Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/944007
L O O K I N G A H E A D and meet the new running backs coach, Coach [Ja'Juan] Seider. Coach Seider is a great person. I feel like I can build a great relationship with him going forward." He added, "Putting on the uniform for the 7rst time gave me goose bumps. It made me want to play a game at that mo- ment. We also toured the 7eld, which blows me away every time I step foot in- side." A few days a9er overseeing Penn State's junior day, Franklin extended an o8er to another prospect: three-star quarterback Taisun Phommachanh of Bridgeport, Conn. The Lions already have a commit- ment from Taquan Roberson of DePaul Catholic in Wayne, N.J., but they are ag- gressively pursuing a second quarterback in 2019. Phommachanh, who stands 6-3, 195 pounds, grabbed the sta8's attention last summer when he worked out for Rahne. He then returned for the game against Pitt in September. "Penn State is a great academic school, and there's a lot of history behind it," Phommachanh said. "What stood out when I visited there was how the coaches and players carry themselves. They were real in tune with each other. They're a close group." Penn State's o8er isn't the only one that Phommachanh has received recently, as he saw his scholarship count more than double during the January contact period. Florida State o8ered just hours a9er the Nittany Lions, while Iowa, Kentucky, TCU and Vir- ginia did likewise in the last two weeks of January. Michigan was the 7rst elite program to o8er, doing so last November. It's still unclear when he may return to University Park for his next visit, but his is a name that fans should follow closely, as Rahne has made him a pri- ority in recent months. Phommachanh said he's been talking to the Lions' o8ensive coordinator regularly. "It's mainly just been about football and about life," he said. "We're just trying to get to know each other better, and we have. We talk at least twice a week, and he's been real with everything. "I'm looking to go to a place that fits me and is a family-oriented team. I get great vibes when I talk to their coaching staff." ■ Keaton Ellis CB 6-0 160 ★★★ State College, Pa. State College Area Taquan Roberson QB 6-0 198 ★★★ Wayne, N.J. DePaul Catholic * As of Feb. 12 2 0 1 9 V E R B A L C O M M I T M E N T S * NEW QB TARGET Phommachanh received an offer from Penn State in January and has been speak- ing to QB coach Ricky Rahne fre- quently in recent weeks. Photo courtesy of Ri- vals.com