Penn State 2017 Recruiting Class: LB Brelin Faison-Walden

Three-star linebacker Brelin Faison-Walden started his academic career at Penn State last week, and the early enrollee’s football career will begin this spring.

Penn State’s 2017 recruiting class currently sits at 19 commitments. Four of these 19 commitments were early enrollees and are already on campus. One of these four early enrollees is linebacker Brelin Faison-Walden.

The six-foot-one, 200-pound Faison-Walden is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, where he attended Grimsley High School. Faison-Walden originally committed to Penn State on July 20, and he took his official visit to Penn State for the victory over Ohio State.

Keeping Brelin Faison-Walden committed was no easy task for James Franklin and his coaching staff. This fall he took official visits to Georgia, Michigan, NC State, and Virginia Tech, along with his official visit to Penn State. However, the coaching staff weathered the storm and kept him on board.

Faison-Walden will have the opportunity to make an early impact at Penn State. Being an early enrollee allows him to get a jump start on learning Brent Pry’s defense. Additionally, it will give him an extra five months in Dwight Galt’s weight program.

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He will also benefit from a favorable depth chart at linebacker. Currently, Brandon Smith, Jason Cabinda, Manny Bowen, Koa Farmer, Cam Brown, and Jake Cooper are the only scholarship linebackers on Penn State’s roster. And Jake Cooper is trying to overcome an injury that shortened his 2016 season.

Due to the depth situation at linebacker it would not surprise me if Faison-Walden sees the field as a true freshman this fall. As I mentioned above, being an early enrollee will help his cause as well. The Nittany Lions will also add linebacker commit Dylan Rivers to the mix in June.

Despite playing safety in high school I expect Brelin Faison-Walden to pick up linebacker quickly and successfully. His great tackling ability, closing speed when chasing a ball carrier, and ability to read and react to plays will all translate well at linebacker.

Faison-Walden does not shy away from contact. He is not afraid to get in on plays and help make tackles. This is also something that will translate well to linebacker.

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I look for Brelin Faison-Walden to push for early playing time at Penn State. Even if he does not see the field as a true freshman this fall, I fully expect him to as a redshirt freshman in 2018. He can make an early impact both at linebacker and on special teams.

You can watch his film here.