James Franklin has reeled in a great class of football players for the 2015 recruiting class. Penn State’s class has been ranked anywhere from 8th-14th in the nation across many different sources. Let’s check out Penn State’s 2015 recruiting class position-by-position.
Quarterback
Tommy Stevens: 6’4″, 193-lbs, 3-star prospect
This was a big get for James Franklin. Many quarterbacks have left Penn State in recent years, and PSU really doesn’t have a solid backup to Hackenberg before signing Stevens. Stevens is a guy Franklin will try to groom as Hackenberg’s successor.
Running Back
Saquon Barkley: 6’0″, 208-lbs, 4-star prospect
Andre Robinson: 5’10”, 205-lbs, 4-star prospect
The two headed monster. These guys will be instant impact players in Happy Valley. The bigger of the two, Saquon Barkley, is the quickster. He reminds me of a Joique Bell/Reggie Bush-esque player. Can I say LeSean McCoy? He’s a guy who can handle the workload of a featured back, but can also be a great threat in the special teams game as a returner. Barkley is a versatile back who can, and will, be used in more ways than one.
Even though Robinson is only 5-foot-10, he can lower his head and do the dirty work in the red zone. Because of his size, or lack there of, Robinson has some of the quickness and speed Barkley has, but he also brings to the table tough and grit that Barkley doesn’t necessarily have. This pair of running backs has the potential to make some noise on the national circuit, and should help Penn State restore their tradition of bringing in and developing great backs.
Wide Receiver
Juwan Johnson: 6’5″, 212-lbs, 4-star prospect
Brandon Polk: 5’9″, 155-lbs, 3-star prospect
Irvin Charles: 6’4″, 208-lbs, 3-star prospect
The biggest get in this group is definitely Juwan Johnson. He’s a guy with great size, great hands, and great leaping ability. He also has the speed to become Hack’s best deep threat since Allen Robinson.
However, let’s not overlook Brandon Polk and Irvin Charles. Polk could become just as valuable to the team as Johnson could be. Polk is a little guy who can absolutely fly. He probably drinks a lot of Red Bull, because he seems to develop wings on the field and fly to the endzone. He looks to be a great future slot guy who can also return kicks.
Charles is probably the 3rd best in the group, but this kid still has talent. He is a tough guy to bring down, because he doesn’t mind lowering his head and trucking over defenders.
Tight End
Nick Bowers: 6’4″, 235-lbs, 3-star prospect
Bowers isn’t the greatest athlete. He won’t out jump many people. He won’t out run many people. However, he’s a tough kid who likes to lower his shoulder and embarrass defenders. Bowers can also be used as a full back. He just likes having the ball in his hands. I’d say he won’t see much playing time Freshman year, but we could see him in some Jumbo sets as a receiver, back, or blocker.
Offensive Line
(OT) Sterling Jenkins: 6’8″, 300-lbs, 4-star prospect
(OT) Paris Palmer: 6’8″, 300-lbs, 4-star prospect
(OT) Ryan Bates: 6’5″, 271-lbs, 4-star prospect
(OG): Steven Gonzalez: 6’4″, 310-lbs, 4-star prospect
The offensive line was the biggest position of need for Penn State in this class. James Franklin knew he needed to recruit several great o-line prospects, which he did. All 4 of these guys could contribute immediately. All are 4 star prospects, and were great gets for Coach Franklin.
Jenkins and Palmer will most likely be starters as freshman at Penn State. Those guys are both 6’8″, 300-pound massive men. Bates is another guy who could be starter if he has a good spring. Bates is more mobile, and is a really good run blocker. Gonzalez will probably see the least amount of play time, but he has a lot of talent, and can develop into a great offensive lineman. Franklin did a great job bringing these 4 players in. They will all contribute to Penn State winning football games.
Defensive Line
(DE) Jonathan Holland: 6’5″, 225-lbs, 4-star prospect
(DT) Robert Windsor: 6’4″, 260-lbs, 3-star prospect
(DE) Kamonte Turner: 6’4″, 230-lbs, 3-star prospect
(DE) Shareef Miller: 6’4″, 225-lbs, 3-star prospect
(DE) Ryan Buchholz: 6’6″, 240-lbs, 3-star prospect
There’s going to be great competition in Happy Valler for the starting spots on the defensive line this year. Remember, C.J. Olaniyan and Deion Barnes left for the draft, so there’s open spots available. Garrett Sickels has been waiting his turn, but surely a couple more will join him for starting spots. Holland was the lone 4-star recruit in the group, and he will have to live up to the hype that’s surrounding him. Robert Windsor has the size to become a potential defensive tackle who is a nightmare for running backs. These were 5 really good gets for Franklin, who continues to impress by recruiting.
Linebacker
(OLB) Manny Bowens: 6’3″, 206-lbs, 4-star prospect
(OLB/DE) Kevin Givens: 6’3″, 230-lbs, 3-star prospect
(ILB) Jake Cooper: 6’1″, 234-lbs, 3-star prospect
James Franklin convinced 3 notable linebackers to come play for Linebacker U. Manny Bowen is by the far the most recruited nationally among the trio. He was also recruited by the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Clemson Tigers. He’s great at dropping back in coverage, as he was a two-way standout at high school, as a linebacker and wide receiver. Not many linebackers have receiver hands. That’s a huge advantage for him; and we’ll probably see him match up with mismatches (big tight ends or receivers). Bowens will be a stud.
Givens recently flipped his commitment to Penn State from Pitt. He’s sort of a hybrid type linebacker/d-end. He’s a good pass rusher, and has the athletic ability to become evem better.
Cooper is a very solid inside linebacker who is the traditional run stopper. He always seems to find the ball. Plus, he shows solid coverage skills.
Secondary
(CB) John Reid: 5’10”, 190-lbs, 4-star prospect
(CB) Garrett Taylor: 6’1″, 187-lbs, 4-star prospect
(S) Ayron Monroe: 6’2″, 197-lbs, 3-star prospect
(S) Jarvis Miller: 6’2″, 195-lbs, 3-star prospect
(S) John Pretrishen: 6’2″, 200-lbs, 3-star prospect
John Reid and Garrett Taylor form a ridiculously good dynamic duo at corner. Both Reid and Taylor are shut down corners. Where Reid lacks height, he makes up for with great athletiscm and leaping ability. Both guys also have receiver-like hands. These two will most likely join Christian Campbell to create a really good trio rotation at cornerback for the Nittany Lions.
All 3 safeties will see play time this. Monroe and Miller are the flashy time corners, who love interceptions and showing off their great athletic ability. Pretishen is a much more quiet player. Pretishen hits hard, which could make a good case for him to be developed as a run stopper.
Athlete
Daiquan Kelly: 6’4″, 210-lbs, 3-star prospect
The lone athlete Franklin recruited is Daiquan Kelly. Kelly is projected to be either a wide receiver or safety at Penn State. Either way, we know this kid has hands. He has wide receiver hands, and can jump out of the gym. This guy’s athletic ability is throught the roof. He’s incredibly dangerous in the open field, but can also go up over the top of defender/receivers and make the great catch/interception.
Overview
Penn State netted 25 recruits on National Signing Day that will not only help this program win football games, but also help rebuild the program, and restore the tradition. Today’s a great day to be a Nittany Lion.
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