Tag: Liam Andrews

Penn State trending for two 4-star prospects with commitment dates set

Penn State is trending in a positive direction for a pair of four-star recruiting targets.

With 22 players currently committed to Penn State in the class of 2024, [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] and his staff are now able to focus their attention on their top remaining uncommitted prospects they are still recruiting.

Two of those prospects have their commitment dates set with Penn State looking to be the leader in the clubhouse for both of them.

[autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag] is a four-star offensive lineman from Massachusetts who recently cut his list of schools down to three and announced his commitment date.

[autotag]T.A. Cunningham[/autotag] is a major defensive line prospect from Florida. The four-star put out his top five list with his commitment date coming up as well.

Penn State fans won’t have to wait long to know if the Nittany Lions were able to land these targets. Andrews is expected to announce on July 21st and Cunningham one day later on July 22nd.

As of right now, it looks like Penn State is going to land both of these coveted prospects.

On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine gives the Nittany Lions a huge 93.4% chance to secure a commitment from Andrews. 247Sports’ Crystal Ball is also projecting the offensive lineman will land in State College. Lions247 Staff Writer, Tyler Calvaruso and Director of Football Recruiting, Steve Wiltfong, both predict Penn State lands the four-star.

Cunningham’s outlook is in a similar spot. On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine has Penn State with a 91.2% chance to land Cunningham. 247Sports’ Crystal Ball also predicts he’ll commit to the Nittany Lions. Calvaruso and Wiltfong again have predicted Penn State will secure the four-star defensive lineman.

Securing these commitments would be a major boost to the recruiting class that Franklin and his staff have put together.

Andrews is a 6’5″ 275 pound prospect who is rated as the 85th best player in the country and third best offensive lineman in 2024 according to On3’s industry rankings.

On3’s industry rankings have the 6’6″ 275 pound Cunningham as the 257th overall player in 2024 and the 28th best defensive line prospect.

Penn State currently sits at seventh in the national recruiting rankings according to 247Sports.

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Commitment date set for one of Wisconsin’s top remaining 2024 targets

A big commitment announcement is imminent later this week:

Wisconsin recently made the top three for top-100 2024 DL Liam Andrews. The recruiting battle will come down to the Badgers, Penn State Nittany Lions and South Carolina Gamecocks.

Andrews is listed by 247Sports as the No. 92 player in the class, the No. 3 iOL and the No. 2 recruit from the state of Massachusetts. Having recently clarified he’ll play defensive line at the next level, Andrews is likely the most important player left on Wisconsin’s board.

Related: Wisconsin has one of the easiest schedules in the country this season

With the top three released, news also broke yesterday Andrews will be announcing his commitment on Friday, July 21.

Wisconsin’s class currently sits No. 19 in the nation with 20 total commitments. It currently two three-star defensive tackles, so a commitment from Andrews would do wonders for the class’ impact when it gets on campus.

It is necessary to note 247Sports currently has multiple crystal ball predictions listed for Andrews to choose Penn State.

One of Wisconsin’s top 2024 targets clarifies his college position

News to monitor as his recruiting process nears its end:

Head coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers are looking to round out what is already a strong class of 2024. A barrage of commitments since the start of July has the group up to 20 players. While there is still room to add, the final class likely will not look much different than it does today.

One remaining top target to watch, though, is four-star Liam Andrews. News broke yesterday Wisconsin had made his final three schools along with Penn State and South Carolina.

He is listed by 247Sports as the No. 92 player in the class, the No. 3 interior offensive lineman and the No. 2 recruit from his home state.

While the Brookline, Massachusetts, is listed as an offensive lineman on every recruiting service, he tweeted yesterday clarifying that he plans to play defensive line at the next level.

This is good news for Fickell and the Badgers, that is if they are able to gain his commitment. The 2024 class only has two defensive tackles committed: three-star Dillan Johnson and three-star Hank Weber.

Adding a player of Andrews’ caliber to that room would ensure there would be no weak positions in Fickell’s first full cycle as head coach.

