Tag: recruiting snapshots

Recruiting Snapshot: Penn State

Micah Parsons (image via PennLive)

2018 Class Ranking: #4 nationally, #2 in Big Ten. Penn State has three 5-stars, nine 4-stars, and nine 3-stars signed; they have one additional 4-star verbal commitment.

Cream of the 2018 Crop: The Nittany Lions picked up the #1 weakside end and #4 player overall during the early signing period in the former of Harrisburg (PA) Harrisburg pass rusher Micah Parsons. He was considered a Penn State lock all along, and he’s going to enroll early. The next best recruit is Monmouth Junction (NJ) South Brunswick wideout Justin Shorter, a 6’4″, 213-pounder who’s reminiscent of Allen Robinson with his size and strength. Michigan offered the first two, but for some reason, not the third: running back Ricky Slade from Woodbridge (VA) C.D. Hylton. He’s a 5’9″, 185 lb. all-purpose back and ranked #25 overall. Michigan might not have loved him because he’s on the small-ish side.

Hit the jump for a look at the 2019 class.

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Recruiting Snapshot: Ohio State

Taron Vincent (image via The Wolverine)

2018 Class Ranking: #2 nationally. #1 in Big Ten. Ohio State has two 5-stars, sixteen 4-stars, and three 3-stars signed. Despite having the #2 class in the country, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for the Buckeyes on Wednesday. They lost 4-star safety Jaiden Woodbey to Florida State, and two highly touted prospects, QB Emory Jones and OT Jackson Carman, chose Florida and Clemson, respectively.

Cream of the 2018 Crop: The two 5-stars in the group are Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy DT Taron Vincent, the #1 DT and #13 overall player, and Westerville (OH) South RB Jaelen Gill, the #1 all-purpose back and #23 player. Both of them were pursued by Michigan, but Gill was an OSU lock and Vincent gave the Wolverines a shot before leaning the Buckeyes way for a while before committing. Vincent is the son of former Wisconsin and NFL All-Pro cornerback Troy Vincent. He started off at Baltimore (MD) Gilman, and Michigan had a bit of an inside track with Gilman head coach Biff Poggi, who sent his son Henry to play for the Wolverines and was hired as a staffer for one season in Ann Arbor. But Taron transferred to IMG, and Biff Poggi went back to coaching high school ball at Baltimore (MD) St. Frances.

2019 Class Ranking: #31 nationally. #8 in Big Ten. Ohio State has one 4-star committed.

Cream of the 2019 Crop: The only commit is Huntington (WV) Spring Valley OT Doug Nester, a 4-star, the #6 offensive tackle, and #52 overall.

Recruiting Snapshot: Maryland

Anthony McFarland, Jr. (image via 247 Sports)

2017 Team Ranking: #18. Maryland signed eight 4-stars and twenty 3-stars.

Cream of the 2017 Crop: Is it possible that anyone’s better than wide receiver/cornerback Fofie Bazzie? I think not. It’s not often this can be said, but it’s hard to determine which player is the crown jewel of Maryland’s class because there are so many good options. The highest ranked player is Hyattsville (MD) DeMatha’s Anthony McFarland, Jr., a running back who missed most of his senior year with a leg injury. He’s the #100 overall player in the class and has some big-play ability. The Terps also landed Oxon Hill (MD) Potomac cornerback Deon Jones (#175 overall), Bridgeton (NJ) Bridgeton safety Markquese Bell (#191 overall), and Washington (DC) St. John’s quarterback Kasim Hill (#240 overall), all skill guys who could be difference-makers at the next level. In addition, Maryland has really struggled in the trenches in recent years, but they signed DeMatha offensive guard Marcus Minor (#225 overall) and Owings Mills (MD) McDonough offensive tackle Jordan McNair (#285 overall). Hill is a guy who looked pretty good, especially as a runner, in the Under Armour All-American Game:

Hit the jump for a look at the 2018 class.

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Recruiting Snapshot: Iowa

Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville DE A.J. Epenesa (image via Twitter)

2017 Team Ranking: #41. Iowa signed one 5-star, one 4-star, eighteen 3-stars, and two 2-stars.

Cream of the 2017 Crop: The Hawkeyes landed their to player very early in the process with Edwardsville (IL) Edwardsville defensive end A.J. Epenesa in January of 2016. The 5-star, #2 strongside end, and #29 overall player went on to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Despite a bunch of powerhouse teams trying to pull Epenesa away, the Iowa legacy stayed committed. Mt. Vernon (IA) Mt. Vernon offensive tackle Tristan Wirfs, another Army Bowl participant, is a 4-star, the #31 offensive tackle, and #327 overall. He did impress during Army week, but he’s Iowa’s only other player above a 3-star ranking.

2018 Team Ranking: #46. Two 3-stars are committed to the Hawkeyes.

Cream of the 2018 Crop: The cream hasn’t really risen to the top. Both of Iowa’s commits are ranked in the 900s. One is Crystal Lake (IL) Prairie Ridge offensive guard Jeffrey Jenkins, and the other is Thiensville (WI) Homestead linebacker Mike Bruner.

Recruiting Snapshot: Indiana

Juwan Burgess (image via Bulldawg Illustrated)

2017 Team Ranking: #64. Indiana signed twenty-two 3-stars and one 2-star.

Cream of the 2017 Crop: The highest ranked prospect is 6’1″, 185 lb. safety Juwan Burgess from Tampa (FL) Plant. He’s a 3-star, the #26 athlete, and #421 overall. A high school quarterback, wide receiver, safety, and returner, he’s expected to play free safety. He has a pretty impressive highlights film:

Another noteworthy player is the one guy who earned a Michigan offer, and that’s Janesville (WI) Parker defensive tackle Juan Harris (3-star, #62 DT, #875 overall). Harris is an early enrollee after a roundabout recruitment when he committed to Iowa multiple times (I lost track after three, but I think it was four).

Hit the jump for a look at the 2018 recruiting class.

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