Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/890458
N ittany Lion fans have a lot to be ex- cited about as the team enters the second half of its 2017 season. On the 2eld, Penn State had reached No. 2 in the nation in both major polls head- ing into the Michigan game. Games against Ohio State and Michigan State still loom in the days ahead, but as of mid-October, a number of enticing postseason scenar- ios were still on the table, and running back Saquon Barkley had put himself in excellent position to contend for the Heisman Trophy. Who could have predicted all of that just a few short years ago? The news is also positive off the field, as James Franklin and his staff have had no issues fending off competitors for the 22 prospects that re- main committed to the Class of 2018. The Nittany Lion staff did part ways with defensive end Dorian Hardy on Oct. 13 after he was thrown off the team at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic. But even with the loss of Hardy, Penn State was at No. 3 overall in the Rivals.com team rankings. And that situation will likely improve, with top defensive line prospects Micah Parsons, Jayson Oweh and Tyreke Smith all seriously consid- ering the Lions. Regardless of what happens between now and signing day, it's clear that Penn State has asserted itself as the top dog in the Northeast once again. Many of the region's top 2019 prospects have already admitted that the Nittany Lions are going to be serious contenders in their respective recruitments, but maybe the most notable development is that re- cruiting is no longer mainly about the Mid-Atlantic region. Prospects all over the nation are now showing serious in- terest. As of Oct. 13, Penn State had extended PSU going national with '19 class Nittany Lion coaching staff pursues elite prospects in Texas, Southeast | F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G FLORIDA CONNECTION Putnam is a high school teammate of Judge Culpep- per, a prospect in Penn State's 2018 recruiting class. Photo courtesy of Put- nam family For daily and breaking news updates on Penn State football recruiting, visit bwi.rivals.com.