Tag: penn state football recruiting

Penn State Class of 2022: Cam Miller joins a young cornerback room

Penn State Class of 2022 added Cam Miller, who adds more quality depth in the secondary

Position: Cornerback

Height: 6′-0″

Weight: 180 lb

Hometown: Jacksonville, FL

High School: Trinity Christian Academy

Twitter: @Cam_miller8

Committed: July 26, 2021

247 Sports:⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

The Penn State cornerback room continues to get younger, and Cam Miller is another talented athlete that has a lot of potential to have a productive career at the college level.

Miller had a good amount of interest from across the NCAA, including competition from three other Power-Five schools. The Florida Gators made a late offer to Miller, who ultimately chose Penn State over Virginia Tech over the summer.

One thing that stands out in Miller’s game is his impressive vision across the open field. He has made plays where he comes out of nowhere and makes impressive interceptions.

When looking at corners, one crucial trait to look for is hip mobility. That is one of the biggest traits that Miller possesses. Many times, you will see some corners at the collegiate level like the speed and hip mobility to keep up with speedy receivers. Miller has done a nice job of maintaining both of those components to his game throughout his high school career.

As mentioned, Miller is another athletic player in this recruiting class. Not only did he play corner, but Miller also had great success playing quarterback. He was a transfer player coming from Jacksonville, Florida, where he played at Trinity Christian Academy to finish off his high school athletic career.

Penn State has a lot to look forward to with the future of their secondary room. Miller is one of those guys that can potentially earn a starting role and become a key focal point to the Nittany Lions cornerbacks.

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Penn State Class of 2022: Maleek McNeil adds size to offensive line

Penn State Class of 2022 bulks up offensive line with Maleek McNeil

Position: Offensive Tackle

Height: 6′-7″

Weight: 340 lb

Hometown: Cortlandt Manor, NY

High School: Walter Panas

Twitter: @MaleekMcNeil

Committed: May 1, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐

Overview: 

If there was one position group that was clearly in need of an upgrade in the Class of 2022 after watching the 2021 regular season, it was the offensive line. Penn State looked to add some size to the interior of the offensive line and seemed to accomplish that with the addition of Maleek McNeil.

The 6′-7″ offensive tackle out of New York was a big addition to the Penn State Class of 2022, pun somewhat intended. Rated as a three-star prospect, McNeil chose to attend Penn State over offers from Auburn and Boston College, and he visited the campus three times after his commitment to the program in early May 2021.

McNeil was one of two offensive tackles added in the Class of 2022 by Penn State. Penn State also signed JUCO transfer JB Nelson from Lackawanna College. Nelson may be the player most likely to jump into a significant role in the offensive line in 2022 while offensive line coach Phil Trautwein can spend a little more time working with McNeil to get him prepared for any significant action in the trenches.

McNeil was the fourth-ranked player overall in the state of New York. Penn State also added defensive tackle Kaleb Artis, the second-ranked player from New York in the Class of 2022.

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Penn State Class of 2022: JUCO transfer JB Nelson a possible starter

Penn State Class of 2022 adds potential OL starter in JUCO transfer JB Nelson

Position: Offensive Tackle

Height: 6′-6″

Weight: 310 lb

Hometown: Scranton, PA

High School: Lackawanna Community College

Twitter: @Never_giveup95

Committed: July 2, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview: 

Penn State will receive plenty of attention for the work done in the Class of 2022 with key positions like quarterback and running back, but it doesn’t matter how many stars those players have if there isn’t an offensive line to help them out. The addition of JUCO offensive tackle JB Nelson will hope to pave the path to success for Drew Allar and Nicholas Singleton in Happy Valley.

JB Nelson is among the latest JUCO transfers from Lackawanna College, which has become a bit of a pipeline for Penn State in recent years. The same program that has sent players like Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown to Penn State now will send one of its top offensive linemen in Nelson.

As is the case with many offensive linemen coming from the JUCO ranks, there is good room to grow for Nelson upon his arrival at Penn State, and getting to join the program in the spring semester should allow for that work to begin rather quickly. And that will be key as Penn State has room to improve on its entire offensive line in 2022 after a rough year in run blocking and allowing quarterback Sean Clifford to take a few too many hits under pressure in key spots.

Nelson brings the ability to step right into a starting role for Penn State, and he has some versatility to be moved to either tackle position according to his scouting reports. Offensive line coach Phil Trautwein will hope to get Nelson prepared for any position that is needed for the fall semester.

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What Class of 2022 recruit flipped from Penn State to Maryland?

Maryland managed to flip a Penn State commit in the early signing period

There wasn’t a whole lot to lose sleep over with Penn State’s Class of 2022 as the early signing period opened on Wednesday. While one JUCO player will be hopping on board later on during the next signing period in February, the biggest setback for Penn State may have been losing one commitment to a division rival in the days leading up to the early signing period.

