Tag: Conrad Hussey

Penn State’s 2023 football commitment tracker

The Penn State football Class of 2023 commitment tracker has been updated with the latest recruiting development

The Class of 2022 was great for Penn State, but it’s already time to turn the page toward the Class of 2023. And James Franklin and the Nittany Lions already had a few commitments on the board for the Class of 2023 as the signed letters of intent were coming in for the Class of 2022.

We’ll be keeping track of every commitment that goes on the board for Penn State in the Class of 2023. But knowing that odds are pretty good at least one player will have a change of heart somewhere along the recruiting process, we’ll keep tabs on what they are doing up until signing day.

This tracker will be updated accordingly when needed. It was last updated on February 1, 2023.

Where did the players who decommitted from Penn State end up?

Where did the players who decommitted from Penn State end up in the Class of 2023, and who is still out there?

Penn State just welcomed 22 new members to its football program with the signing of its Class of 2023, although there could still be some more room for another recruit or two or new pieces coming through the transfer portal. But there are some players that got away from Penn State during the recruiting process, which is perfectly normal in this game. Every school deals with a handful of players who change their minds after committing to them at some point in the process because high school students are allowed to change their minds for whatever reason they choose when it comes to where they will be going to college. Such was the case for Penn State with a number of players opting to back off a commitment to the Nittany Lions in the Class of 2023.

Fortunately for Penn State, [autotag]Mathias Barnwell[/autotag] was a rare case where he came back to committing to Penn State after decommitting.

“When he committed, wanted to make sure they were comfortable, truly knew what that was,” head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] said when reflecting on the recruiting efforts of Barnwell that ultimately led to Barnwell signing with Penn State in the Class of 2023. “His eyes started to wander in 10th grade, then committed back to us, which doesn’t always happen.”

Penn State could still end up welcoming another player or two that had previously committed to Penn State before backing off of it along the way. Quarterback [autotag]Marcus Stokes[/autotag] and wide receiver [autotag]Ejani Shakir[/autotag] are two players still available in the recruiting pool. Each had committed to Penn State in the past before stepping back. In the case of Stokes, he flipped his commitment to Florida before having his scholarship offer pulled after a controversial video of Stokes went viral. Shakir merely wanted to take more time to weigh his options, it seems. Both players are currently projected by recruiting analysts and metrics to end up at Penn State, but time will tell how that all plays out.

Here are a few others who backed off a commitment to Penn State and where they each ended up in the early signing period.

Crystal ball predictions show this Penn State commit flipping to Florida State

Crystal ball predictions suggest Penn State could see a commit flip to an ACC school

If all goes according to plan on Wednesday as the early signing period opens up, it should be a relatively quiet day for Penn State as the Class of 2023 begins to become official. But a pair of lat crystal ball picks filed to 247Sports suggests there could be a commit in the class flipping his decision. Safety [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag] could be the player to keep a close eye on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, two crystal ball picks were filed to 247Sports predicting Hussey will end up with Florida State despite currently being committed to Penn State. The predictions come from 247Sports director of recruiting Steve Wiltfong and InsideTheU staff writer Gaby Urrutia.

Hussey is a four-star safety from Fort Lauderdale, Florida from the powerhouse St. Thomas Aquinas High School program. Hussey committed to Penn Stae in April of this year and he made an official visit to Penn State in June. But in the last few weeks, since the close of the regular season, Florida State has emerged as a viable threat to Penn State on the recruiting trail.

Hussey made an official visit to Florida State’s campus earlier this month and that was followed a few days later by Seminoles head coach Mike Norvell making a visit to Hussey. While Hussey has not publicly backed off his commitment to the Nittany Lions, the recent pressure from Florida State paired with the latest crystal ball predictions do seem to suggest this is not a sure thing for James Franklin and his staff at the start of the early signing period.

The early signing period runs from December 21 through Friday, December 23.

[listicle id=27776]

[lawrence-related id=27752,27757,27711,27699,27695]

[mm-video type=playlist id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

Follow Kevin McGuire on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Auburn offers 4-star safety committed to Big Ten program

It looks like Auburn will be battling on and off the field in this coming season.

[autotag]Bryan Harsin[/autotag] and the rest of Auburn’s coaching staff are confident that they will be able to land multiple recruits who are committed elsewhere this cycle.

They have already done that once, flipping four-star edge Ashley Williams from Nebraska, and are heavily pursuing multiple prospects committed elsewhere. Well, they are now looking to flip another prospect after extending an offer to four-star safety [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag] on Monday, who is committed to Penn State.

Auburn may have a couple of things going for them in their pursuit of Hussey, he is from Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Auburn is clearly closer to home. Another is that he was high school teammates with current Auburn wide receiver Camden Brown at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Hussey is ranked as the No. 276 overall recruit and No. 25 safety in the 247Sports composite ranking. He is also ranked as the No. 56 player from Florida.

The 6-foot, 190-pound Hussey was a ball hawk last season, recording four interceptions and returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown. He also made 26 tackles as he helped the Raiders win a state championship.

