Franklin
Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Penn State had to replace both of its coordinators in the past few weeks, hiring one of them on Tuesday.
Somehow, Wednesday delivered the most drama-free national signing day in recent memory.
All 25 verbal commitments were officially on board by early in the afternoon and everything was wrapped up well before new defensive coordinator Tom Allen met with the media for the first time.
No tense waiting on decisions. No last-minute defections. No surprises. At least, not publicly.
Penn State ended Wednesday with the No. 15 recruiting class in the country, according to the On3 Industry team rankings, which factor in player ratings from four major services. The Lions’ class checks in at third in the new Big Ten, behind Ohio State (No. 3 overall) and Oregon (No. 6) but ahead of Michigan (No. 17), USC (No. 18) and the rest of the expanded 18-team conference.
The class was headlined by Luke Reynolds — rated as the nation’s top tight end prospect by one service — and Pittsburgh-area star athlete Quinton Martin, the top-rated recruit in Pennsylvania.
If there indeed were any issues for the Lions in holding on to all of their pledges in the aftermath of replacing Mike Yurcich and Manny Diaz with Andy Kotelnicki and Allen, they didn’t play out in public.
Coach James Franklin said he and his staff were able to remain transparent with recruits throughout the process after Yurcich was fired in November and Diaz left for the head job at Duke earlier this month.
And, he said, the school was able to expedite the formal hiring of both new coaches to make things smoother for everyone.
“It’s been great to get the coordinators on board before signing day. I think that was important,” Franklin said. “I think that could have caused some issues for us. So I want to thank the board for the support there as well.
“… If we had lost two recruits today because (of) the timing of our defensive coordinator hire, that would have mattered and made sense. So we are appreciative of (board of trustees chairman) Matt Schuyler’s continued support — and really the entire board for them understanding that football is a little bit different. Whether we like to admit it or not, it is. The ramifications of those types of decisions, I think that’s been powerful and we are very, very appreciative of their understanding and support.”
As for Allen, he was willing to work on that timeline as well, choosing to get right back to work after being fired as head coach at Indiana at the end of the regular season.
“I think for me, I’m a football coach,” Allen said. “I just love what I do, and this opportunity to present itself in this timeframe is one that I immediately had an interest in. For me, I really expected to get back into it once things happened as they did — probably a little quicker than expected.
“I have so much respect for this program and for coach Franklin and what he’s built here.”
Topping the defensive side of the ball for Allen is Massachusetts defensive lineman Liam Andrews, Florida defensive back Jon Mitchell and Philadelphia edge rusher Mylachi Williams, who played against Dallas in the Class 4A state quarterfinals.
Penn State ended up landing three of the top four recruits in the Keystone State this cycle in Martin from Belle Vernon (No. 1), Erie McDowell offensive lineman Cooper Cousins (No. 2) and Williams (No. 4).
They are joined in the in-state haul by two pairs of teammates from opposite ends of the state.
From Pittsburgh, the Lions signed Central Catholic linebacker Anthony Speca and wide receiver Peter Gonzalez, son of the former Pitt quarterback of the same name.
Out of Philadelphia, wide receiver Tyseer Denmark and defensive back Kenny Woseley hail from Imhotep Charter, the PIAA Class 5A champion.
Rounding out the local haul is Wyomissing offensive lineman Caleb Brewer, who follows former teammate J’ven Williams to Happy Valley. Williams was the top recruit in the state in the 2023 cycle, as the Lions have signed Pennsylvania’s top prospect in three straight years along with running back Nick Singleton in 2022.
“From literally my first press conference, we were going to make Pennsylvania a priority,” Franklin said. “I think we did a really good job of that the last couple years. That continues to be a priority for us. We want the best players in Pa. to stay in Pa., and specifically, at Penn State.”
The Lions landed eight recruits from Pennsylvania and three apiece from Maryland and, surprisingly, Wisconsin. Two Milwaukee area teammates, running back Corey Smith and offensive lineman Donnie Harbour. are joined by offensive lineman Garrett Sexton, one of the top tackle recruits in the nation.
One of the most noteworthy details of the class is that a whopping 16 of the 25 signees are set to graduate high school early and enroll at Penn State next month. That is believed to be a record high for the program, but it’s part of a growing trend throughout the sport.
That list includes quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who soared up the rankings during his senior year similar to fellow Ohio native Drew Allar, and was a standout at the Elite 11 quarterback showcase.
“When you’re able to get guys on campus earlier, I don’t think it’s the end all, be all — but it helps,” Franklin said. “When they are here in the spring, learning the system, getting comfortable, getting a feel, it allows them to be better positioned to legitimately compete in the summer and during training camp.
“So the number of guys, 16 guys coming in early, I think that helps. Now, I do think we got nine guys coming in the summer that, if they approach it the right way. will still be able to compete and we’ve seen examples of that.”