Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/557480
even if they do decide that they want me to play defensive end in a couple years, that's 6ne with me." Like his future classmate, Toney, a three- star player from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia, will bring considerable ver- satility to the Nittany Lions. At 6-3, 193 pounds, Toney will likely stay at linebacker throughout his collegiate career, but he has primarily played defensive end at Imhotep, and some college coaches have talked to him about remaining there at the college level. However, Toney is ex- pected to play linebacker during his senior season, so he will have some experience at the position when he enrolls at Penn State next summer. Before committing to the Nittany Lions, Toney picked up 10 scholarship o7ers. Some of the more notable schools that were interested in him were North Car- olina, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and West Virginia. "That feeling of just being at home when I visit there, that was big for me," Toney said. "I also feel like I'm really close with their coaches. They're good people, and I want to play for them." Four weeks later, Penn State addressed another signi6cant need with the addition of Dioubate, a four-star defensive lineman from Philadelphia. Dioubate, who had 23 sacks as a junior at Philadelphia Prep Charter, received more than two dozen scholarship o7ers, eventually narrowing his list to three schools: Penn State, Ohio State and Rutgers. Rivals.com considers Dioubate the No. 144 overall prospect in the Class of 2016 and the No. 5 senior in Pennsyl- vania. He's also ranked as the No. 10 strongside defensive end in his class. Penn State recruited the 6-4, 273-pound Dioubate to play the three-technique de- fensive tackle position. He is the 68h de- fensive lineman to join the Nittany Lions' class. The sta7 also picked up its 6rst Class of 2017 prospect in the week leading up to the Lasch Bash, as four-star quarterback Sean Cli7ord verbally committed to Penn State on July 13. Cli7ord, who attends St. Xavier High in Cincinnati, has visited Penn State on four occasions, including his trip for the Lasch Bash. But it was his decision to camp with the coaching sta7 on June 26 that really put the Nittany Lions in the lead. Cli7ord worked out with Penn State quarterbacks coach Ricky Rahne that evening and picked up his scholarship o7er from the sta7 the following day, a8er having breakfast with Rahne, James Franklin and other members of the sta7. For Clifford, the workout with Rahne during camp was a game-changer. "It DECISION TIME Toney, left, an- nounced for the Nittany Lions dur- ing the Lasch Bash barbecue last month. Clifford, above, also decid- ed in July to end his recruitment. Pho- tos courtesy of Ri- vals.com

