James Franklin and Penn State have put together a loaded recruiting class on early National Signing Day that will help the Nittany Lions next year.
Penn State continues to recruit at a very high level under head coach James Franklin. The Nittany Lions have a top-15 class on early national signing day and could add another recruit or two by the late signing period in early February.
Last year, Penn State had the nation’s No. 6 class, according to 247Sports and the second best in the Big Ten. This year’s class isn’t on that same level, but it should produce a number of high-impact performers who make instant and long-lasting contributions to the Penn State football program.
Headlining this year’s class is the lone five-star recruit committed, inside linebacker Brandon Smith from Mineral, VA. The 6-4, 228-pound recruit looks to be the next in a long line of great Penn State linebackers and continue the tradition of LBU. He and last year’s top recruit, Micah Parsons, should be a nasty linebacker duo for the Nittany Lions, beginning as early as this fall.
Smith ranks as the nation’s No. 25 overall recruit, No. 2 player at his position and the top recruit in the state of Virginia, according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Penn State missed out on the top two recruits in Pennsylvania Andrew Kristofic and Andre White Jr. who are headed to Notre Dame and Texas A&M respectively. However, they did get the No. 3 and No. 4 in-state recruits. Cornerbacks Keaton Ellis and Joey Porter, Jr.
If you’re looking for a potential successor to Trace McSorley at quarterback, that’ll be dual-threat quarterback Michael Johnson Jr. who comes to Happy Valley from Eugene, OR.
Penn State 2019 recruiting class
With last year’s recruiting class and this year’s crop of talent, Penn State should close the gap on Ohio State and Michigan in the Big Ten East division as they look to get back to the Big Ten Championship Game.