Penn State Football Class of 2014

Transcription

1 Penn State Football Class of 2014 Marcus Allen DB Upper Marlboro, Md. Dr. Henry A. Wise, Jr. High School HS Coach: Dalawn Parrish Ht: 6-2 Wt: 200 One of the top recruits in the state of Maryland, Allen is a hard hitter with excellent ball skills. He was selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic. Allen had his senior season cut short with an ankle injury. In the three games before the injury, he had 15 tackles and two fumble recoveries. As a junior, Allen recorded 69 tackles, including one in the backfield, with two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and forced two fumbles. He also tallied nine passes defensed as a junior. Allen is the godson of former Pitt and NFL standout running back Curtis Martin. Selected Penn State over: Arizona, Boston College, Clemson, Connecticut, Duke, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Maryland, Nebraska, Northwestern, Pitt, Purdue and Rutgers Mark Allen RB Hyattsville, Md. DeMatha Catholic High School HS Coach: Elijah Brooks Ht: 5-7 Wt: 190 Allen led DeMatha High School to an 11-1 overall record; 6-0 Washington Catholic Football play during his senior season. The Stags finished the season ranked No. 1 in Maryland and 46 th in the country by MaxPreps. An honorable mention All-State selection his senior season, Allen was also selected to the MaxPreps 2013 Maryland Preseason All-State Team. As a junior, Allen ran for 682 yards on 101 carries and four scores. He also grabbed seven passes for 79 yards. Selected Penn State over: Cincinnati, Maryland, North Carolina, Temple and Wake Forest Troy Apke WR Pittsburgh, Pa. Mount Lebanon High School HS Coach: Mike Melnyk Ht: 6-2 Wt: 195 One of the top wide receivers in the state, Apke was a first-team All-Pennsylvania choice. The latest in a long line of western Pennsylvania prep standouts to matriculate to Penn State, he was selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 Football Classic vs. Maryland. During his senior season, Apke grabbed 40 passes for 728 yards and had touchdown catches. He also had 10 carries for 103 yards and one score. Apke delivered a strong junior season with 54 receptions for 1,048 yards, which was fourth in the WPIAL, and 13 touchdowns. His father, Steve, played linebacker for Pitt in the mid- 1980s. Selected Penn State over: Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pitt and others

2 Tarow Barney DL Bainbridge, Ga. Bainbridge High School / Northwest Mississippi C.C. HS Coach: Jeff Littleton Ht: 6-2 Wt: 300 Barney enrolled in the University in January. He came to Penn State after playing two years at Northwest Mississippi Community College. Ranked the No. 5 defensive lineman and 19th best player overall in the ESPN Junior College Top 50 rankings, Barney made 9.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2013 after helping the Rangers to their first bowl victory in 20 seasons during the 2012 campaign. As a senior at Bainbridge High School, he logged 55 stops and five sacks and was selected to play in the War of the Borders Game, which features players from North Florida and South Georgia. With the departure of DaQuan Jones and Kyle Baublitz, Barney has an opportunity to make an impression on the defensive line depth in Selected Penn State over: Cincinnati, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa State, Miami (Ohio) and others Noah Beh OL Scranton, Pa. Scranton Preparatory School HS Coach: Nick Donato Ht: 6-6 Wt: 260 With the departure of three offensive line starters from 2013 season, Beh will bring a 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame into the mix of candidates. He adds to the impressive line of the Northeastern Pa. standouts to sign with the Blue and White. A two-way player for Scranton Prep, he was invited to play in the Chesapeake Bowl, along with being selected to play in the prestigious Big 33 Classic vs. Maryland. He was a two-time AAA All-State selection at defensive end. As an offensive lineman, he was selected as an All-Conference, All-Region and All-State selection as a senior, along with being named to the USA Today All-Pennsylvania Team. He helped the Cavaliers to their first ever Lackawanna Division I Conference championship and an undefeated regular season in Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Connecticut, Maryland, Pitt, Rutgers and Syracuse Saeed Blacknall WR Manalapan, N.J. Manalapan High School HS Coach: Eddie Gurrieri Ht: 6-2 Wt: 210 Rated among the top wide receivers in the country, Blacknall boasts superb size, sure hands and route-running. Tabbed as the No. 4 player in New Jersey by Rivals.com, Blacknall made 52 receptions for 707 yards and had 15 touchdowns during his senior season at Manalapan High School. A consensus four-star prospect, the New Jersey native was selected a second-team All-American by Maxpreps and was a first-team All- Shore selection. The 6-foot-2 Blacknall will add depth and athleticism to the Penn State receiving corps, which includes returnees Eugene Lewis, Richy Anderson and Matt Zanellato. Blacknall also runs track at Manalapan High School.

