Penn State Recruiting 2013: Offensive and Defensive Line
By Editorial Staff
Offensive Line – I’d say it’s an above-average year around here for OLs. Not extremely strong, but not weak either.
Brendan Mahon (NJ) – 6’5 305
Offers: Florida, NC ST, Rutgers, USF, BC, and UConn
Mahon could probably play RT, but OG seems to be his better spot. A violent player that dominates in the run game. You can tell the guy likes the contact, and is just a nasty football player. Just a good overall OL. Gets out of his stance quickly, and drives the opponent back until he is on the ground. There wasn’t too much pass blocking, but from the little that was there it was fine. Guessing his high school team doesn’t run all that much, which is normal, so even if he struggles a bit with pass blocking, it’s something that can be fixed. Has really good size, looks like a legitimate 6’4-6’5. Even though he’s 300+, he is still solidly built. Not overly large, as he still has room to grow. Athleticism is surpsingly good as well. Not a Donovan Smith, but he certainly isn’t a plodder.
Mahon said before and after the scandal that Penn State was/is his dream school. Apparently he called Rutgers his leader (since they offered) but with pretty much all their coaches leaving, I’m guessing that changes. Not like it mattered all that much anyway…if Penn State wants Mahon, I have a feeling they could get him. He’ll visit for the JR-Day.
Brad Henson (NJ) – 6’5 275
Offers: BC, UConn, Miami, East Carolina, Rutgers, UCF and WVU
Henson is a pretty versatile OL. Plays C, OG, and OT. Probably could play any of those at the next level as well. He has a really good build. Very little bad body mass, reminds me of Adam Bisnowaty (2012 OT). He already looks like a techincally sound OL, with good footwork as well. Good athleticism as well, too. Moves well, and has no problem getting to the 2nd level. Pass blocking looks pretty good as well, although there isn’t too much of that. Film quality was pretty otugh, since it was ground level and just some weird angles.
He’s another guy that is visiting for JR-Day. Visited for a game earlier this year as well. Definitely has interest in PSU.
Dorian Johnson (PA) – 6’6 275
Offers: BC, UConn, Maryland, Pitt, WVU, Va Tech, and Toledo
One of my favroite prospects. Looks bigger on film, and just looks explosive (for an OL). Really shoots out of his stance at times and rails some players. I really like his pass blocking, was impressive for a high school OT. Long arms which is another plus. He plays RT for his HS team, but I imagine with his athleticism, long arms, etc. he could be a LT. Don’t see how he wouldn’t be an RT, at the least (especially with our depth chart).
Says he grew up a Pitt fan (Hold the laughter) and has a cousin that is on the Notre Dame coaching staff. Yeah, sucks. Although, he is visiting for the JR-Day too. Coach Mac will surely be working on him.
Patrick Kugler (PA) – 6’5 265
Offers: Penn State, Pitt, Boise State, Florida State, Wachington, Va Tech, Cal, Miami, Michigan, etc.
First, he is the son of the Steelers OL coach. Anyway, he is surely one of the best prospects on the east coast. Unfortunately, no film could be found. But judging by his offers, I’m guessing he’s an okay player. He has spoken about PSU before but it was just the basic stuff that most recruits say. Interested to see how O’Brien and Mac work this one. And, at this time, he is not visiting for the JR-Day, although I imagine he was invited.
John Montelus (MA) – 6’5 295
Offers: BC, UConn, NC ST, Syracuse, and Virginia
Has excellent size, athleticism, and footwork. Especially the footwork. Very impressive for a high school kid, just like Johnson. Johnson is a little bit lankier, but Montelus looks like a wall. At the same time, doesn’t look fat either. Very solid.
Montelus grew up a Penn State fan, and said they were his dream school…key word “were”. Past tense. Once the scandal broke he said he was no longer interested in Penn State. Obviously, things can change, but he’s one of the few recruits that severely changed his stance. We’ll see what the coaches can do. A lot of time, and it is recruiting…anything can happen. Just a name to look out for.
Others to look out for: Mike McGlinchey (Huge at 6’9, from Philly. Gut feeling but I don’t see PSU in this one). Dorian Miller (Had a brother that went to Oklahoma, but is from NJ. Could see PSU getting involved). Alex Officer (From New York, believed we have shown some interest). Tommy Hopkins (Another one from New York, may actually be a DT). Marcell Lazard (Getting a look from a ton of schools. Another one Penn State has shown some interest). Na’Ty Rodgers (He plays at one of the high schools that LJ SR coached at, and got some letters from PSU).
Defensive Line – DT seems a little weaker than normal. There’s a few good ones, but not like last year. DE is very strong…quite a few DEs around our area that will be 4-star players.
Greg Webb (NJ) – 6’2 290
Offers: Bama, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee, Florida State, Miami, OKlahoma, North Carolina, Rutgers, etc.
