Penn State’s put together a recruiting class that once again leaves them second only to Ohio State in the Big 10. After a bowl season that started with rumor after rumor of Franklin’s interest in open jobs at other programs it was announced he would sign a 10-year contract extension which locked him in for the time being. After setting the rumors to bed, PSU ended up signing the 6th overall recruiting class including top prospects Nick Singleton and Drew Allar. The 2023 class is step 2 in preparing for the playoff window that opens with Singleton and Allar- let’s break down some of the highlights from the class.
Best Overall Player: King Mack
Safety, St. Thomas Aquinas High School (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
Mack has very good athletic ability with a solid frame. He’s clocked an official 10.64 100m and that likely will go down even more in his senior season. Fast DBs can get away with a whole lot more than slow ones as they can recover from misread speed cut routes. In Mack’s case, he’s got good mental processing to read those routes and stay sticky in coverage with the speed to stay in stride. He’s rarely finding himself in a position where he’s bailing himself out due to superior athletic ability to his competitors- a great sign for transitioning to the next level. The trait that really makes Mack special is his ball skills. Calling them elite isn’t even doing it justice. If he’s in the area, the ball isn’t being caught and is probably going the other direction. He’s got the skills to play safety, corner, or nickel at the next level and should quickly find himself to be the starting FS in PSU’s defense.
Fans should be excited about his recruitment. St. Thomas Aquinas is probably the most important high school in America to recruit out of as they’ve sent more talent to the NFL than any other high school. If Franklin can beat out local programs and convince the top recruit from the school to play for a program 1000 miles away from home then fans have plenty to be excited about in the future.
https://twitter.com/EraPrep/status/1598842984698892288
Most Underrated Pickup: Joey Schlaffer
Tight End, Exeter Township High School (Reading, PA)
Very good height and frame with solid weight, good speed, and good change of direction. He knows how to leverage his length in every stage of the play, whether it’s off the line, through the top of his route, or to extend and make the catch. He’s got very good awareness to settle in zones and understands the angles he needs to take to maximize his yards after the catch. He was a versatile athlete used as a TE and WR for his high school and even took direct snaps in the Wildcat. His play reminds me so much of Jimmy Graham- he’s really a wide receiver in a tight end’s body. He’s not the best blocker on account of his smaller muscle composition but he’s certainly a willing one and has the competitive toughness to never take a snap off. I think it’ll take a year or two to get up to speed but the ceiling on this kid is a top 5 tight end in the NCAA.
Schlaffer doesn’t get the love he should from recruiting services and it’s probably got a bit to do with the fact he comes from an area without the pedigree of most other top recruits. I won’t mince words here- Schlaffer will be the better TE in PSU’s class when it’s all said and done. He needs to add a bit more muscle before he enters a starting role but he’ll find plenty of time on the field as PSU looks for the weapons on their offense to start building a rapport with Allar. A great in-state pickup that flew under the radar for many schools and his offer sheet should definitely be bigger.
https://twitter.com/tommyk6363/status/1591583775653498880
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Name to Watch: Tony Rojas
Linebacker, Fairfax High School (Fairfax VA)
Rojas played RB, DE, and LB for Fairfax on account of his good frame and overall very good athleticism. He’s an interesting prospect as he spent most of his childhood playing soccer before switching to football upon entering high school. He never really had the fundamentals reinforced year after year and yet he ended up being one of the top players in the country. He’s got very good mental processing and shows he knows how to set the edge, remain patient when filling a gap, and can accurately read options/RPOs to make a play. On top of this, he’s got the great physical traits you want to see in his frame, athleticism, and toughness. His time spent at RB and DE limited his snaps in pass coverage but I don’t foresee him having any issues catching on considering how fast he caught on to the rest of the game. He could end up playing Edge or LB for PSU, I personally like him best as an ILB that can help bring another level of physicality to the defense and shut down the run game.
He’s my guy to watch because of his raw talent that could pay dividends if the coaches can refine his technique. This is especially important considering PSU’s linebacking corps took a step back last year after historically being the most talented part of the team. I like Rojas to fill that role as star ILB for the team after taking a year to really learn the game and earning some quality snaps during the 2023 season.
https://twitter.com/RipchikSpencer/status/1566096138029129728
Most Important Sign: Alex Birchmeier
IOL, Broad Run High School (Ashburn, VA)
Birchmeier is the quintessential lineman: good size, good length, and good muscle composition with a strong lower body and core. He shows his very good competitive toughness on every down, finishing his blocks and playing through the whistle. He’s got a quick initial punch, good hand placement, and very good functional strength to drive defenders backwards. He’s got quick feet and can be trusted to pull or run to the second level on screen plays. His strong lower half allows him to easily anchor in pass protection and neutralize power rushers. While he might not necessary have elite or very good traits, there’s almost nothing he isn’t at least solid at and is a lineman you can trust on every down.
Why’s he the most important signing of this cycle? Two reasons: Drew Allar and Nick Singleton. There’s no doubt in my mind he’ll end up in the rotation by his sophomore year and be a quality starter by his junior year. Even if Allar and Singleton become the players they’re expected to be and leave after their junior season he’ll still provide plenty of help in the trenches while they’re there and make sure PSU’s star players stay healthy and have the time and space they need to showcase their talents on the field. It continues to be harder and harder to find quality OL recruits and Birchmeier is a rare prospect that comes at a premium.
https://twitter.com/MattBirch76/status/1571166270371897352
These guys are, in my eyes, simply the highlights of the class. There’s plenty more to be excited about between Wyomissing OT J’ven Williams, Brashear Edge Ta’Mere Robinson, Venice SAF Elliot Washington, and transfers WR Dante Cephas and CB Storm Duck. Penn State’s continued recruiting successes give them a chance to contend for the playoffs in 2024 given the further development off the prospects they’ve managed to land in the last two classes.
