Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/929717
Oweh's signing addresses need Coaching staff bolsters Lions' defensive front with addition of four-star DE | W hen James Franklin met with the media on Dec. 20 to discuss the 22 prospects who had signed earlier that day, he used the opportunity to send a message to two additional recruits who were still wavering. It was a smart move by Franklin. His comments received at- tention all over social media. Most im- portant, his thoughts reached his intended audience within minutes. Franklin had been asked a question about whether he was satis4ed that the Lions had addressed their positional needs. "I think overall we did a pretty good job of that," he said. "As you guys know from past experiences… I'm always going to put an emphasis up front on the O-line and D-line. I think we've made progress there." Then he stared into the camera. "We still have a major need at defensive end," he said. "We still have a need at o5ensive tackle." Franklin emphasized both positions a few more times before step- ping away from the podium. His message was well-re- ceived, as just two days later, with only a few hours remain- ing in the early signing period, the Nittany Lions added four- star defensive end Jayson Oweh to their class. Oweh, a 6-foot-5, 240- pound prospect from Howell, N.J., didn't reveal his decision until Jan. 4, while attending the Under Armour All-Amer- ica Game. But Blair Academy head coach Jim Saylor con4rmed that the standout player had signed on the last day of the early signing period, choosing the Nit- tany Lions over Ohio State. "I remember the coaches kept texting me, and I didn't want to bother Jayson's family," Saylor said. "But he did sign on Friday, and I'm glad it's 4nally over. He had a tough time, because he built great rela- tionships with both coaching sta5s. I think Penn State being closer to home may have been the deciding factor." Oweh said he chose the Nittany Lions for a variety of reasons, notably his rela- tionship with the coaching sta5. "They've been there since the beginning," he said. "I really believe in my relation- ship with Coach Franklin, and I think we can do something really big there. It's re- ally close to home, too, so that was big." Oweh has only played football for two seasons. Since he's still a bit raw, he'll likely require a redshirt in 2018, but he brings the combination of speed and ex- plosiveness that Sean Spencer covets o5 F O O T B A L L R E C R U I T I N G NEWEST LION Oweh joined Penn State's Class of 2018 during the early signing period but didn't an- nounce his deci- sion until earlier this month. Photo courtesy of Rivals.com