Penn State Recruiting (1/7/11)

First, want to talk about myself a bit (yay!).  As you can see, I’m not the best person regarding getting things in on time.  It’s really a combination of things: being busy (school) and being a bad procrastinator.  Not to mention, I just got an X-Box Live and have been wasting hours of my life on it.  And this is just something I do for fun.  I like to write, and hope to eventually write professionally in the future.  And I like Penn State Football.  So it is just something that I enjoy doing.  Not something I want to stress myself over.  So if an article isn’t out Wednesday, just understand that I’m not saying “Screw the readers”.  It’s that I just have other things to do.  More important priorities.  Haven’t got any hate mail for it, but I feel you guys should know what’s up.

Second,  I’m going to post the 2012 Recruing (Defense) over the weekend (depending upon the possible commitment of Donovan Smith tomorrow, then it would be Sunday).  Try to spread things out a bit.  But enough…time to talk recruiting.

Saving my Ryan Nowicki [6’5 280 OT from AZ] write-up for tomorrow along with Donovan Smith (Yes, I’m that confident that he’ll commit I already finished up his article).  But, thank Coach Kenney and give some praise to Big Red.  Both guys did an excellent job recruiting him.  They didn’t offer him until a few months ago, and had to fight off USC and Washington for him.  Loved his visit and Kenney visited him the other night, and he decided to commit.  PSU is getting a very good player.  Can play T or G.  Likes to play with a mean streak and very tough.  Good at pulling.  More in depth tomorrow though.

EDIT: Right when I post this article, I find out Sam Ficken (2-Star K, which is good because they only rate like 20 kickers, from from Indiana) has committed to Penn State.  Wrote that he had an offer in the article, but decided to edit to let you guys now.  I’ll touch on him tomorrow as well.  Sounds like the staff isn’t comfortable with Fera (Who was a Top 2 K…3-Stars) and his accuracy.

Army All-American Bowl Game

First, don’t watch this game if you like fundamentally sound football.  These games are pretty ugly and pretty boring.  Only three PSU recruits in it too (Last year there was 5 commits, and I actually had a beef with NBC but I won’t get into it) so for a PSU fans who cares?  Plus, their playbook is very thin.  They sub a lot as well.  If you want to tune in just to see Smith’s announcement, follow me on twitter.  I’ll let you know before he announces.

Ishaq Williams [6’6 230 DE from NY] – He is at the Army All-American Bowl Game, which will be played tomorrow at 1:00 EST on NBC.  He came into this week ranked at 55 in the Rivals100.  According to reports, he is one of the most dominating players in the practices.  Sounds like he could get moved up into the Top 30, which could put him in 5-Star Range.  A great game would probably solidify it.  Stay tuned on that.

Now he was all set to announce.  Down to Notre Dame, Syracuse, and Penn State.  Said when he got there, if he didn’t feel right, he wouldn’t decide at the game.  Well as it turns out, he won’t be deciding tomorrow.  He said that he had some uncertainty with one of his final schools, and that he decided to wait for his announcement.  Pretty much, Penn State is the school he is worried about.  99% sure it is about Bradley to Pitt.  But even more so, Buggs, LJ SR, and Kenney possibly going to Pitt (He loves Bugss, Kenney, and LJ SR).  So this tells us two things…

A. He didn’t commit to ND on his visit like many said

B. Notre Dame or Syracuse don’t lead (otherwise what would PSU having uncertainty have to do with his decision)

Now, this doesn’t mean Penn State does or did lead.  What I truly think, is what he has been saying: No one leads.  Pretty refreshing to see a recruit like this though.  One thing for sure, I truly want to see Ishaq be successful wherever he goes.  Seems like a really good guy.

What is causing more raucous though is the whole thing about how he is the PSU directory, but it doesn’t show him in Syracuse’s or Notre Dame’s.  But it’s more than just that, his profile in the directory is now “updated”.  I was told it was taken down last night, didn’t check though.  But now, he is back in the directory and it has been updated.  He has been adamant in saying that he has enrolled at Syracuse and Notre Dame as well, but it is still interesting that he isn’t listed.

Either way, he won’t be announcing tomorrow.  He said at the beginning of the week that he may take a visit to Miami if he didn’t decide this weekend, but he said that probably won’t happen either.

It is my understanding, that he can still enroll early, but start a bit later (Justin King and Mauti have done it before).  So even if he misses Monday’s deadline…no big deal.

I’ll leave you with this.  If Buggs and LJ SR stay, and even more so if Bradley stays…I’m thinking Ishaq is going to be playing in the Blue and White game this spring.  All three schools may all be even (Which I could be wrong on that), but nothing will change at ND or ‘Cuse to sway him there.  While that is different at PSU.  We’ll see.

Follow me on twitter (twitter.com/itspatrickh) to follow all of the news on Ishaq.

Donovan Smith [6’5 280 OT from MD] – Was said to have pretty good week.  I saw him in some one-on-ones (Against some really good DEs) and he did a really good job.  Many had concerns about his strength and size, but he is strong enough and big enough to have success down there.  Still will need to gain weight, but clearly not as much.  Also, has good athleticism.