3 Selected Penn State over: Alabama, Florida State, Illinois, LSU, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Wisconsin and others Brendan Brosnan OL Park Ridge, Ill. Maine South High School HS Coach: David Inserra Ht: 6-6 Wt: 285 A highly touted offensive lineman out of Maine South High School, Brosnan will add size and ability to the offensive line. His 6-foot-6, 285-pound frame is impressive, but he also uses his long arms and quick feet to keep defenders off balance and out of the backfield. An Academic All-State selection as a senior, Brosnan was named the Central Suburban League South Co-Lineman of the Year after helping the Hawks win back-to-back conference titles in 2012 and The Parkridge, Illinois product captained his Maine South squad to an 11-1 overall record and a quarterfinals appearance in the Class 8A Illinois State Championships as a junior. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Illinois, Maryland, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech and others Torrence Brown DL Tuscaloosa, Ala. Tuscaloosa Academy HS Coach: Robert Johnson Ht: 6-4 Wt: 240 The athletic and multi-talented Brown was all over the field making plays for the Knights during his senior season, seeing time at defensive end, linebacker, running back and tight end. He recorded 105 tackles, with three sacks on defense. He also ran for 746 yards and nine touchdowns and caught three touchdown passes during the 2013 campaign. During his junior season, Brown helped Tuscaloosa Academy get off to strong start en route to winning the 2012 Alabama Independent School Association (AISA) Class AAA state championship. He suffered a knee injury in the third game of his junior campaign. Brown also is a standout basketball player. Selected Penn State over: Arizona State, Connecticut, Memphis, North Carolina State, Southern Miss, West Virginia and others Jason Cabinda LB Flemington, N.J. Hunterdon Central High School HS Coach: Matthew Perotti Ht: 6-1 Wt: 240 A three-year starter on both sides of the ball while at Hunterdon Central High School, Cabinda was a first-team All-Metro, Tri-State Player of the Year and a second-team All- State selection as a running back and linebacker. Cabinda helped the Red Devils to the NJSIAA Group IV State Championship as a senior and rushed for over 2,600 yards during his final two prep seasons, adding a school-record 49 touchdowns in three seasons as a starter. An instinctive player, the 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a punishing

4 tackler at the linebacker position and his plus speed enables him to play sideline to sideline from the middle linebacker position. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Maryland, Navy, Rutgers, Syracuse and Temple Christian Campbell DB Phenix City, Ala. Central High School HS Coach: Woodrow Lowe Ht: 6-0 Wt: 180 A versatile defensive back with good ball skills, Christian Campbell was a Class 5A allstate selection at Central High School in Campbell finished his senior season with 56 tackles, eight pass breakups and an interception. A physical defensive back in the open field, Campbell played in the Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Classic in December. Campbell finished with nine tackles in the all-star game. He also registered 83 hits, three interceptions and broke up five passes in Campbell will add depth to the secondary that brings back veterans Adrian Amos, Ryan Keiser, Jesse Della Valle and Trevor Williams. Selected Penn State over: Arkansas State, Boise State, Indiana, Memphis, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Southern Miss, Syracuse and others Koa Farmer S Lake View Terrace, Calif. Notre Dame High School HS Coach: Kevin Rooney Ht: 6-1 Wt: 205 A versatile athlete that was a dominate player on both sides of the ball, Farmer was named the MVP of the Serra League his senior season. During a dynamic senior year, Koa played wide receiver, running back and quarterback, compiling 487 yards receiving, 483 yards rushing and 18 total touchdowns. He was also named first- team all-state safety, compiling 62 tackles, four interceptions, two sacks and three forced fumbles. A captain during his senior year, Farmer was a two-time All-Serra League selection. He also lettered four times in track and field, helping the Knights to the 2012 CIF State Championship. Farmer also was named academic all-league in each of his four years. Selected Penn State over: California, Colorado, Fresno State, Harvard, Utah, Vanderbilt, Washington, Wisconsin and Yale Mike Gesicki TE Manahawkin, N.J. Southern Regional High School HS Coach: Chuck Donohue Ht: 6-5 Wt: 245 One of the top tight end prospects in the nation, Gesicki possesses a rare blend of size and speed. The 6-foot-5, 245-pound New Jersey native made a combined 83 receptions for 1,484 yards and 13 touchdowns during his junior and senior seasons at

