Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/787374
P L A Y E R B I O S
WHAT HE DID Thorpe played a key role in Central Catholic's
run to the PIAA 6A championship game against St. Joseph's
and its 14-2 ;nish this past season. Named a team captain as
a senior, he led an o=ense that averaged almost 270 rushing
yards per game and scored 60 touchdowns on the ground,
and he also totaled 26 tackles and 11 sacks while playing in
nine games as a defensive tackle. Thorpe participated in Jan-
uary's Under Armour All-America Game and was one of the
more consistent o=ensive linemen throughout the week of
camp.
WHAT HE WON Thorpe was named to the Pittsburgh Post-
Gazette's Fabulous 22 team. He also earned ;rst-team All-
Conference and All-State honors, in addition to
participating in the Under Armour game. Rated a four-star
prospect, he fell out of the Rivals250 before his senior sea-
son. But a?er his all-star performance in Orlando, he soared
into the Rivals100 in the ;nal rankings. Finishing at No. 78
overall, Thorpe is listed as the ;?h-best o=ensive guard in
the country and the fourth-best overall prospect in Pennsyl-
vania.
WHERE HE VISITED Thorpe checked out Auburn, Michigan,
Pitt and UCLA. The Bruins received an o>cial visit late in
the process, and he considered an o>cial visit to Ann Arbor,
too. But a?er a January weekend in State College with the
rest of the pledges in Penn State's class, he rea>rmed his
commitment to the Nittany Lions.
QUOTABLE Terry Totten, Pittsburgh Central Catholic
coach: "C.J. Thorpe is the complete package. He will be a big
asset to Penn State."
STAFF SAYS James Franklin: "He's an o=ensive lineman
with a nastiness to him. He plays with a really nasty de-
meanor. He wants to ;nish it. He wants to be physical. When
you can ;nd guys like that, they're really valuable."
PHIL'S TAKE Thorpe, whose father, Chris, played at Penn
State in the 1980s, plays football with an attitude and is sur-
prisingly athletic. Expected to play guard at Penn State, he
has excellent feet for a player of his size. He also has an ex-
tremely strong lower body. Thorpe reportedly benches over
400 pounds, and his strength was re