Wisconsin makes the top three for a class of 2024 top-100 recruit

Wisconsin enters the closing stretch alongside a familiar Big Ten rival:

Wisconsin’s class of 2024 is nearing completion after landing its 20th player, four-star running back Dilin Jones. The group sits No. 19 nationally and No. 6 in the Big Ten, when including future member USC.

Luke Fickell’s first cycle as head coach would be considered a resounding success even if it ended today. Obviously, that isn’t the case. Top targets remain on Wisconsin’s board who remain uncommitted.

One of those players is four-star defensive lineman Liam Andrews. The Brookline, Massachusetts, native is 247Sports’ No. 92 player in the class. He is listed as the No. 3 interior offensive lineman (more on that below) and the No. 2 recruit from his home state.

News broke Monday that Wisconsin made the top three for Andrews. It enters the closing stretch of his recruitment with Penn State and South Carolina.

Of note, Andrews has several 247Sports crystal ball predictions for Penn State.

While listed as an offensive lineman, the top-100 prospect recently tweeted he plans to pursue defensive line at the college level. With Wisconsin’s 2024 class having its real weakness at that position, a recruiting win here would be big news for Fickell and his staff.

Key Penn State recruiting target sets commitment date

Penn State still favored to secure this four-star commitment, but could an SEC school swoop in?

Penn State could be just days away from adding another massive piece to its Class of 2024 recruiting haul. [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag], a coveted four-star interior lineman out of Massachusetts, announced on his Twitter account on Monday evening that a big announcement is coming soon. He then confirmed he will announce his college commitment decision on Friday, July 21.

Andrews is believed to be down to his final three schools with Penn State competing with Wisconsin and South Carolina for the commitment. Recent recruiting projections gave Penn State a decisive edge in this recruiting battle.

“July 21st, one chapter comes to a close and another begins,” Andrews said on his Twitter account. “I will be [pursuing] defensive line at the next level.”

Andrews had been profiled as an interior offensive lineman, but it seems as though Andrews is shifting his focus to the defensive side of the football. That could be an interesting move for Penn State, which has been heavy on offensive line help in the last couple of recruiting cycles but has seemed to make defensive line more of a focus since naming Deion Barnes as the full-time defensive line coach.

Penn State has added defensive line commitments in 2024 from Mylachi Williams, Xavier Gilliam, and De’Andre Cook. All three have committed since the start of June, when Penn State started ramping up its focus on defensive linemen. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has been the main recruiter of Andrews according to his 247Sports recruiting profile. One of South Carolina’s top recruiters of Andrews has been Travian Robertson, South Carolina’s defensive line coach and a former NFL defensive end. This could be something to make a note of given Andrews’ statement about pursuing defensive line.

In the month of June, Andrews visited all three schools, as well as Florida. The month started with a trip to State College, his second time on campus since the spring (he attended the Blue-White Game).

The updated On3 recruiting prediction machine also gives Penn State an overwhelming chance to land the commitment from Andrews. According to the updated metric from On3, Penn State has a 78.6% chance of receiving Andrews’s commitment. South Carolina has the second-best odds at 4.2%, followed by Wisconsin at 3.6%. Following Andrews’s visit to Penn State in the spring, Penn State was labeled the new favorite according to the On3 recruiting prediction machine with a 22.7% chance of receiving the commitment, surpassing Boston College.

We’ll find out Friday whether or not Andrews will be a Nittany Lion, so stay tuned!

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Recruiting experts make Penn State the favorite over Wisconsin and South Carolina for four-star OT

Recruiting experts are predicting Penn State is closing in on another four-star offensive lineman for 2024.

Penn State has made a big push to continue beefing up its offensive line on the recruiting trail in the Class of 2024, and it appears that work is continuing to pay off dividends. Already with two four-star offensive linemen in the current recruiting cycle on the board, Penn State has become the trending favorite to land one more, this time out of the New England area.

Two 247Sports recruiting analysts have placed crystal ball predictions in favor of Penn State for Liam Andrews, the top-rated recruit in Massachusetts in the Class of 2024. The 6′-5″ offensive tackle is rated as the fourth-best offensive tackle in the nation according to 247Sports, and the Nittany Lions could be closing in on a commitment as he comes down the final stretch of his recruiting process.

