Penn State football wrapped up the Class of 2022 earlier this week so it’s on to the next cycle. That’s not just true for the Nittany Lions, but also Blue White Illustrated recruiting insider Ryan Snyder and the rest of the recruiting world as well. He joins host Thomas Frank Carr to give you Penn State’s top targets at each position in the upcoming Class of 2023.
Penn State offensive Targets
They start, as you always should, at the quarterback position. So what’s the update with the Nittany Lions’ efforts to land their top target, Dante Moore, out of Martin Luther King high school in Detroit? Why are they offering more quarterbacks like Florida prospect Marcus Stokes? Snyder gives his impressions on offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich’s efforts to find his next signal-caller.
After that, they dip into the equally murky waters of running back for 2023. Is Treyaun Webb the most likely candidate to land in Happy Valley? Can Ja’Juan Seider work his magic in Florida and get the four-star runner to Pennsylvania? Or will more players emerge and this list expand? Snyder and T-Frank discuss the state of this position before moving on to a much clearer position.
Receiver has an apparent leader for the Nittany Lions in four-star wide out Rodney Gallagher from Western PA. How many players can Penn State take in this cycle? Snyder gives his thoughts on that, plus players like Noah Rogers, Ejani Shakir, and Dallastown, Pa., product Kenny Johnson.
Tight end is another set position for Penn State after the commitments of Exeter Township’s Joey Schlaffer and four-star prospect Neeo Avery from Good Counsel. It’s also the position that’s had the most change, with players like Mathias Barnwell likely switching positions and Avery showing great promise as a defensive end. Could Penn State add another player here? Snyder gives his thoughts.
The offensive line is not as set as the tight end, but already has three committed prospects. Penn State has already secured commitments from two interior players in high four-star talent Alex Birchmeier, Life Christian Academy guard Josh Miller, as well as tackle/guard prospect Anthony Donkoh from Aldie, Va.
So, as always, who are the tackle prospects? Snyder mentions several, including national candidates like Luke Montgomery and Chase Bisontis, but Gonzaga’s four-star tackle Evan Link is his top target. He explains why. He also brings up several other important players like Thayer Academy’s Samson Okunlola but has reservations about where they stand at the moment.
Penn State Defensive Targets
The defensive line is deep with talent, so T-Frank and Snyder start at edge defender and work inside. Five-star edge rusherNyckoles Harborleads the list but is joined by his teammate at Archbishop Carrol,Joseph Mupoyi. It’s a deep list that includes Top 250 playersDavid Ojiegbe,Dylan GoodenandDesmond Umeozulu. But the list also includes under-the-radar candidatesMason Robinson, and Michael Kilbane. Snyder gives viewers a sense of the possibilities, interest level in Penn State and vice versa.
The defensive line is not short on talent as we switch to defensive tackle. Penn State already has Barnwell verbally committed, and the 6-foot-6 athlete prospect recently told Snyder that he’d like to play tackle. Throw on top of that DeMatha Catholic standout Jason Moore. The list is already strong before getting to four-star prospectsDerrick LeBlanc,Will Norman,John Walker,Joel Starlings,Justin Benton, andSydir Mitchell. How many can the Nittany Lions take? How many will they want to take? Snyder gives his thoughts about the group.
They move to the back seven of the defense and turn the spotlight on linebacker. Penn State is seemingly in a great position with its top targets. Will four-star prospect Tony Rojas commit soon? What position does Brashear’s Ta’Mere Robinson play going forward? They discuss how many prospects new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz could target here.
Finally, they end with defensive back. Snyder usually takes a look at the group as a whole. With Pittsburgh native Lamont Payne already committed, who gets the next spot in the secondary? Snyder highlights safety/corner hybrid Moussa Kane as one of his early players to watch. He also goes in-depth on the safeties, including Top 200 players Cameron Seldon and Rahmir Stewart.
T-Frank and Snyder wrap up the show discussing the most important players and positions mentioned that are “can’t miss” players for Penn State in this cycle.