Andre Roye, an offensive lineman who had been committed to Penn State, officially signed with Maryland on Wednesday, flipping from the Nittany Lions to the Terrapins despite suggesting earlier in the week he would probably still be signing with Penn State.

Roye’s flip from Penn State to Maryland isn’t necessarily the biggest shocker, and certainly less stunning than witnessing the nation’s top-ranked player flipping from Florida State to Jackson State. Roye, a three-star recruit, is a native from Baltimore, so he was always on the radar for Maryland. A chance to stay closer to home is also sometimes too good to pass up if you feel comfortable in the spot.

Roye had left the door open for a late flip after a late official visit to USC last weekend, when he suggested he may still be heading to Penn State. USC extended a scholarship offer just one week ago.

this is just another reminder that high school players have a lot going on in their recruiting process. As noted by 247 Sports, Roye was seemingly all over the place with his process. Whether by design or simply just having a change of opinions at any given moment, it is important to remember just how much pressure comes with this level of decision for a high school student.

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Abdul Carter hopes to continue the trend of successful Penn State linebackers

Penn State Class of 2022: How Abdul Carter will fit into Linebacker U

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6′-4″

Weight: 235 Ib

Hometown: Glenside, PA

High School: La Salle College

Twitter: @ab22j

Committed: July 31, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview: 

Abdul Carter is another one of the talented linebackers in this recruiting class for Penn State.

It’s worth noting that when new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz first arrived to Happy Valley, the first film he watched was of Carter.

Seeing the development of Micah Parsons and his performance with just one year in the NFL, along with an impressive year from Brandon Smith has been huge for the Penn State defense. Carter has the talent to hopefully continue that trend of linebackers coming out of State College.

Carter had a good amount of offers across the country before deciding to stay and represent his home state.

Another point worth noting is that Carter was recruited by Brent Pry, who left for Virginia Tech. So, the fact that they were able to keep him locked in is huge.

If there is one thing that stands out from Carter, it’s his elite body frame. He stands 6-foot-4 and 235 pounds and is an explosive athlete. Carter does a terrific job getting to the quarterback, something that both Smith and Ellis Brooks flourished at this season.

Carter’s athleticism and body frame are two very crucial factors to his game that will help Penn State immensely on their defense.

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Penn State Class of 2022: What four-star safety KJ Winston brings to the program

With Jaquan Brisker moving on, the addition of four-star safety KJ Winston comes at a good time for Penn State in the Class of 2022

Position: Safety

Height: 6′-1″

Weight: 190 Ib

Hometown: Hyattsville, MD

High School: DeMatha Catholic High School

Twitter: @KevinWinstonJr1

Committed: July 31, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

With Jaquan Brisker leaving for the draft and not knowing the future of Ji’Ayir Brown at Penn State, the safety room continues to get younger. Fortunately, KJ Winston brings a lot of skills that Penn State could really use.

During his recruiting process, Winston had a competition with two other Big Ten schools before committing to Penn State.

If there’s one thing that Penn State does well with their secondary, it’s recruiting guys that are physical. When you think of players like that, Joey Porter Jr. comes to mind. He’s a player that has really developed into a crucial part of the Nittany Lions cornerback room.

Not only does he have impressive skills, but Winston also has the elite body frame to be very productive at the collegiate level.

Winston has the talent to develop to that as well. When it comes to the secondary, one key trait that is crucial is hip mobility. One 247 Sports Recruiting Analyst praised the body control of Winston as well as his speed.

Penn State has two safeties coming in, and both have the talent to be a key part of the Nittany Lions secondary.

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Zane Durant’s ability to get to the quarterback will be huge for Penn State

Class of 2022: Penn State commit Zane Durant is a player that could give opposing Big Ten QBs nightmares

Position: Defensive Line

Height: 6-1″

Weight: 251 lb

Hometown: Orlando, FL

High School: Lake Nona High School

Twitter: @darealbabyzane

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

Zane Durant was one of a handful of commitments for Penn State this past Fourth of July. When it comes to the 2022 recruiting class, one thing that stands out immediately is versatility. From Cristian Driver to Mekhi Flowers, Durant also provides that trait of his own.

Duranrt was recruited as a defensive end, but he does have experience playing tight end as well.

There is a reason he was recruited as a defensive end though. He does a terrific job getting to the quarterback, something that Penn State has done a good job of, but could potentially be losing some players to the draft.

Durant also has experience playing linebacker. We all know the history of linebackers that have gone through and have had successful careers at the collegiate level.

Durant had plenty of offers across the country, including three Big Ten schools, which included Penn State.

Penn State made a big splash just before bowl season by hiring former Miami Hurricanes head coach Manny Diaz. As mentioned, he is arguably one of the best defensive coordinators in college football and walks into a perfect situation of talented, versatile athletes.