He will be announcing during the game.  Doing the “hat thing”.  He said in September that Penn State lead by a pretty large margin.  In the last 2 weeks, he said that his final 3 is all equal: PSU, UCLA, and NC ST.  I’ll give you some advice…don’t buy it.  He loves PSU and is going to announce PSU.  He just wanted to try to create some drama.  Seriously, someone (I’ll say Jay just for the hell of it) should be fired if Smith does not announce PSU.  Like I said above…I already finish my write-up on him.

Also, Aundrey Walker [6’5 355 OT] is playing in this game.  Not committing anywhere though.

Here are some upcoming visits:

January 14-16

Darian Cooper [6’1 290 DT from MD]  – Penn State sitting very well here.  And reports a few weeks ago that Georgia Tech (Who is PSU’s main competition) may be letting up on him.  Don’t know if true, but either way, good things for PSU.  Think of Ogbu when you think of Cooper…probably a bit better.

Andre Sturdivant [6’3 250 DE from OH] – One of the Glenville guys.  Won the D-MVP at an All Star Game where he played DE.  PSU, MSU, and OSU here.  No OSU offer.  PSU probably leading, as he stated but he could have changed his opinion.  Beware, h has tried to visit before both those never happened.  Hopefully, this one does happen.

Brandon Reddish [5’11 170 DB/WR from NY] – Very qiuet recruit.  From New York, and is a pretty good athlete.  Says he’ll probably visit PSU for that weekend.  Have no idea how leads here.  Syracuse is a player though.

Cardale Jones [6’5 215 QB from OH] – Another Glenville guy.  Expect PSU to turn up the heat a bit with the whole “Bolden thing”.  He does have academic problems, and could have some problems getting admitted.

Shane Wynn [5’6 160 WR from OH] – Another Glenville guy (4 of the 5 are three stars, so OSU isn’t offering…PSU trying to swipe them up).  He says his final 5  is Michigan, USC, PSU, OSU, and Oregon.  Know one has been able to verify if all those offers are committable though.

Romar Morris [5’10 180 APB from NC] – I brought him up a few months ago, during the summer to be exact.  Got a PSU offer and said he would visit.  Ended up committing to UNC.  Coach Kenney has been recruiting him though and now the hard work is paying off.  He is going to look around to make sure.  PSU, along with UNC, is his only other visit.  UT and Louisville could a get visit too.  An “APB”, very fast.  Pretty sure a track star.  Think Tre Mason.

Darien Rankin [5’11 185 DB from NC] – Teammate of Morris, and will probably end up going to school together.  Haven’t even heard of him until last night (when I read about Morris).  DB and a very athletic one at that.  Guessing he has an offer, but not sure.  Anyway, he’ll be visiting with Mr. Morris.

From January 28-30, Aundrey Walker [6’5 355 OT] and Frank Clark [6’2 210 LB] will be visiting PSU.  Both Glenville guys.  Walker is a long, long, long shot.  Clark is a real possibility though.  More later on these guys.

Four quick hitters:

-Matt Zanny got very high praise for his game in the Chesapeake Bowl.  Reportedly, made a circus catch and everyone had trouble covering him.  Like I said, think a bigger more explosive Graham Zug.

-Bill Belton loves Big Red.  It’s going to be a PSU/WVU battle.  WVU just fired there coach who was recruiting him too.  That shouldn’t have too much effect thought, but it certainly won’t hurt PSU.  Like I said, he really likes Big Red and he does like PSU.  I’m feeling pretty confident here (Just so I don’t have repeat this…that is if the staff stays).  If I had to choose right now…I’m going with PSU.  And believe me, Belton is going to be a very good player.  A bit short at 5’9, but is pretty strong and has a good build.  He is about 190, so he has the size and body to take the hits.  Good speed and very shirty.  Would love to see him in Blue and White.  One of the fews guys (Maybe 3 or 4) that I wanted from Pitt’s class.

-I feel great on Deion Barnes.  Has only visited PSU (early December with most o the commits).  South Carolina was bounced out of his Final 5.  Now Pitt is too.  Was going to visit Michigan, but who knows now?  Georgia is the other school.  He is set to visit either this weekend or next weekend, but I’ll say this…I don’t expect him to visit.  He’ll make his announce January 20th.  All PSU at this point.

-Angelo Mangiro played in the Under Armour All-American earlier this week.  Wasn’t asked to do a lot, but he did very well in one of his concerns…pass blocking.  Showed good feet and did pretty well.  Run blocking is still good, although he did get beat a bit.  Still has some weight in places where it isn’t needed, but most OL in high school do.  Very excited to see Mangiro at PSU.

Lastly, I’m going to try not to touch (I know I did with Ishaq, but he pretty much brought it up) on how the coaches leaving (if they do), effects recruits/commits.  We’ll cross that road when/if it gets there.  But for now, I’ll just try to ignore it.

Thanks for reading.