Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/703041
Ore., but it's been his e8orts o8 the 7eld that have impressed Nittany Lion fans of late, as Cli8ord has been the most active prospect when it comes to recruiting other players. Not since Adam Brene- man and Christian Hackenberg in 2012 have the Lions had a prospect work as hard on their behalf as Cli8ord has been working. His commitment appears to be very solid. RUNNING BACK PLAYERS RETURNING IN 2017 5 PROJECTED SIGNEES 0 or 1 OUTLOOK With Miles Sanders set to be- gin his college career this fall, it's no se- cret that Penn State is stacked at run- ning back for the next few years. Howev- er, when there's an undecided four-star prospect in your backyard, you go all- out. That's just what Penn State is doing with Philadelphia running back D'Andre Swi9. As of early July, Swi9 was focused on 7ve schools – Penn State, Alabama, Clemson, Florida State and Georgia – and was planning to make a decision in August. He visited Penn State in late June and intends to check out several Southern programs at the end of July or the 7rst week of August. Most of our colleagues believe he'll end up down South, with Georgia being the current favorite. We still think the Lions have a chance, but if he does commit else- where, we expect Penn State to use his scholarship at another position, then sign a running back or two in 2018. WIDE RECEIVER PLAYERS RETURNING IN 2017 8 PROJECTED SIGNEES 2 or 3 OUTLOOK This position group has been the sta8's highest priority on o8ense during the past few months. Four-star wideout Mark Webb of Warminster, Pa., remains the sta8's top target at the posi- tion, but like Swi9, Webb has hinted to both BWI and colleagues that he's lean- ing toward playing down South. Four- star prospects Danny Davis of Spring- 7eld, Ohio; Lynn Bowden of Warren, Ohio; and Kahlee Hamler of Orchard Lake, Mich., are all still 7rmly in play. Of those three, Davis appears to be the most realistic option, having hinted that he's focused on Penn State and Michigan State. But Bowden and Hamler also have Penn State in their top 7ve. Three-star prospect Evidence Njoku of Wayne, N.J., has visited Penn State twice and was expected to return for the Lasch Bash barbecue on July 16, while Mac Hippenhammer, a three-star player from Fort Wayne, Ind., was slated to vis- it Penn State that same weekend. It was to be his 7rst visit to University Park, as he recently landed an o8er from the sta8 following an excellent workout at the Bowling Green satellite camp in June. However, of all the receivers PSU is pursuing, three-star prospect Cameron Sullivan-Brown of Laurel, Md., warrants the most attention. As of early July, Sul- livan-Brown was still considering Duke, Syracuse and West Virginia, but he had also indicated that Penn State and Maryland were his top two schools, with the Nittany Lions appearing to be in the lead. There was speculation that he might commit following his visit for the Lasch Bash barbecue. It's likely he will make a decision by early August if he hasn't already done so. TIGHT END PLAYERS RETURNING IN 2017 4 PROJECTED SIGNEES 1 OUTLOOK It appeared as though Penn State was going to land one of its top- ranked targets at this position in Cincin- nati native Matt Dotson, but the four- star prospect verbally committed to Michigan State on July 7. He became the fourth tight end to decline a Penn State o8er, joining Jake Marwede of Will- CLASS OF 2017 NAME POS HT WT RATING HOME SCHOOL Damion Barber DE 6-3 245 ★★★ Harrisburg, Pa. Harrisburg D.J. Brown DB 5-10 165 ★★★ Fairburn, Ga. Creekside Sean Clifford QB 6-2 197 ★★★★ Cincinnati, Ohio St. Xavier Robert Martin OT 6-5 260 ★★★ Montvale, N.J. St. Joseph's Yetur Matos DE 6-5 230 ★★★★ Fredericksburg, Va. Chancellor Michael Miranda G/C 6-4 285 ★★★ Stow, Ohio Stow-Munroe Falls Dylan Rivers LB 6-3 220 ★★★ Stephens City, Va. Sherando C.J. Thorpe OG 6-4 310 ★★★★ Pittsburgh, Pa. Central Catholic CLASS OF 2018 NAME POS HT WT RATING HOME SCHOOL Chris Bleich OT 6-5 308 N/A Plymouth, Pa. Wyoming Valley West Micah Parsons DE 6-3 235 ★★★★★ Harrisburg, Pa. Central Dauphin * As of July 10 VERBAL COMMITMENTS*