Durant brings a lot of traits to the table, and his ability to get to the quarterback will help Penn State even more.

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Kaleb Artis joins a deep defensive line room

Penn State Class of 2022: The addition of Kaleb Artis adds to the defensive line depth

Position: Defensive Line

Height: 6′-4″

Weight: 290 lb

Hometown: Fresh Meadows, NY

High School: Saint Francis Preparatory High School

Twitter: @KalebArtis2022

Committed: July 4, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐

Overview:

Penn State has a young defensive line room and newcomer Kaleb Artis will bring a lot of traits to the table. It’s worth noting that we do not know the status of PJ Mustipher for next season. If he were to come back, that would be huge for Penn State, which has young talent.

Artis is a player who can make plays from anywhere on the defensive line. But, he excels primarily on the outside. Artis stands 6-foot-4 and 290 pounds. Penn State had a rotation of underclassmen play throughout the season barring the injury of Mustipher.

With a young core coming in, that leaves room for plenty of opportunity for one of them to step up and be the main guy, especially once Mustipher leaves.

Artis didn’t have too many offers coming in. Much of his offers came from the ACC. But, it eventually came down to him wanting to stay on the East Coast and play for James Franklin.

With a talented defensive line, The future is bright for that area, especially with the new defensive coordinator in Manny Diaz, who brings a lot of experience to the table and is arguably one of the best defensive coordinators in college football.

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Where Class of 2022 edge rusher Ken Talley fits into Penn State defensive mix

Penn State adding a versatile defensive option with Ken Talley in the Class of 2022

Position: Edge

Height: 6′-3″

Weight: 230 lb

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

High School: Northeast

Twitter: @KenTalley22

Committed: July 3, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview

Penn State has developed a solid track record of developing defensive linemen capable of making big plays upfront and going off to the NFL to shine. And Ken Talley hopes to be among those who will be next in line to achieve great success in the trenches. Talley is heading to Penn State in the Class of 2022 as an edge rusher who is capable of playing multiple positions if needed.

As with most edge rushers, Talley could be used in a different position on the defensive side of the ball if necessary. Versatility is key for the style of player Talley is, and Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz will look to find the best spot, or spots, for Talley in the near future. Talley has played primarily as a defensive end in high school but has been moved to the inside at times and has been put in a position to start the play in a standing position. How he is utilized at Penn State will be fun to watch.

Talley has long been committed to Penn State. He offered his verbal commitment to the Nittnay Lions in September 2020, at a point in time when Penn State and the rest of the Big Ten were sitting in an idle position during the COVID pandemic. Talley has since made multiple visits to Penn State and he has never shown a sign of losing interest in following through on his commitment.

Talley is among those expected to be an early enrollee at Penn State, which will give him an early opportunity to get to work with strength and conditioning during winter workouts ahead of a full spring practice schedule. This should help put Talley on a quicker path to finding a role on the defensive line, although it may take a little longer before he works himself into a starting role.

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Penn State Class of 2022: Keon Wylie brings Philly attitude to Linebacker U

Penn State Class of 2022 LB Keon Wylie is on the rise as he prepares to head to Happy Valley

Position: Linebacker

Height: 6′-2″

Weight: 210 lb

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

High School: Imhotep Institute

Twitter: @KeonWylie

Committed: July 3, 2021

247 Sports: ⭐⭐⭐

Rivals.com: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Overview

Linebacker U is about to add a bit of a Philly attitude in its Class of 2022. Linebacker Keon Wylie, a versatile linebacker with plenty of praise for his athleticism is a defensive player to keep close tabs on in Penn State’s linebacker depth chart.

Penn State fans will get a chance to watch Wylie in action before his official arrival in Happy Valley. Wylie accepted an invite to the All-American Bowl on Saturday, January 8 in San Antonio. Penn State Class of 2022 quarterback Drew Allar, running back Nicholas Singleton, and defensive lineman Dani Dennis-Sutton will also be playing in the game, so Penn State fans will definitely want to check out this high school showcase.

Wylie, an Adidas All-American, is expected to play linebacker for Penn State, although much of his high school success with Imhotep Institute has come at the defensive end position. This suggests Wylie has some versatility that could come in handy at some point should Penn State need to move any players around as they did in 2021 by using Jesse Luketa at the defensive end position at times in addition to his primary linebacking duties.

Wylie, who hails from the same high school program as former Nittany Lion and current NFL player Shaka Toney, had been rated as a three-star prospect by the recruiting services for the majority of his recruiting process, but Rivals recently upgraded Wylie to a four-star recruit.

Wylie is expected to be an early-enrollee for Penn State, sending him to Happy Valley for the spring semester and allowing him to begin working with the program for spring football workouts and practices.

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