For most college football fans, there is no greater day than National Signing Day. There ends the rumors, the speculations, the hopes, and for some, the fears of recruitment.
James Franklin is known for his aggressive recruiting style, famously stating that he considers Maryland and New Jersey “in-state,” and promising to dominate the state when collecting players for the Nittany Lions. So far, according to the number 12 ranking by Scout, a number 14 ranking on ESPN and 247Sports, and number 15 by Rivals, he’s delivering on his promise.
As of February 4, Penn State has 14 four-star recruits and 11 three-star recruits (see below for a complete breakdown).
Quarterback:
Tommy Stevens || 6-4 186 3-Star Recruit
- Indianapolis, Indiana; Decatur Central High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, N.C. State, Purdue, and West Virginia
Running Back:
Saquon Barkley || 5-11 210 4-Star Recruit
- Coplay, Pennsylvania; Whitehall High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pitt, and Rutgers
Andre Robinson || 5-9 215 4-Star Recruit
- Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania; Bishop McDevitt High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Louisville, Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia Tech
Wide Receiver:
Juwan Johnson || 6-4 212 4-Star Recruit
- Glassboro, New Jersey; Glassboro High School
- Selected Penn State over: Alabama, Arkansas, Boston College, Georgia Tech, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina and Virginia
Brandon Polk || 5-9 163 4-Star Recruit
- Ashburn, Virginia; Briar Woods High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Wisconsin
Irvin Charles || 6-4 215 4-Star Recruit
- Sicklerville, New Jersey; Paul VI High School
- Selected Penn State over: Alabama, Boston College, Florida, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Iowa, Louisville, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin
Tight End/Halfback
Nick Bowers || 6-4 255 3-Star Recruit
- Kittanning, Pennsylvania; Kittanning Senior High School
- Selected Penn State over: Michigan, Pittsburgh, Purdue and Wisconsin
Offensive Line
Ryan Bates || 6-5 275 4-Star Recruit
- Warrington, PA; Archbishop Wood High School
- Selected Penn State over: Auburn, Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina and Virginia
Steven Gonzalez || 6-4 320 4-Star Recruit
- Union City, New Jersey; Union City High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Duke, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Ohio State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Virginia and Wisconsin
Sterling Jenkins || 6-8 294 4-Star Recruit
- Pittsburgh, PA; Baldwin High School
- Selected Penn State over: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Temple, Tennessee, Toledo, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
Paris Palmer || 6-7 290 4-Star Recruit
- Plymouth, North Carolina; Plymouth High School/Lackawanna College (PA)
- Selected Penn State over: Arizona State, Baylor, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, South Carolina and South Florida
Ryan Buchholz || 6-6 241 3-Star Recruit
- Malvern, Pennsylvania; Great Valley High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Maryland, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Virginia and West Virginia
Kamonte Carter || 6-4 257 4-Star Recruit
- Silver Spring, Maryland; Gaithersburg High School
- Selected Penn State over: Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, N.C. State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and West Virginia
Kevin Givens || 6-1 245 3-Star Recruit
- Altoona, Pennsylvania; Altoona Area High School
- Selected Penn State over: Pittsburgh
Jonathan Holland || 6-4 235 4-Star Recruit
- Brandywine, Maryland; The Bullis School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Clemson, Florida State, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, North Carolina, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia, Wake Forest and West Virginia
Shareef Miller || 6-5 230 3-Star Recruit
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; George Washington High School
- Selected Penn State over: Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Illinois, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
Robert Windsor || 6-4 278 3-Star Recruit
- Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin; Fond Du Lac High School
- Selected Penn State over: Illinois, Iowa State, Maryland, Purdue, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin
Linebacker
Manny Bowen || 6-2 206 4-Star Recruit
- Barnegat, New Jersey; Barnegat High School
- Selected Penn State over: Alabama, Boston College, Clemson, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisville, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Nebraska, North Carolina, N.C. State, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Jake Cooper || 6-2 226 3-Star Recruit
- Doylestown, Pennsylvania; Archbishop Wood High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse and Virginia
Daiquan Kelly || 6-4 210 3-Star Recruit
- Newark, New Jersey; Union City High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Illinois, Michigan State, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia and Wake Forest
Secondary
Shareef Miller || 6-5 230 3-Star Recruit
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; George Washington High School
- Selected Penn State over: Arizona, Arizona State, Florida, Illinois, Miami (Fla.), Michigan State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, Virginia Tech and West Virginia
Ayron Monroe || 6-0 197 3-Star Recruit
- Largo, Maryland; St. John’s College High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Georgia Tech, Iowa, Maryland, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Virginia and Wake Forest
Johnny Petrishen || 6-1 189 3-Star Recruit
- Lower Burrell, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh Central Catholic High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Maryland, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Purdue, Syracuse, Virginia, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin
John Reid || 5-10 185 4-Star Recruit
- Mount Laurel, New Jersey; St. Joseph’s Prep School
- Selected Penn State over: Alabama, Arizona, Boston College, Colorado, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Virginia and West Virginia
Garrett Taylor || 6-0 196 4-Star Recruit
- Richmond, Virginia; St. Christopher’s High School
- Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, N.C. State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia and Wisconsin
Photo Credit: GoPSUSports.com
