Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/730644
Sandwiches • Salads • Spuds • Soups • Sweet Tea HUB-Robeson Center • On-Campus mcalistersdeli.com he ic w nd a S • s ad al S • s u o S • s ud Sp T t ee w S • s p u a e T prospect to prospect. Some receive a hard sell, others a so4 sell, and some he just leaves alone. One thing that doesn't change is the objective: Cli3ord just wants to present PSU in a positive light. In addition to being the top-ranked prospect in the Nittany Lions' class, Clif- ford is also undoubtedly the most vocal recruit when it comes to encouraging fel- low players to consider Penn State. "There are a lot of guys who I'm still talk- ing to," he said. "I could name probably 2ve to eight [recruits] who are still right on the bubble." Those half dozen or so players have be- come familiar names to Penn State re- cruitniks, and Cli3ord is helping to keep the Nittany Lions in good standing. "Obviously not all of them are going to commit, so if we get [a few] more to our class and just cap it o3 at what – 18 or 19? I think that's a really solid recruiting class," Cli3ord said. "We don't have as many scholarships, but I think the qual- ity of guys we're getting – quality foot- ball players and character traits that you look for – I think we're looking really good. "Lamont Wade jumps to mind, [Drew] Singleton, Nathan Proctor, and then from an o3ensive perspective, K.J. Hamler. I know he tore his ACL, so I've been in con- tact with him. Praying for him. Other wide receivers: Jaylen Harris, Danny Davis, those guys. All of them are also big-time recruits." There aren't many high school recruits who have been on Penn State's campus more in the past year than Cli3ord, who verbally committed last July. But with his full attention now shi4ed toward his sen- ior season at St. Xavier, the Cincinnati native won't be on hand very o4en this fall. "I think it'll be a lot less than last year, but I'm going tor try to get up at least once," Cli3ord said. "My schedule doesn't 2t their schedule." St. Xavier plays games throughout Ohio, as well as in Indiana and Kentucky. But even if he's only able to attend a game or two, Cli3ord will be watching closely on TV and will be paying close attention to several facets of the Lions' perform- ance. Wins and losses are of less impor- tance. Rather, Cli3ord is hoping to see continued progress. He's also keeping close tabs on the 2rst- and second-year players with whom he'll be teammates for a portion of his PSU career. "I'm going to be looking at what they do with the quarterback," Cli3ord said. "I've gone over the new o3ense in meeting rooms, so I just want to see it in action. I saw it in the spring game a little bit, but obviously the games are di3erent, so that is No. 1. "No. 2, the young guys who are going to play and the guys I'm going to [team with] when I'm up there. That's who I want to see as well. How are we looking from a fu- ture standpoint? I want Penn State to win right now. I don't know what's going to happen. I believe in them. I think they have a lot of potential. I just want to see where the program is headed." ■