Penn State Football: Recruiting Update – 5/8/14

Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren- USA TODAY Sports

It’s already been a big week for Penn State recruiting as the Nittany Lions picked up two big-time offers earlier this week when quarterback Brandon Wimbush and offensive tackle Sterling Jenkins gave their pledge to Coach James Franklin and Co. However, the Nittany Lions coaches have been hot on the recruiting trail as they offered a slew of prospects this week.

Below is a look at some of the prospects who picked up offers from the Nittany Lions:

Darrin Kirkland
Linebacker
Class of 2015
Lawrence Central (Indiana)

Kirkland, a four-star linebacker from Indiana, was recently named a top ten list that included Penn State.

Kirkland listed the Nittany Lions along with Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia Tech, and Wisconsin.

Kirkland plans to make a few visits this summer before deciding on a school before starting his senior season.

Tim Settle
Defensive Tackle
Class of 2015
Stonewall Jackson (Virginia)

Settle narrowed down his list of schools to fifteen on Thursday and Penn State made his first cut. He listed his schools in order which included Tennessee at the top followed by Alabama and Clemson. Penn State was in the middle of the pack at number 8.

Settle is currently ranked as the number six defensive tackle prospect in the country by 247Sports.

Saquon Barkley
Running Back
Class of 2015
Whitehall (Pennsylvania)

Barkley, a Class of 2015 commit, received an invite to The Opening that will take place later this summer in Oregon.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pound running back received the invitation after winning MVP honors at the New Jersey Nike Football training Camp two weeks ago.

The Opening takes on the campus of Nike Headquarters in Beaverton, Oregon from July 7-10.

Ugo Amadi
Cornerback
Class of 2015
Overton (Tennessee)

Amadi, an Ole Miss commit, picked up an offer from Penn State earlier this week after Defensive Coordinator Bob Shoop visited Amadi’s school on Monday. Coach Shoop was able to see Amadi in action over the weekend when he attended the IFM/Playmakers Academy Camp in Nashville, Tennessee.

Amadi is a 3-star prospect who holds offers from Ole Miss, Kentucky, Mississippi State, Northwestern, Purdue and Tennessee. Amadi, who committed to Ole Miss on March 21, is a versatile athlete who plays both cornerback and quarterback in the Wildcat formation for Overton. He’s a physical corner who is great in coverage and anticipating where the ball will be.

Here is a link to Amadi’s highlight reel.

Joshua McMillion
Outside Linebacker
Class of 2015
Whitehaven (Tennessee)

McMillion, a 4-star linebacker out of Memphis, Tennessee, picked up a Penn State offer on Monday. Currently ranked by Rivals.com as the number 2 outside linebacker in the state of Tennessee, McMillion holds a number of big time offers.

Coach Sean Spencer stopped by Whitehaven last week to visit the 6-foot-3, 249-pound prospect. He now holds twenty offers that include Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Michigan, Ohio State and Vanderbilt.

According to his Crystal Ball prediction page on 247Sports, 86% of Recruiting experts predict McMillion to Alabama and 14% predict him to Ole Miss.

Cecil Stallings
Defensive End
Class of 2016
Chamblee (Georgia) Charter

Stallings picked up his ninth offer on Monday when Penn State offered him. A Class of 2016 prospect, Stallings has great size for someone who will be entering his Junior year this coming fall. Already measuring in at 6-foot-4 and 235-pounds, Stallings will sure to be a household name in the state of Georgia by the time he graduates in 2016.

PJ Locke
Safety
Class of 2015
Central Senior (Texas)

Locke is a 3-star safety prospect out of Beaumont, Texas. He picked up a Penn State offer earlier this week and now holds over 20 offers from various programs.

The 5-foot-10, 189-pound prospect is an athletic prospect who is very quick and aggressive as a defensive back. He has the ability to quickly change gears and transitions well in and out of his back pedal. He has great playing instincts as he can close quickly on the ball carrier and he isn’t afraid to deliver a hit.

Locke currently holds offers from Baylor, TCU, Notre Dame, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, and Penn State.

You can check out his highlight video here.

Mark Fields
Cornerback
Class of 2015
William Amos Hough (North Carolina)

Fields is another defensive back prospect that picked up an offer from the Nittany Lions this week. Currently a South Carolina commit, Fields is a 4-star prospect who is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 3 cornerback in the state of North Carolina.

The U.S. Army All-American holds a number of offers but remains as a solid commitment to South Carolina.

Sam Bruce
Wide Receive
St. Thomas Aquinas (Florida)
Class of 2016

Bruce, a Class of 2016 prospect, picked up a Penn State offer earlier this week. He is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 5 wide receive prospect in the state of Florida for the 2016 class.

Measuring in at 5-foot-8 and 160-pounds, Bruce is a quick and shifty wide receiver who is deadly in space. He is quick off the line of scrimmage and accelerates in and out of his breaks. He has great yards after the catch ability and is a treat to take it to the house anytime he touches the ball.

He currently holds offers from Florida State, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State, USC, Alabama, Clemson, and Penn State.

Shane Simmons
Defensive End
Dematha Catholic (Maryland)
Class of 2016

Simmons is going to be a big time prospect in the Class of 2016. Currently ranked as the number eight strong-side defensive end in the country by 247Sports, Simmons now holds seventeen offers.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound defensive end currently trains with ex-Penn State great Lavar Arrington in Maryland and recently turned heads at the Washington, D.C Nike Football Training Camp.

He’s very athletic for his size, is quick off the edge and can disrupt the backfield in a hurry. This past week alone he’s picked up offers from Penn State, Alabama, and Ohio State.

Although his recruiting process is just getting started, Simmons is the type of prospect who will hold well over twenty offers by the time he decides to choose where he will continue his playing career. As a Penn State fan though, you have to like the fact that he trains with Arrington.

You can check out Simmons’ highlights here.

Nate Craig
Wide Receiver
Class of 2016
Tampa Catholic (Florida)

Craig picked up his 29^th offer this past week when Penn State offered the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Junior.

Rated by 247Sports as the No. 18 overall wide receiver in the Class of 2016, Craig holds offers from Auburn, Clemson, Florida State, Ohio State, Tennessee, Alabama, Michigan, Michigan State, Rutgers and Penn State.

Chandler Wooten
Outside Linebacker
Class of 2017
North Cobb High School (Georgia)

According to North Cobb Football’s Twitter page, Class of 2017 prospect Chandler Wooten was offered by Penn State earlier this week. Coach Pry made a visit to North Cobb and offered the 6-foot-2, 190-pound outside linebacker.

Penn State is the first school to offer Wooten.