If you look at his offer sheet you can tell he is what we in the football bloggin world call a “beast”. Is already college ready. Very stocky build, but that certainly doesn’t hurt him. Powerful and agile. There’s a clip of him exploding through the line, and then there is a clip of him running downa WR. He’s one of the best DTs in the nation, for sure. Also plays at one of the best high schools, as it is always churning out D1 prospects.
Here’s the story with Webb. he visited PSU twice, once for Bama and then for Iowa. After the Iowa game, he (along with DE, Dajuan Drennon) left the “recruiting area” to meet with a former teammate that now plays for Iowa. When they tried to re-enter the recruiting area, they weren’t permitted by PSU workers. Since then, they both kind of shunned of PSU. I know they were both big LJ Sr fans so with a new coaching staff, I definitely see them opening back up to PSU. Even though the staff didn’t really mess up last time either (at least according to the story).
Justin Moody (PA) – 6’3 265
Offers: Rutgers
Moody is from George Washington High School in Philadelphia. He’s a DT. This means he will be compared to 2010 recruit Shariff Floyd forever. Quite honestly, he isn’t the prospect Floyd was. Moody is certainly big and athletic, but he’s a bit of a project. When he was on the outside at DE, I liked him a lot better. When they placed him on the inside, he got stuffed a few times. You can definitely see the potential there, but he’ll need some work.
Henry Poggi (MD) – 6’3 250
Offers: Alabama, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Stanford, Iowa, etc.
From Gilman and he is the HCs son. Which actually brings up a point of interest…the offers. Apparently the old man doesn’t have the best track records with substantial offers so keep that in mind. But, Poggi does look legit. He has good size, and certainly room to grow. He looks like a coaches son really…good technique, gets off his blocks well, shows a good burst. Also is quite athletic. Everythign you like in a DT.
No Penn State interest (both ways) right now, but I expect PSU to start hitting the big three MD schools (DeMatha, Gilman, and Good Counsel) really hard.
Rod Crayton (AL) – 6’2 290
Offers: FAU, LSU, Memphis, Miss St, and Ole Miss
Crayton looks bigger on film, which I suppose is a plus. Shows good strength and quickness. A few times it looked like he knew the snap count, went untouched, and took down the QB/RB. Could probably play the 3-tech, but maybe a better fit for 1-tech. Pretty large player.
Apparently, LJ has been by his school. No offer, but he will be making his way up to Penn State during the winter (along with Michigan).
Jonathan Allen (VA) – 6’3 225
Offers: Penn State, Stanford, Oklahoma, Michigan, Va Tehc, BC, NC ST, etc.
Once again, he looks pretty big on film. Was expecting to see a smaller guy, but he actually has a solid build. Played DT a lot, but still looked good. Got stuffed every once in a while, but still showed the ability to get after the QB even when being double-teamed. Really athletic, but so thin. Looks like a WR right now. Once he gets that weight up a bit more, he’ll be a terror.
Goes to the same school that Ryan Burns does. LJ did extend an offer so hopefully interest is there. Still too early to tell, but he claims NC ST is his leader (Noah Spence did too this time last year).
Dajuan Drennon (NJ) – 6’4 225
Offers: Penn State, BC, Florida State, Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Washington, Tennessee, Syracuse, etc.
Teammates with Webb. Another veyr thin DE, but supremely athletic. Does a pretty good job of playing the run, even though he is so thin. Like Allen, he can put on some weight, he’s going to be a really good DE.
Wyatt Teller (VA) – 6’5 250
Offers: Penn State, Rutgers, Tennessee, BC, Va Tech, Virginia, etc.
A bit different from Allen and Drennon, as he has excellent size already. Could probably end up at DT too. Certainly will have the size. After watching the film, he’s a really big guy. Very powerful, hits very hard, just looks like a football player. One play he literally picks up the running back and tosses him down. Man amongst boys.
Has the Penn State offer, but I’m not sure what staff that is from. Guessing the previous one. Haven’t heard much about Teller, but I’m guessing LJ SR will be the main recruitr here (which always gives us a chance).
Others to look out for: Tasahwn Bower (DE from NJ that looks pretty good. Not sure what PSU will do there). Alquadin Muhammed (From Don Bosco, and now that Hafley is gone, Bosco will be even easier to pluck kids from. Still haven’t heard anything yet on PSU though). Garrett Sickels (Another NJ DE. Has an impressive offer sheet, and may be better at OLB, 3-4). Elijah Daniel (From Indiana, seems like PSU has some interest). Nick Arcidiacono (DE from PA powerhouse Archbishop Wood. Brother of the Arcidiacono on our team, and now Rutgers has one too. Believe another brother is going to be playing basketball at Villanova).