Flipping a player is always challenging, but if Auburn is able to get Hussey to the Plains for a visit it would seem to be a strong indicator that there is mutual interest.

[mm-video type=video id=01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1 playlist_id=01eqbyzb4ahnasj2m3 player_id=01f5k5y2jb3twsvdg4 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1/01g7zjgv5gvprdr0s0p1-84dedc5957cc29a92113c10feed52cf6.jpg]

[listicle id=51698]

Contact/Follow us @TheAuburnWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Auburn news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow JD on Twitter @jdmccarthy15.

Let us know your thoughts, and comment on this story below. Join the conversation today!

Penn State flips four-star safety Elliot Washington from Alabama

Penn State recruiting gets weekend started with a flip from Alabama

What a difference a day can make in the world of college football recruiting. A day after Penn State was on the wrong end of a handful of recruiting headlines, the Nittany Lions are riding into the weekend feeling a bit more optimistic on the recruiting trail. [autotag]Elliot Washington[/autotag], a four-star safety from Florida, announced he has flipped his commitment from Alabama to Penn State, marking a major recruiting victory for Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag].

Washington had been committed to Alabama even though he announced he was reopening his recruiting to explore a few more options. He never officially announced a decommitment from the Crimson Tide until announcing his new commitment to the Nittany Lions on his Twitter account on Friday afternoon.

Washington is the fourth highest-rated player in Penn State’s current Class of 2023 lineup according to 247Sports. The 5′-11″ safety is a speedster too with a successful background in track and field.

Last season for Venice High School, Washington had 58 tackles and four interceptions in 15 games as a key player for Venice’s run to a state championship.

Washignton made two official visits in the month of June. The first was to Penn State on June 10. Two weeks later, Washington visited Michigan State, and the Spartans began to trend as the favorite to secure his commitment. But as Penn State fans know all too well, sometimes the recruiting experts can be caught off guard as well.

Washington is the fourth safety on the board for Penn State in the Class of 2023. He joins a safety-heavy class that already includes [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], [autotag]DaKaari Nelson[/autotag], and [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag]. All three of those players are also four-star players according to the 247Sports composite player rankings. Penn State has also added to its defensive secondary with cornerback [autotag]Lamont Payne[/autotag], one of its top in-state targets.

Penn State’s 2023 football commitment tracker

[lawrence-related id=21012,21006,21003,21000,20993]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Penn State and Michigan State battling for four-star safety King Mack

Where Penn State stands in the recruiting process of four-star Florida safety King Mack

A pair of Big Ten schools appear to be coming down the final stretch in the recruiting process for [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], a four-star safety from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. After back-to-back official visits to East Lansing and State College, the Nittany Lions still appear to be on the inside track to Mack’s commitment.

Penn State has assembled some good quality depth in the defensive secondary in recent years. After the secondary was a strength of the team in 2021, the collective unit looks to once again be a strength in 2022. But Penn State will be in need of some new blood at the safety position after the 2022 season with expected departures of [autotag]Ji’Ayir Broan[/autotag] and [autotag]Keaton Ellis[/autotag] after this season. Adding a four-star talent to the safety depth chart would be great news for Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag].

The month of June has shown more and more traction for Penn State based on the recruiting predictions coming in and a decision is expected to be announced at some point this summer. Penn State already has a commitment from Mack’s high school teammate [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag] and the two could end up remaining teammates in Happy Valley.

Here’s a look at Mack’s recruiting profile as he approaches his decision date.

King Mack’s Recruiting Profile

Recruiting analyst makes crystal ball pick for Penn State for four-star safety

Recruiting analyst makes crystal ball pick for Penn State for this four-star safety from Florida.

Penn State’s future at the safety position could be on the cusp of some terrific news in the recruiting process. Four-star safety [autotag]King Mack[/autotag], of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is reportedly set to make his college decision this summer, and the first crystal ball prediction on the board at 247Sports favors the Nittany Lions.

247Sports southeast recruiting analyst Andrew Irvins cast his official crystal ball prediction for Mack on June 1 for Penn State. That comes a few weeks before Mack is scheduled to make an official visit at Penn State later this month. Mack is scheduled to visit Penn State on June 17.

A week prior, Mack will be scheduled to visit Michigan State (June 10).  With Penn State and Michigan State being the only official visits confirmed for June, it does appear as though Mack’s decision will be coming down to the two Big Ten programs. Penn State getting the second visit is a good sign. Penn State has been considered the favorite. The On3 prediction machine calculates Penn State with a 97.3% chance to land the coveted commitment.

Mack is a 5′-11″ safety from St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale. 247Sports ranks him as the No. 20 safety in the Class of 2023 and the No. 52 player in the fertile state of Florida. Mack is also an accomplished track star and he recorded 54 tackles with four interceptions for St. Thoma Aquinas en route to a Florida 7A state championship last fall.

Penn State currently has one safety on the board for the Class of 2023 with [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag], Mack’s teammate at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Penn State also has added [autotag]Lamont Payne[/autotag] at cornerback in the Class of 2023 to add to the future depth in the defensive secondary. The addition of Mack would be a huge win for the Penn State recruiting class in its effort to provide years of future stability in the secondary.

