Blue White Illustrated

| Spring game draws elite crowd Dozens of prospects on hand to watch Blue-White Game F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G J ames Franklin and the Penn State coaching sta9 hosted another solid stable of prospects last month for the Blue-White Game. With roughly 50 uncommitted prospects in attendance, plus the majority of Penn State's committed players in both the classes of 2015 and '16, the Nittany Lion sta9 was able to take advantage of the beautiful spring weather and large crowd. The commitment of three-star cornerback Zech McPhearson of Riverdale Baptist in Up- per Marlboro, Md., pro- vided the headline, but there were a few other Class of 2016 prospects with whom the sta9 im- proved its chances. One of those prospects was athlete Steven Smothers of Reisterstown, Md. A four-star player from Franklin High School, Smothers actually visited Penn State to watch practice just a few days before the spring game. In fact, it was that visit that le: the biggest impression on both Smothers and his moth- er, who accompanied him on the trip. Smothers said he enjoyed the Blue-White Game. "I had a good time," he said. "I can't really watch football games live. It's hard for me to stay in my seat. I just wanted to get out on the 8eld. But it was good. I like what they're doing there. All the coach- es were telling me they were happy to see me again and they I hope I choose them. "Me and Coach Franklin talked a lot. It was mainly about what my mom thought of Penn State when I came up [on April 14]. She loved it. I asked her what her No. 1 [school] is right now, and she said Penn State. Penn State will de8nitely be in my top 8ve, no doubt. If me and my boy Bran- don Polk became teammates, that would be a scary sight for any defense." Tight end Nasier Upshur was another notable prospect who made the trip. The four-star player from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia narrowed his list to 13 schools on April 21, and one of those schools was Penn State. It's still believed the Nittany Lions are on the fringe of his top 8ve, but the sta9 has substantially improved its chances in recent months. Back in Feb- ruary, the Lions were likely outside of his top 10. "I enjoyed myself a lot," Upshur said. "They got the tight ends involved a lot today, and that's what I came to see. When I got to talk to Coach Franklin and Coach [Josh] Gattis, they were basically saying how this is my state and they're not letting me leave. They said they're de8nitely going to get me to stay home." Other notable 2016 prospects in atten- dance included defensive end Shaka Toney from Philadelphia, defensive back Demetric Vance from Detroit and athlete Khaleke Hudson from McKeesport, Pa. The Class of 2017 was well represented on Blue-White Weekend, and one of the key prospects in attendance was quarterback Hunter Johnson from Brownsburg, Ind. A four-star player, Johnson has earned 14 scholarship o9ers so far. He's expected to narrow his list to 8ve at some point this summer, and PSU is likely to make the cut. "The day went very well," he said. "It was great to get back to Happy Valley. I thought the atmosphere at the Blue-White Game was pretty awesome for a spring game." Johnson said he had an opportunity to spend time with quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne before and a:er the game. "We talk every week, but it's always nice to catch up in person," he said. "My family and I also got a chance to talk with Coach Franklin. It's always great to see him. I feel very com- fortable with him and Coach Rahne." Linebacker David Adams of Pittsburgh Central Catholic was another top sopho- more who was in attendance. In addition to Penn State, Adams has earned early UPSHUR CLASS OF 2016 COMMITMENTS* NAME POS HT WT RANKING HOME SCHOOL Lavert Hill DB 5-10 166 ★★★★ Detroit, Mich. Martin Luther King Connor McGovern OL 6-5 290 ★★★★ Lehman, Pa. Lake Lehman Senior Zechariah McPhearson CB 6-0 180 ★★★ Upper Marlboro, Md. Riverdale Baptist Miles Sanders RB 5-11 192 ★★★★ Pittsburgh, Pa. Woodland Hills Shane Simmons DE 6-3 224 ★★★★ Hyattsville, Md. DeMatha Jake Zembiec QB 6-2 205 ★★★★ Rochester, N.Y. Aquinas Institute * As of April 26

• Cover