajas LB 6-3 212 Merrillville, Ind. Andrean George Brown OL 6-7 260 Cincinnati, Ohio Winton Woods Austin Bryant DE 6-5 244 Thomasville, Ga. Thomas County Central Matthew Burrell Jr. OL 6-4 286 Woodbrdige, Va. C. D. Hylton George Campbell WR 6-3 183 Tarpon Springs, Fla. East Lake Tyler Carr OL 6-5 316 Southside, Ala. Southside Austin Clark OL 6-6 285 Lexington, Va. Rockbridge Jashon Cornell DE 6-3 270 Saint Paul, Minn. Cretin-Derham Hall Rick DeBerry LB 6-2 237 Richmond, Va. St. Christopher's Minkah Fitzpatrick DB 6-0 183 Jersey City, N.J. St. Peter's Prep Darius Fullwood DE 6-4 229 Olney, Md. Good Counsel Steven Gonzalez OG 6-4 321 Union City, N.J. Union City Justin Hilliard LB 6-2 225 Cincinnati, Ohio St. Xavier Jonathan Holland DE 6-5 225 Potomac, Md. Bullis School Trent Irwin WR 6-2 190 Newhall, Calif. Hart Van Jefferson WR 6-1 166 Brentwood, Tenn. Ravenwood Sterling Jenkins OL 6-8 296 Pittsburgh, Pa. Baldwin Juwan Johnson WR 6-4 205 Glassboro, N.J. Glassboro Darrin Kirkland Jr. LB 6-2 220 Indianapolis, Ind. Lawrence Central Marcus Lewis DB 6-1 180 Washington, D.C. Gonzaga Adam McLean DL 6-1 282 North Potomac, Md. Quince Orchard Ayron Monroe DB 6-1 195 Washington, D.C. St. John's College HS Shareef Miller DE 6-5 225 Philadelphia, Pa. Frankford Grant Newsome OL 6-7 280 Lawrenceville, N.J. Lawrenceville Alex Ofodile WR 6-3 180 Columbia, Mo. Rock Bridge Paris Palmer OT 6-9 305 Plymouth, N.C. Lackawanna (Pa.) C.C. Richie Petitbon OL 6-4 290 Washington D.C. Gonzaga Kyle Phillips DE 6-4 245 Nashville, Tenn. Hillsboro Isaiah Prince OL 6-6 270 Greenbelt, Md. Eleanor Roosevelt John Reid DB 5-10 175 Philadelphia, Pa. St. Joseph's Drew Richmond OL 6-6 313 Memphis, Tenn. Memphis University School Tim Settle DT 6-2 307 Manassas, Va. Stonewall Jackson Josh Sweat DE 6-5 230 Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith Garrett Taylor DB 6-1 185 Richmond, Va. St. Christopher's Trenton Thompson DT 6-4 293 Albany, Ga. Westover School Brady White QB 6-2 185 Newhall, Calif. Hart Jordan Whitehead DB 5-10 165 Monaca, Pa. Central Valley Christian Wilkins DE 6-4 295 Suffield, Conn. Suffield Academy Brandon Wimbush QB 6-2 208 Jersey City, N.J. St. Peter's Prep PENN STATE CLASS OF 2015 COMMITMENTS* NAME POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Saquon Barkley RB 5-11 190 Whitehall, Pa. Whitehall Ryan Bates OG 6-5 285 Warminster, Pa. Archbishop Wood Ryan Buchholz DE 6-6 230 Malvern, Pa. Greater Valley Kamonte Carter DE 6-4 230 Gaithersburg, Md. Gaithersburg Jake Cooper LB 6-2 226 Warminster, Pa. Archbishop Wood Jarvis Miller DB 6-2 185 West Suffield, Conn. Suffield Andre Robinson RB 5-10 210 Harrisburg, Pa. Bishop McDevitt * As of March 9