Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/672796
and several of his high school friends headed to Temple, too, Thri5 decided not to explore his other options, choosing the Owls in April. He redshirted as a true freshman, but a5er the season ended, he began having second thoughts about his decision. That's when he reconnected with Mark Duda at Lackawanna College. Thri5 had gotten to know Duda's sta4 while at Gateway, and he was beginning to feel as though the Scranton-based community college could help put him on a better path. "Out of high school, I was borderline for qualifying [academically], so I built a good relationship with Coach Duda and everyone at Lackawanna before I even got to Temple," Thri5 said. "Once I redshirted at Temple, I just didn't feel like it was the right 3t for me, so I decided to leave. "I just wanted to get another opportunity elsewhere, and I thought that Lackawanna was the right place for me to go for a year. I knew I could show all these other schools what I can do." By the time he completed his one and only season in Scranton, Thri5 had nine scholarship o4ers and was closing in on a commitment to UCF in the 3nal week of the cycle. He held o4 though, hoping that Penn State's interest would lead to an o4er. Thri5's dream came true on the evening of Feb. 2. "I 3nally learned the night before signing day that Penn State was going to o4er me a scholarship," Thri5 said. "Man, I can't even explain what that feeling was like. Penn State was always one of those schools that I would do anything to be a part of. I grew up playing linebacker in high school, so I loved watching Sean Lee when he was there. That's when I started following Penn State and I was big fan ever since. To get that o4er, it was incredible." Now, as he gets ready for the first of his three seasons of eligibility with the Nittany Lions, Thrift is making it clear that he understands the opportunity he's been given. Those who have watched him prepare – he's been using a workout reg- imen supplied by Penn State strength and conditioning coach Dwight Galt – say he's been pushing himself harder than ever. "I've never seen him work so hard in my life, and Brenon was always a hard worker," Lackawanna assistant coach Josh Pardini said. "He was playing at 265, 270 for us this season and he's now up to like 285, 290 pounds. He's doing everything the way he's supposed to be doing it, too. He's eating well and is just pushing himself to another level in the gym. "Another thing that's really impressed me is the role he's taken with some of our younger guys. He's on his way out, yet during his 3nal semester here, he's really going out of his way to help the guys behind him. He's been just a model citizen for us, and now he's showing more and more signs of leadership. I think he's going to do great at Penn State." ■ CLICK HERE to see video of Thrift in action. THE THRIFT FILE STATS Helped Lackawanna College finish 8-2 and win the Northeast Football Conference championship in 2015... Finished with 14 tackles including three sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss in five games... Totaled 102 tackles, 16 sacks and a fumble recovery as a senior at Gateway High in 2013 HONORS Named a two-star recruit by Rivals.com coming out of Gateway... Received second-team All- State honors... Played in the Chesapeake Bowl Rivals.com