Penn State Football: What do recruits value?

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - DECEMBER 28: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions is soaked with the Gatorade cooler by Cam Brown #6 of the Penn State Nittany Lions after the Nittany Lions beat the Memphis Tigers 53-39 at AT&T Stadium on December 28, 2019 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

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STATE COLLEGE, PA – SEPTEMBER 25: Sean Clifford #14 of the Penn State Nittany Lions throws before the game against the Villanova Wildcats at Beaver Stadium on September 25, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

3. Academics

Football isn’t forever.

This was something we touched on in the previous slide: football can be taken away at any moment.

It’s a difficult and physical sport. Not everyone succeeds and not everyone stays healthy, there needs to be a Plan B.

Having a degree to fall back on is something most recruits hold dear. Not everyone makes it to the NFL and even if they do, not everyone gets a job in broadcasting or coaching that helps prolong life in football.

Penn State can offer numerous great academic opportunities for recruits and the university’s massive alumni base allows for endless networking and job possibilities for graduates. This is definitely something the staff sells recruits on.

If you’ve ever scratched your head at seeing a school like Stanford poach a big-time recruit from across the country, just know that academics probably played a huge role in that recruitment.

To some, NIL may lessen the need for great academics, but don’t be fooled, there’s not an NIL deal out there that will support a person for the next 40 years of his/her life.

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