The fresh predictions come from Brian Dohn (247Sports national recruiting analyst) and Evan Flood, who covers Wisconsin for Badgers247. While Dohn’s all-time record on crystal ball predictions and his 2024 track record speak volumes of the confidence Penn State fans should have in a commitment from Andrews, it is Flood’s prediction that could be the final nail in the coffin on this recruiting battle. Penn State, Wisconsin, and South Carolina are believed to be the top three candidates for Andrews.

In the month of June, Andrews visited all three schools, as well as Florida. The month started with a trip to State College, his second time on campus since the spring (he attended the Blue-White Game).

The updated On3 recruiting prediction machine also gives Penn State an overwhelming chance to land the commitment from Andrews. According to the updated metric from On3, Penn State has a 78.6% chance of receiving Andrews’s commitment. South Carolina has the second-best odds at 4.2%, followed by Wisconsin at 3.6%. Following Andrews’s visit to Penn State in the spring, Penn State was labeled the new favorite according to the On3 recruiting prediction machine with a 22.7% chance of receiving the commitment, surpassing Boston College. So take that for whatever you feel that is worth.

Penn State has already received commitments from Cooper Cousins, Donovan Harbour, Garrett Sexton, and Eagan Boyer to add to the offensive line in the Class of 2024. That follows a Class of 2023 that was fueled by the additions of five-star offensive tackle J’ven Williams, and four-star players  Alex Birchmeier and Chimdy Onoh.

There is no timeline for when Andrews will serve up his commitment, but things do continue to look positive for Penn State on this one.

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One of Wisconsin’s top remaining 2024 targets receives crystal ball to a Big Ten rival

An update on one of Wisconsin’s top remaining 2024 targets

Head Coach Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers have heated up on the class of 2024 recruiting trail in the last few weeks. The program recently landed three four-star recruits, bringing its 2024 class up to No. 23 in the nation.

More commitments may be imminent, with top target Anelu Lafaele set to commit later today.

One of the program’s top remaining targets on the board is four-star iOL Liam Andrews. The Brookline, Massachusetts native is 247Sports’ No. 92 player in the class, No. 3 interior offensive lineman and No. 2 recruit from the state of Massachusetts.

Related: Wisconsin’s 2024 class sits towards the top of the Big Ten in ‘Average Recruit Ranking’

In not-so-great news for the Badgers, Andrews recently received a crystal ball prediction from National Recruiting Analyst Brian Dohn to choose Big Ten rival Penn State. If that becomes reality, Andrews would join Wisconsin’s top two in-state recruits in the class in State College, Pennsylvania, four-star OL Donovan Harbour and four-star RB Corey Smith.

The Nittany Lions currently boast the No. 7 class in the nation and No. 4 in the Big Ten, with a blue chip ratio of 63%.

We’ll see if Wisconsin can make a late push to win Andrews’ commitment and close the sizable gap with Penn State’s stellar class.

2024 4-Star OL Grant Brix predicted to land with the Oklahoma Sooners

The Oklahoma Sooners received a Rivals FutureCast for 2024 4-Star OL Grant Brix from @ParkerThune of @OUInsider.

The Oklahoma Sooners have been picking up momentum on the recruiting trail with regards to its offensive line search. They’ve been included in cutdown lists for blue-chip prospects [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag] and [autotag]Isaiah Garcia[/autotag].

Though those players may be trending elsewhere, the Sooners look like they’re trending in the right direction for four-star offensive lineman Grant Brix.

Brix, who hails from Logan, Iowa, is a top 15 interior offensive line prospect according to 247Sports and On3. He has 23 Power Five offers, including the likes of powerhouse offensive line schools like Wisconsin, Penn State, and Notre Dame.

While being included as an interior offensive lineman in the class, he has the size that could allow him to bump out to tackle as well.

Despite his 6-foot-6 frame, Brix does a great job gaining leverage on shorter defensive linemen. He’s a physical player that displays burst off the line of scrimmage and a desire to finish every opponent. Brix moves well getting to the second level.

The Oklahoma Sooners look to be the leader in this recruitment at the moment, but given the list of schools in pursuit, this is a recruitment that could go on for some time.

