Penn State Football’s top 10 recruiting pipelines of the James Franklin era

STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 22: James Franklin look on against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania on October 22, 2016. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 22: James Franklin look on against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium in State College, Pennsylvania on October 22, 2016. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
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Since his arrival in Happy Valley in 2014, Penn State Football head coach James Franklin has made recruiting a large emphasis.

That emphasis on recruiting, something that we didn’t see under past Penn State coaching staffs, has led to some vital relationships not just across the state but across the country.

Much like college football, powerhouse high school football programs exist, so it’s important to be in good favor with the coaching staffs at these schools.

Franklin and his staff has done a good job of building — and keeping — relationships with some big time programs in Penn State Football’s recruiting region.

Let’s look at ten schools that Franklin has had the most success with.

No. 10: North Alleghany (Wexford, PA)

Franklin hasn’t had continual success at every Pittsburgh area power house, but he’s gotten most of the targets he’s wanted from the area. These targets were just spread out at different schools, so one hasn’t really stuck out.

North Alleghany may start to be that school, as Penn State has picked up two 4-star recruits in the past three cycles from the school.

Penn State picked up corner back Joey Porter Jr. in the 2019 class, he is now one of Penn State Football’s starting corners.

The Nittany Lions just picked up athlete Khalil Dinkins from North Alleghany in the 2021 class.

The hope is that Penn State can build off of this recent success, because chances are North Alleghany will have another coveted recruit down the road.