We’ll be sure to be keeping an eye on Mack’s recruiting process this month, beginning with his visit to Michigan State next week.

[mm-video type=video id=01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv/01fsdjmvkbqtq16mf3bv-5a1f8cf3679d7ec39d53a0890364af04.jpg]

[listicle id=19845]

[vertical-gallery id=19797]

[lawrence-related id=19869,19863,19813,19810,19801]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Penn State Recruiting snapshot: 3-star recruit safety Conrad Hussey

A snapshot profile of Penn State Class of 2023 safety Conrad Hussey.

The safety position and the depth chart around that position has been lacking as of late, [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag] committed to Penn State in hopes of fixing that.

Coming out of the illustrious Saint Thomas Aquinas High School in Florida, Hussey was and is a leader on that team defense that won the state title this past season. Coming to Penn State he had to have been sold on the staff [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] has put together headlined by defensive coordinator [autotag]Manny Diaz[/autotag].

Manny Diaz has been a proven developer and groomer of young talent on defense. Whether it was at Texas or Miami, Diaz was able to get the most out of his guys before they made their way to the NFL. By the time Hussey gets to that point though we may be looking at a different Penn State team, hopefully he goes from leading a state title defense to a national championship defense.

Class of 2023 four-star safety has Penn State in top six

Penn State could be the favorite to land a commitment from a four-star safety out of Alabama

Now that spring football practices are in the books in State College, Penn State is hoping to make some more progress on the recruiting trail. The Nittany Lions have already added one more piece to the Class of 2023 in the days after the Blue-White Game with the addition of [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag], a three-star safety out of Florida, on Monday. But Penn State received some positive news from another safety target in the current recruiting cycle from Alabama safety [autotag]DaKaari Nelson[/autotag].

Nelson, a four-star safety from Selma, Alabama, updated his recruiting status on Monday by revealing his top six schools. Penn State was in that latest cut, the only Big Ten school in the hunt moving forward for the talented safety target. Nelson also included Clemson, Oregon, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Auburn in his top six.

Nelson is the nation’s No. 200 overall player according to the 247Sports composite rankings, and he is the 18th-best safety in the nation. The 6-3 safety would certainly be a good tool to have to patrol the backfield in the Penn State secondary, which is in the midst of a pretty solid run of talent heading into the 2022 season. His scouting profile also notes he could be a player capable of playing cornerback as well. Given his height, that would make sense and could end up being a possibility if he heads to Penn State.

Penn State extended a scholarship offer to Nelson in August 2021, and Nelson made an unofficial visit to Penn State in November 2021. Penn State was one of three unofficial visits made last season, with Aubrun and Michigan being the others. Nelson has visited Clemson and Tennessee this offseason for junior day events.

Nelson removed Arkansas, Florida State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas A&M, and UCF from his top 11, which was released in March.

According to the prediction machine from On3 Sports, Penn State seems to have a decent chance of securing a verbal commitment of Nelson. The current analysis from On3Sports has Penn State as the favorite for Nelson with a 34.5% chance of Nelson committing to the Nittany Lions. Auburn has the second-best odds at 15.5%.

[mm-video type=video id=01fztqyjdeq7cqhmaqn9 playlist_id=01ey902ehrs6e9bvhw player_id=none image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fztqyjdeq7cqhmaqn9/01fztqyjdeq7cqhmaqn9-920de4c7d4f6702800f544a04ab5aa2f.jpg]

[vertical-gallery id=18555]

[listicle id=18754]

[lawrence-related id=18762,18734,18658,18546,18624]

Follow Nittany Lions Wire on Twitter and like us on Facebook for continuing Penn State coverage and discussion. Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Penn State adds three-star safety out of Florida to Class of 2023

Penn State added another piece to its Class of 2023 just two days after the spring game.

Penn State’s spring football practices just came to a close, but the momentum on the recruiting trail is picking back up for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and the Nittany Lions. On Monday, just days after the Blue-White Game, Penn State received a verbal commitment from safety [autotag]Conrad Hussey[/autotag], a recruiting target from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Hussey gave his commitment to Penn State with a message on his Twitter account confirming his decision. The commitment comes a couple of weeks after the Florida recruit made an unofficial visit to Happy Valley.

“Many times in our lives, we come upon a crossroad and there is immense pressure to make the right decision for yourself, your leaders and last but not least, your family,” Hussey said in a statement posted to his Twitter account. “I am blessed to be faced with such an opportunity at this time ad would like to use this platform to thank my [St. Aquinas High School] family, my coaches and all the persons who have played a significant role in my development.

“With God’s guidance and the love and support of my family, I have decided to commit to Penn State,” Russey continued. “I’m coming home Happy Valley!”

Hussey is the newest defensive commit on a Class of 2023 that has started to add some defensive depth after focusing so heavily on the offensive line early on in the recruiting cycle. With Hussy currently on board, Penn State’s Class of 2023 is up to 11 verbal commits, with eyes on a few more expected to join them at some point.

Conrad Hussey’s Recruiting Profile