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T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 1 6 ons Den message board, but I still see many fans continuing to argue that this is a negative for the players. One important point to bear in mind is that a few current rules would have to change. For example, official visits would have to start earlier in the process. At present, those visits can't begin until September of a player's senior year, but for many, official visits during the season aren't possible, as their high school teams play on Saturday. That's especially true for many prospects who live in the region's major cities. An early signing period, at the very least, would have to ensure that official visits begin after a player's junior year of high school. He and his family would then have almost three months in the summer to see all of their favorite schools, and then, if he so chooses, sign with a team in August. A setup like that is even more impor- tant when you consider that these coaches are no longer the only people bugging players day in and day out. As much as I hate to admit it, my colleagues and I are part of this issue. The media scene that surrounds recruiting is on a completely different scale today than it was only a few years ago. Every school has multiple websites now, which basi- cally means that every time someone hears some bogus rumor, the player in question is going to deal with multiple reporters on a given night. Trust me, this happens behind the scenes regularly. It also becomes pretty annoying. Guys like Fries, Shane Simmons and Ellison Jordan would have loved an early signing period. I know because I talked to them about it. While it wouldn't have started until late in the overall recruiting process, it would have spared those play- ers multiple calls from Maryland and Michigan reporters questioning their commitment to Penn State during their senior seasons. That got old real quick. Three questions Which player in this class has the most potential? This is a tough one, but I'm leaning to- ward McGovern. Normally, I would never pick a freshman offensive lineman to make an impact right away, but the fact that he's going to be taking part in spring practice is huge. I know he's very com- mitted and hardworking, but most impor- tant, I know McGovern simply has more talent than basically all of the lineman who have enrolled these past two years. If he is able to get some experience early in his career, say this season or next, watch out. He has the potential to be Penn State's best lineman since Ste- fen Wisniewski, but that will only come with experience. Who do fans need to be patient with? This is a tie between quarterback Jake Zembiec and Simmons. Both are four- star players, and they deserve their rankings. But I've seen some people pre- dict that Zembiec will be the starter in 2016. I think that's doubtful. For all of his potential, he still needs at least one season with Joe Moorhead, possibly two, before he's ready for this level. As for Simmons, his athleticism is out of this world. That's why he continues to receive so much recognition. But he also needs more coaching. I saw real im- provement this past season, but I also watched many of the nation's top line- men, at multiple camps for two years in a row, push him around when they gave it their best effort. Simmons will be an impact player, but he's still learning how fundamentally important leverage is. I think he needs at least one season with Sean Spencer before he'll be expected to make a major impact. But make no mis- take, Simmons isn't far behind McGov- ern in my "most potential" category. Which player is going to surprise people early? Two names to remember: Blake Gillikin and Danny Dalton. For Gillikin, it's pretty simple. Penn State's punting has been inconsistent, at best, these past two sea- sons. It'll take him some time to get used to the college atmosphere, but I see no reason why he can't provide consistent 40-yard punts with solid hang-time. As for Dalton, he's enrolling early at a posi- tion that's still relatively wide open. We know Mike Gesicki will get the first shot at impressing Moorhead, but don't be surprised if Dalton is close behind, espe- cially as Penn State gets later into its sea- son. Tight end is wide open right now. Things to remember The good While most fans will remember this cy- cle for the drama we saw in the final few months, it's important to remember just how good this staff is at recruiting. In the summer, everything was going smoothly. Penn State's class was in the top 10, and at one point, the staff had only a handful of scholarships remaining. Things didn't end perfectly, but that wasn't because these guys lost their touch with recruits. Each of the prospects who left had his reasons, but for the most part, it simply came down to those players seeing greener pastures elsewhere. While you never want to see that, all it takes is one good season on the field to change perceptions. With the changes that have been made on the staff, Penn State is now aiming to take that next step. A few more wins, and I think the Lions will be back in the top 10 for recruiting instantly. I have no doubt about that. The bad Jim Harbaugh. Period. End of story. He's legitimately Public Enemy No. 1 if you're James Franklin. With Urban Meyer at Ohio State, it's clear which school will be the favorite in the Big Ten for the foreseeable future. When Franklin was hired, all the talk was about him pushing Mark Dantonio down the road, but we're not hearing about that at all anymore. Now, Harbaugh is the hot name in the conference. Off the field, he's already proven that he will do whatever it takes to finish a recruiting class strong, so if Penn State doesn't want to be in this position regularly, it will have to enjoy some success against Michigan, both on the field and in re- cruiting.

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