Penn State Football Recruiting: Another Enis in Happy Valley?

The opportunity to add to the Enis name in Happy Valley certainly has to intrigue the young dynamic receiver.

Today’s kids may not remember Curtis Enis, but anyone ingrained into Penn State football and the program’s history should instantly recognize the greatness surrounding the former consensus All-American’s tenure as a Nittany Lion.

Flash forward 20 years since Curtis Enis’ days as a Nittany Lion – we now see the former NFL bust known as something other than just that. Curtis is now seen as the father of a blue chip recruit. Curtis’ son, Solomon Enis, is a rising senior in the 2018 class and a four-star wide receiver (via 247Sports) out of Arizona where he attends high school.

Can the Nittany Lions sway the west coast kid back to State College where his father made his name?

Solomon Enis and Penn State

On February 27, Penn State offered legacy target Solomon Enis (via 247sports.com). That offer led to an unofficial campus visit for the blue-white game. Getting targets on campus is obviously a good sign, especially when a target is willing to travel across the country to visit. A great visit can go a long way towards gaining recruiting momentum and reaching the end goal, which of course is a commitment.

So how was Enis’ visit to Happy Valley? Let’s let the young man speak for himself:

A great trip is terrific news for Penn Staters. Let’s hope wide receiver coach Josh Gattis can take the momentum from the Enis family trip to Happy Valley and carry it towards a return to campus for an official visit in the fall. Success on the field in 2017 will certainly help boost Penn State’s odds of landing the talented wide receiver.

If Penn State is able to land the four-star legacy recruit, what can they expect on the field?

Player Bio

Solomon Enis stands at six-foot-four and is a lean 200 pounds. He currently plays at North Canyon High School in Phoenix, Arizona and is one of the most highly touted receivers in the West region for 2018.

Enis has evolved in his high school’s offensive system over the last two years. As a sophomore, he was seen in more of a flexed tight end/physical slot role, with a smaller route tree that included a lot of quick-hitting seam and flat routes. He was also relied on to mix it up in the blocking game and was even seen in a traditional two-point stance as a true tight end in certain packages. He was very effective in this role and was able to consistently make his presence felt, even when he didn’t have the ball in his hands.

Sophomore Tape

As a junior, the offensive game plan opened up schematically for the young receiver’s developing skill set. Get your best athletes in space and allow them to make plays – that’s the mantra here. Below, you will see Enis lined up all over the field, including some wildcat packages. Enis also played more on the perimeter and did exactly what you would expect from a lengthy, dynamic receiver – he stacked corners, created separation and attacked the ball at its highest point. Enjoy his highlights below:

Junior Tape

Strengths

Size, speed and ability to make plays in space. That may be an overused football cliche for a playmaker but that is exactly what Solomon Enis brings to the table. What separates Enis from the average high school wide receiver is his physicality. He plays the game like a running back and certainly isn’t afraid to mix it up in the running game as a blocker. Most four and five star athletes possess elite-level physical gifts but it’s hard to coach effort and grit, and that should not be an issue for this young man.

Opportunities to Grow

At six-four, Enis certainly will fill out his frame at the next level. Listed at an even 200 pounds, that might be a little generous and even so, his frame could hold another ten to twenty pounds. One of the main coaching points for young wide receivers is defined route running, so it will be interesting to see how his developmental curve continues as a senior. One thing is certain, James Franklin and the Penn State staff will continue to keep close tabs on this legacy prospect.

Bottom Line

Watching Solomon Enis run plays from the wildcat will bring back memories of his father Curtis to the more nostalgic Staters. They certainly have different body structures but play the game with a similar, enforcing presence.

Solomon Enis is a big-bodied wide receiver with the playmaking ability of a scat back and the physicality of tight end. He has dominated in his high school career and should be a viable weapon at the collegiate level.

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I can’t say whether or not he will develop into an All-American like his father but Solomon Enis will be a playmaker at the next level. Here’s to hoping Penn State fans will be fortunate enough to have another Enis in the basic blues.

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