Recruit Breakdown: Commits, top targets convene on PSU for OVs
It’s a weekend that has been marked on the calendar for months. Beginning Friday evening, Penn State is set to host the majority of its committed prospects in its Class of 2018, as well as three of its top-rated remaining targets.
Save for a handful of verbally committed prospects who either have scheduling conflicts or made their official visits during the season, the Nittany Lion coaching staff is anticipating 17 scholarship prospects to be hand. Most of them will be current members of Penn State’s class of commitments, a group that currently ranks No. 4 in the country by Rivals.com.
Additionally, a trio of the most sought-after prospects in the country, who remain uncommitted, will be joining them.
It’s undetermined, if not unlikely, that Penn State can secure a commitment from either of the three while they’re on campus this weekend, as two of them have already set commitment dates and the other plans to take additional visits. However, that they’re joining a close-knit group of recruits can help further solidify relationships, which could impact their decision once that arrives in the near future.
What follows, beginning with an individual breakdown of the three undecided recruits, is a list of the accomplished 2018 players who are scheduled to visit Penn State this weekend.
WHERE PSU STANDS WITH PARSONS - Parsons was formerly committed to Penn State early in the recruiting cycle and momentum is once again beginning to favor the Lions in landing the services of the five-star athlete from Harrisburg. He’s visited PSU well over a dozen times before, whether it’s for a game, camp or just to hang out with friends, so he’s more familiar with University Park than any other campus he’s seen. Using this trip as his official visit, as the rest of the attendees are, Parsons is hoping to better get to know the other recruits and interact in a group setting. "I want to be with the people I'll potentially be with for the next four years,” Parsons said. “That's what I'm looking for, bonding time with the players and coaches. The coaches could have something different planned for this weekend and I'm sure that would be fun too.” It’ll be the fourth of Parsons' five official visits. He plans to utilize his fifth and final official next weekend when he heads to Georgia. Then upon returning, he’s set a decision date for Dec. 20. Although he’s already seen Nebraska, Oklahoma and Ohio State on his first three OVs, the Bulldogs are positioning themselves to become PSU’s primary competition in this recruiting battle. However, with another strong visit this weekend, we believe that Penn State should solidify themselves as the favorite.
WHERE PSU STANDS WITH SMITH - Head coach James Franklin and his staff have built a close relationship with Smith that extends further back than basically any other school that has recruited the Cleveland Heights product. The bond has kept PSU in this recruitment for much longer than many would have forecasted early on, and some are now speculating that the Nittany Lions are the team to beat. They at least have been granted the opportunity to host Smith for his final OV. He has already seen Alabama, Ohio State, Oregon and USC, and the in-state Buckeyes stand in front as Penn State’s largest obstacle. After the Bucks suffered a decommitment from DE Brenton Cox earlier this week, they are without any defensive ends in this class and are set to lose at least a couple DEs from its roster due to graduation. They figure to put a full-court press on Smith as his decision date looms on Jan. 4, but PSU will be looking to make a lasting impression as Smith is set to make yet another visit.
WHERE PSU STANDS WITH WALKER - Once thought to be leaning toward a commitment to Penn State, Walker returns to campus this weekend for the first time since July. He made trips to Ohio State and Virginia Tech during the season and in-state Maryland is set to receive an OV next weekend, so there are a few competitors here. Getting Walker back on campus alongside other recruits, PSU is aiming to refresh in his memory on why he was so high on the Lions six months ago. With Penn State deciding this week to go separate ways with former offensive line commit Antwan Reed, an even greater emphasis is now put on Walker in order for PSU to land four of its top OL targets in this class. Previously, it was believed that Penn State would be tight on scholarships in order to have room for Walker to join this class, but now that Lions are down to 20 total commitments, Walker is very much in play.
COMMITTED PROSPECTS
QB Will Levis - FILM - Middletown, Conn. - Xavier
RB Ricky Slade - FILM - Woodbridge, Va. - C.D. Hilton
WR Daniel George - FILM - Oxon Hill, Md. - Oxon Hill
WR Justin Shorter - FILM - Monmouth Junction, NJ - South Brunswick
TE Zack Kuntz - FILM - Camp Hill, Pa. - Camp Hill
TE Pat Freiermuth - FILM - North Andover, Mass. - Brooks School
OL Nana Asiedu - FILM - Stafford, Va. - North Stafford
OL Bryce Effner - FILM - Aurora, Ill. - Metea Valley
DT Judge Culpepper - FILM - Tampa, Fla. - Plant
DT Aeneas Hawkins - FILM - Cincinnati, Ohio - Moeller
LB Charlie Katshir - FILM - Mechanicsburg, Pa. - Cumberland Valley
LB Jesse Luketa - FILM - Erie. Pa. - Mercyhurst Prep
LB Nick Tarburton - FILM - Perkaskie, Pa. - Pennridge
K Jake Pinegar - FILM - Ankeny, Iowa. - Centennial