Grant Brix’s Recruiting Profile

Projections

  • Parker Thune of OUInsiders at Rivals issued a prediction on June 2 favoring the Sooners.
  • On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine still favors Kansas State and Nebraska ahead of the Sooners.

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Gators hosting top-100 OL on June official visit

Billy Napier’s recruiting staff has always prioritized the trenches, and the Gators are now set to host one of the nation’s top offensive linemen on an official visit.

The clock is ticking on Dexter (Brookline, Massachusetts) lineman [autotag]Liam Andrews[/autotag]’ recruitment, at least according to the timeline set by his school for student-athletes planning on graduating early and enrolling in the spring.

Yes, students at Dexter have to announce their commitment over the summer (July specifically) if they plan to early enroll. Andrews, a top-100 commit on the On3 industry ranking and 247Sports composite, has slowly narrowed down his options and has locked in a trio of official visits for June, according to 247Sports.

Penn State is getting Andrews this weekend (June 2), Wisconsin has him the following week and Florida gets him starting June 16. He’s looking to add one or two more official visits to that schedule. LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Carolina round out his top eight.

The Nittany Lions have been after Andrews the longest and might be the favorites to land him, especially considering the time constraints. The On3 recruiting prediction machine gives Penn State 30.4% of the projection, but Florida is closing the gap at 15.3% in second place.

Andrews is a consensus four-star recruit, according to all four major services. On3’s independent rankings are the most bullish on him at No. 55 overall and No. 2 among interior offensive linemen. 247Sports and Rivals.com have him listed as an offensive tackle, and ESPN has him down as a guard.

To make things even more confusing, Andrews is being recruited as a two-way lineman, meaning he’ll play both offense and defense.

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Nation’s top interior OL includes the Oklahoma Sooners in top 8

Oklahoma Sooners included in top 8 for the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the country.

The Oklahoma Sooners have built such a reputation along the offensive line that they generally get mentioned in recruiting battles for the top offensive line of the country.

The Sooners have been recruiting four-star offensive lineman Liam Andrews heavily for the last year, hosting him on a pair of unofficial visits this spring. The Sooners offered the No. 1 interior offensive lineman in the country last May and have kept building the relationship. That’s earned the Sooners a place on Andrews’ top 10 as he narrows his recruitment.

The Sooners are included alongside Penn State, Wisconsin, LSU, Miami, Ohio State, Florida, and South Carolina.

“Oklahoma is a place with great culture,” Andrews told On3’s Hayes Fawcett. “They have a great program for personal development outside of football and have a great fanbase and culture. Ol Coach Bedenbaugh is a great developer of NFL talent as well.”

Verified size with impressive length. Being recruited to play on offensive and defensive lines but more upside on offensive side. Has basketball and lacrosse in his athletic background. Jumbo athlete with impressive athleticism given size that stood out during in-person eval. Excellent body control. Twitched athlete with ability to bend and win leverage regardless of which side of ball being played. Plays physical and fast. Consistently manhandles physically overmatched prospects. Embraces physical aspect. Has fast and active hands. As offensive lineman, is sound technically and athleticism shines. Sinks hips well and drives up and into defender. Consistently gets hands inside and uses strength well. Initial punch is forceful and with meaning. Is strong is pass pro base. Plays mean and with nasty streak. Once engaged, drives legs and clears the defender with ease. On defense, mostly lines up as 5-tech. Gets off quickly at snap and can stack and shed. Demonstrates closing speed. Flashes swim and rip moves. Well drilled and uses combination moves. Technique is strong and impressive given work load on both sides of ball. Shows some ability to dip shoulder and get around edge. Build and skill set likely means move inside in college if he remains on defense. Has to continue to develop upper body strength. In pass pro, has to work on kick step and refine ability to mirror. Multi-year starter who can get early playing time at high-level program. Has early round NFL draft potential. – Brian Dohn, 247Sports National Recruiting Expert

Though the Oklahoma Sooners will have to overcome the big-time programs on the east coast, they’ve shown the ability to recruit across the country. With Bill Bedenbaugh’s track record, you can’t rule the Sooners out of any recruitment until a prospect signs their national letter of intent.

Liam Andrews’ Recruiting Profile

Projections

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