Blue White Illustrated

Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Illi- nois, Indiana, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Mich. State, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wisconsin THE LATEST (May 4) Hardy missed Penn State's Junior Day in February, but he was able to return to State College in April for the Blue-White Game. Follow- ing that trip, his mother raved about the PSU coaching staff, noting that the family enjoys the atmosphere that Franklin and his assistants have created. Hardy also visited Ohio State, Pitt and Yale in April. The Buckeyes appear to be PSU's top competitors, but we still feel as if the Lions are the team to beat. AENEAS HAWKINS DT, Cincinnati, Ohio, Moeller SCHOOLS Penn State, Alabama, Cen- tral Florida, Cincinnati, Clemson, Duke, Eastern Michigan, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Iowa, Iowa State, Ken- tucky, Louisville, Marshall, Miami, Minnesota, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, South Florida, Ten- nessee, Toledo, UCLA, USC The Latest (May 4) Hawkins visited Penn State in March. He spent the weekend and got to know a number of players, including Shane Simmons and Lamont Wade. He wasn't able to make it back to PSU in April but did take two unofficial visits to Ohio State in a three- week span. His hometown school, Cincinnati, also earned a few visits this spring, but we expect this to come down to the two Big Ten programs. A commitment is expected to come some- time in the next few weeks, as Hawkins is planning to shoot a video for his com- mitment. We still lean towards PSU, but the Buckeyes have made a strong push over the past few months. ALIM McNEILL DT, Raleigh, N.C., Sanderson SCHOOLS Penn State, Arkansas, Boston College, Duke, East Carolina, Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan, Min- nesota, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Rutgers, South Carolina, TCU, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Western Kentucky THE LATEST (May 4) McNeill was planning to visit Penn State this spring, but ultimately wasn't able to make the trip. He did visit Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina and South Carolina in April, but it still feels like there's a ways to go here. McNeill has said that he talks to PSU more than most other programs, so as long as that continues, we still be- lieve there's a good chance the staff can get him on campus in the summer. P.J. MUSTIPHER DT, Owings Mills, Md., McDonogh SCHOOLS Penn State, Alabama, Duke, Maryland, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Rutgers, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Wisconsin THE LATEST (May 4) Mustipher re- turned to Penn State during the second weekend in April to watch spring prac- tice. As expected, he spoke highly of the visit, noting that he continues to build on an already strong relationship with James Franklin and his assistants. Mustipher also visited Michigan State, Norte Dame, Ohio State and Tennessee in March and April. Penn State sits in a strong position here, but Notre Dame is also off to an excellent start. His brother, Sam Mustipher, plays for the Irish. TYREKE SMITH DE, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, Cleveland Heights SCHOOLS Penn State, Alabama, Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Iowa State, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Notre Dame, Ohio, Ohio State, Okla- homa, Ole Miss, Oregon, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Toledo, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt THE LATEST (May 4) Smith has al- ready taken several unofficial visits to Penn State, most recently on March 18 to watch spring practice and meet with the coaching staff. He also took two un- official visits to Columbus this spring – one in March, one in April – and that's led many to believe that the Buckeyes are now the favorites. It certainly won't be easy to pluck him out of Cleveland, but the Lions remain serious players here. Both Brent Pry and Sean Spencer stopped in to see Smith at his school May 1. PSU was expected to see him one more time before the end of the spring evaluation period. BRIAN ASAMOAH OLB, Columbus, Ohio, St. Francis DeSales SCHOOLS Penn State, Cincinnati, Michigan, Pitt, UCLA, West Virginia THE LATEST (May 4) Asamoah re- turned to Penn State for the Blue-White Game. It was his second visit to State College this spring. Aside from UCLA, Asamoah was able to visit all of his top schools in either February, March or April. Michigan was the only other pro- gram that earned two visits. The Nit- tany Lions sit in a great position here, but this will likely drag into the sum- J U N E 9 , 2 0 1 7 B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M 10 Zubovic received a scholarship offer from the Nittany Lions when he visited in March to watch spring practice. The offensive tackle from Belle Vernon, Pa., is looking to visit campus again this summer. Photo courtesy of Zubovic family

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