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Penn State Football fans…R-E-L-A-X, Look at the bigger picture

By Andrew Adair

Penn State football head coach James Franklin (Image via York Daily Record)
Penn State football head coach James Franklin (Image via York Daily Record) /
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The Penn State Football recruiting class is in a state of flux, but the program will survive the latest decommitments.

Penn State Football fans are not accustomed to seeing prized recruits spurn them and reopen their recruitment. The Nittany Lions have seen three key members of their 2023 recruiting class back off their commitment to the program.

The Nittany Lions have lost four-star defensive lineman Tomarrion Parker, three-star quarterback Marcus Stokes, and three-star wide receiver Yazeed Haynes. Marcus Stokes and Yazeed Haynes have committed to SEC programs, with Tomarrion Parker trending the same way.

While the optics of Penn States’ recruiting class shrinking isn’t ideal, there is a reason why this isn’t the end of the world as we know it.

Roster Construction.

STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads his team onto the field before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 30: Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions leads his team onto the field before the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Beaver Stadium on November 30, 2019 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /

Let’s start with the basics. FBS programs are allowed 85 scholarship players on their roster. You can have less but never more than 85 at a time.

The Penn State roster as currently constructed is on the younger side. The highly ranked 2022 recruiting class brought in a total of 25 players that are all on the current roster. Penn State used a redshirt year for 11 players in the 2021 recruiting class. That means over 40% of their roster has freshman eligibility.

I know the future is hard to predict, but Penn State is graduating around 11 scholarship seniors this season. Penn State also has three or four players that could declare early for the NFL Draft. We also know that some players will transfer after the season. Truthfully, Penn State could only have 15-18 scholarships available to incoming recruits and transfers.

The current Penn State 2023 recruiting class stands at 17 commitments, with 13 being ranked four stars or higher. This class needs to fill positions of need and keep a high level of quality.

Penn State has been relatively quiet in the transfer portal the last couple of seasons. Their roster construction has a bearing on that. Penn State is trusting the underclassmen to develop and provide the results the program wants to achieve.

I know fans hate to hear that recruits are decommitting, but they have kept the most important players committed to the program. As Penn State commit Lamont Payne says.

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