Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/787374
T H E C L A S S O F 2 0 1 7 >> F E A T U R E S signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent. BRADLEY JONES RECRUITING RECAP After recording 62 tackles as a senior and being named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Fabulous 22 team, the Monessen, Pa., native enrolled at Kiski Prep for a year of postgraduate studies when he fell short of NCAA eligi- bility standards. Recruited by Bradley, Jones considered only Penn State. WHAT CAME NEXT After a redshirt sea- son at Penn State, Jones was shot near his hometown in January 1999. He required a five-hour operation, according to the Centre Daily Times. It's unclear whether he ever played for the Nittany Lions after the incident. BHAWOH JUE RECRUITING RECAP Jue helped lead Chantilly (Va.) High to its first state championship and was his team's leading rusher, totaling 1,252 yards and 15 TDs. He was also the team's leading receiver, and on defense was credited with 73 tackles and three interceptions. An All-State honoree who earned honorable mention All-America recognition from USA Today, Jue chose Penn State over Michi- gan and Virginia. He was recruited by Larry Johnson. WHAT CAME NEXT After tallying nearly 100 tackles in his PSU career along with seven interceptions, Jue was picked by the Green Bay Packers in the third round of the 2001 draft (No. 71 overall). He went on to play seven professional seasons for four teams and totaled 181 tackles, six inter- ceptions, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks. KAREEM McKENZIE RECRUITING RECAP Considered by many to be top offensive line prospect in the nation, McKenzie was an All-America selection who was recruited by Jackson, Kenney and Ganter out of Willingboro (N.J.) High. He chose Penn State over of- fers from Michigan, Ohio State, Ten- nessee and Wisconsin. WHAT CAME NEXT A four-year letter- man and three-time All-Big Ten honoree, McKenzie started 11 of 12 games as a sen- ior before being taken in the third round of the 2001 NFL Draft (No. 79 overall) by the New York Jets. He later won two Super Bowls with the New York Giants (XLII and XLVI). He played in 157 career NFL games, starting 149, and is currently pursuing his doctorate. JOE McKINNEY RECRUITING RECAP A resident of Valen- cia, Pa., McKinney set a Mars High record for career tackles and finished with 132 in his senior year. He also had 17 tackles for loss and 10 sacks, helping lead Mars to its first WPIAL Class AA title. He was con- sidered by many to be a top-100 prospect in the country. Recruited by Bradley, McKinney committed to Penn State after taking unofficial visits to Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State and Pitt. WHAT CAME NEXT McKinney played two seasons with Penn State, recording four tackles in three games in 1998. He does not appear on the school's list of all-time lettermen. JOSH MITCHELL RECRUITING RECAP A three-year starter at Central Bucks East, Mitchell was cred- ited with more than 20 pancake blocks as a senior. The Buckingham, Pa., resident received first-team All-State honors from the AP and won the Maxwell Award, which goes to the top high school football player in southeastern Pennsylvania. Re- cruited by Ganter and Jackson, Mitchell made only one official visit, to Penn State, but also considered Michigan, North Carolina, Notre Dame and Syracuse. WHAT CAME NEXT After starting in the Citrus Bowl as a freshman, Mitchell moved around the offensive line for much of his career before settling back in as a starting guard in 2000. Those were the only two years he lettered. GREG RANSOM RECRUITING RECAP A three-year, two- way starter, Ransom was a fearless blocker on offense and recorded 52 tack- les and four sacks as a senior at Wallkill Valley (N.J.) Regional. He was a first- team All-State selection by the Newark Star-Ledger and an honorable mention All-America pick by USA Today. Re- cruited by Ganter, Ransom committed to PSU after taking unofficial visits to Duke and Maryland. WHAT CAME NEXT Ransom was a three- year letterman and two-year starter on the Nittany Lions' offensive line before joining the Army after his college career. He began basic training in the spring of 2003 and was deployed to Iraq the follow- ing fall. TONY STEWART RECRUITING RECAP Hauling in 27 passes for 506 yards and six TDs as a senior, Stewart was an All-State selection by the AP coming out of Allentown (Pa.) Central Catholic. The Allentown Morning Call also named him the Lehigh Valley's Of- fensive Player of the Year. Recruited by Ganter, Stewart committed to Penn State over Georgia Tech, Miami, North Car- olina and South Carolina. WHAT CAME NEXT A three-year letter- man and two-year starter at Penn State, Stewart finished his career with 59 recep- tions for 861 yards and three touchdowns. He was drafted in 2001 by the Philadel- phia Eagles in the fifth round (147th over- all) and scored a touchdown in his first game. He also played for the Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders. Stewart went on to found Beyond the Locker, a youth sports camp that prioritizes ath- letic training, as well as life skills. CHAD STOFFER RECRUITING RECAP A resident of Salem, Ohio, Stoffer played every down as a sen- ior on both offense and defense at United Local High, winning first-team All-State honors. Recruited by Jay Paterno, Stoffer chose Penn State over Michigan, Ohio State and Kentucky. WHAT CAME NEXT Stoffer was declared ineligible by the NCAA and was forced to delay his enrollment by a year. In his first season with PSU in 1998, he injured the ACL in his left knee during the first day of preseason practice. He does not ap- pear on the school's list of all-time let- termen. ■