If everything plays out as expected, Penn State’s Class of 2017 will go down as one of the team’s best in the past two decades. The Nittany Lions ranked 12th in the nation according to Rivals.com, their best finish under head coach James Franklin.

Even if you look past what the class’s 24 members accomplished on the field during their high school careers, the group stacks up very well. It features leaders at every position, and one of the best examples is wide receiver Cameron Sullivan-Brown.

At 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, Sullivan-Brown made it clear early in his high school career that he had what it took to play with the nation’s best. When you add in the fact that the Bowie, Md., native is one of St. Vincent Pallotti’s best student-athletes, holding a 3.30 grade-point average, it’s easy to understand why he earned more than 30 scholarship offers, many from the East Coast’s top FBS programs.

“I began playing football when I was just 6,” Sullivan-Brown said. “Growing up, it was always just something I loved doing, but once I got into high school, that’s when I realized that I had the potential to play in college. I started on the varsity team as a wide receiver my freshman year and I then played both ways my sophomore year.

“That always kept me motivated in the classroom. Not only did I want to make sure I was always there for my teammates and coaches, but I also knew that I had to stay on top of my grades if I was going to play another four years.”

After Pallotti won the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association B Conference championship his sophomore year, Sullivan-Brown began to grab the attention of nearly all of the region’s top programs. However, he wasn’t able to visit most of those schools until his junior season.

The Nittany Lions had been recruiting him for almost a year before he was able to check them out for the first time. But when he finally traveled to University Park in April 2016, his interest immediately skyrocketed.

“I’ll never forget that first visit,” Sullivan-Brown said. “I was mainly looking at Duke and Maryland at the time because both offered a lot academically. I never knew how much Penn State could offer academically until I took that visit. I also remember listening to how driven their coaches were about becoming one of the best in the Big Ten. I was hooked almost right from the start.”

In the months that followed, Sullivan-Brown made return visits to Duke and Maryland, and he also checked out Syracuse and West Virginia. Those four schools, along with Penn State, ultimately emerged as his top five. Come July, he made it back to Penn State for his second visit, this time for the Lasch Bash barbecue. By the time he left, he knew which school he was going to attend.

“The Lasch Bash was a really important visit because I got to meet all the other players in my class,” he said. “Once I got to talk with those guys, I knew I was going to fit in with them. Everything else that Penn State offered just made them the perfect fit for me.”

Because he had already lined up a visit to Duke the following weekend, Sullivan-Brown decided not to commit that day out of respect for the Blue Devils’ coaching staff. But he wasted little time after returning from his trip to Durham, N.C., verbally committing to Penn State less than a week later on July 29.

With his decision behind him, Sullivan-Brown turned all of his attention toward his final season of high school ball. With multiple freshmen and sophomores expected to make an impact on Pallotti’s varsity squad, Sullivan-Brown was able to work on one facet of his game in which he still had room to improve: leadership.

“Before my senior season, I just led by example,” he said. “But this year was a little different because I was a senior. I had to be more vocal because we had a lot of young players. I’m happy that was the case because I learned a lot about what makes someone a good leader.”

That leadership was tested early, as the Panthers started their 2016 season with back-to-back losses. But what followed was one of the more impressive runs in Maryland last season. Pallotti won its next nine in a row, earning a spot in the MIAA B Conference championship game. Pallotti went on to defeat Boys Latin, 53-10.

“That was one of the best days of my life,” Sullivan-Brown said. “We won the championship my sophomore year, which also meant a lot, but to do it my senior year, I couldn’t ask for a better way to end my career at Pallotti. For me, it’s always been about the team. I’m never one of those guys who acts selfish and wants more touches. All that matters is that you produce when your time comes and that you work hard every day. That’s how a team wins championships.”

Sullivan-Brown also left a mark on the Maryland state record books. Despite the fact that Pallotti used a run-oriented offense his last two seasons, he finished sixth all-time with 2,846 career receiving yards.However, that’s all behind him now, as his focus has shifted toward leaving his mark in the blue and white.

“Once I get my academics in order – because that’s the most important thing this summer, getting off to a strong start academically – I know that I’m starting with a fresh slate,” he said. “I’m starting at the bottom of the list, so I really just want to show everyone that I’m a team guy and that I’m here to help however they need me.

“I’m looking forward to working out with the quarterbacks and other receivers this summer to build some chemistry with them. Whatever the coaches need from me, I’ll be there. I’m going to make sure I put in the extra work this summer so I can move up in the order.”