5 Southern Regional High School. Gesicki was named first-team All-Ocean in He also punted in high school, averaging 35.5 yards per kick and a long of 71 yards during his senior season. A three-sport star, he was selected to play in the U.S. Army All- America Game for football and nominated to play in the McDonald s All-American Game for basketball. Gesicki was named South Jersey Volleyball Player of the Year in 2013, and he was a 1,000-point scorer for the basketball team last winter. Gesicki is averaging more than 19 points per game for his career on the hardwood. Gesicki will join a talented corps of tight ends at Penn State, which includes Adam Breneman, Jesse James and Kyle Carter. Selected Penn State over: Florida State, Miami (Fla.), Ohio State, Rutgers, Syracuse and Wisconsin Chris Godwin WR Middletown, Del. Middletown High School HS Coach: Mark DelPercio Ht: 6-2 Wt: 205 A three-time All-State selection at Middleton High School, Godwin was the top rated player in the state of Delaware and an ESPN 300 recruit. He was selected to play in the Under Armour All-America Game after showing good hands and the ability to pull down catches in traffic during his prep career. A consensus four-star recruit, Godwin made 55 catches for 1,200 yards and 17 touchdowns during his senior season. He helped the Cavaliers to a pair of Delaware Interscholastic Athletic Association state championships in 2011 and At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, Godwin was the 2012 Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year and an Academic All-State selection. The tall, athletic Godwin will add to a young group of talented wide receivers that include a trio of ESPN 300 recruits and returners Eugene Lewis, Richy Anderson and Matt Zanellato. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, California, Connecticut, Maryland, Northwestern, Ohio State, Rutgers, South Carolina, Stanford and Virginia Tech Grant Haley DB Atlanta, Ga. The Lovett School HS Coach: Mike Muschamp Ht: 5-10 Wt: 185 A cornerback with speed and a quick first step, Haley was named the AP Georgia Class 2A Offensive Player of the Year and the South Fulton All-Area Offensive Player of the Year, while playing both ways for The Lovett School. An intelligent player on the field, he piled up over 1,500 rushing yards and 27 touchdowns as a running back. At 5- foot-10, 185-pound he also intercepted six passes and broke up countless thanks to his good closing speed. He was an All-State selection as a junior, contributing on offense, defense and special teams. Haley helped the Lions to the Georgia AA State Championship and was named to the MaxPreps Small School All-America Second Team as a senior. He was invited to play in the Georgia Rising Senior Bowl in 2013 and was a Georgia East-West Game invitee as a senior.

6 Selected Penn State over: Arkansas, Cincinnati, Florida, Georgia Tech, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin Trace McSorley QB Ashburn, Va. Briar Woods High School HS Coach: Charlie Pierce Ht: 6-0 Wt: 190 A rare four-year varsity starter at quarterback, McSorley was the vocal and physical leader for Briar Woods High School. A first-team All-State selection on both offense and defense, McSorley was recruited by multiple high-profile schools to play on either side of the ball. During his prep career, the 6-foot, 190-pound signal caller led the Falcons to four straight appearances in the Virginia State Championship title game, winning three times. He threw for over 2,000 yards during each of his four seasons, amassing over 12,000 yards of total offense and 150 touchdowns in his career. Collected eight interceptions and added nearly 100 tackles during his final two seasons in high school. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Purdue, Rutgers, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech and others Michael O Connor QB Ottawa, Ontario, Canada IMG Academy (Fla.) HS Coach: Chris Weinke Ht: 6-5 Wt: 225 O Connor enrolled in the University in January. An Under Armour All-America Game selection, O Connor was among the top quarterback recruits in the class of A native of Ottawa, Ontario, O Connor spent his final two years of high school in the United States, playing his junior season at Baylor School in Tennessee before attending IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. last season. Playing for Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Chris Weinke, he led IMG Academy to an 8-2 record and threw for 1,804 yards and 18 touchdowns in An ESPN Top 300 recruit, O Connor completed 54 percent of his passes (118-of-218), threw just five interceptions and rushed for a pair of touchdowns in 10 starts. He was selected to play in the 2014 Under Armour All-America Game. Selected Penn State over: Michigan State, Mississippi State, Missouri, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, Vanderbilt and others Amani Oruwariye DB Tampa, Fla. Gaither High School HS Coach: Jason Stokes Ht: 6-1 Wt: 180 Selected all-county by the Tampa Bay Times in 2013, Oruwariye is a physical player with good ball skills. The Gaither High School standout recorded 47 tackles as a senior. Oruwariye tallied four interceptions and nine pass breakups. In addition to his

7 contributions on defense, the Tampa native was a special teams ace, blocking four punts during his senior season. Standing at 6-foot-1, Oruwariye has unique length as a defensive back. Oruwariye will add depth to the secondary that brings back veterans Adrian Amos, Ryan Keiser and Jesse Della Valle. Selected Penn State over: Arizona, Duke, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Michigan State, Nebraska, Rutgers, Syracuse, UCF, Vanderbilt, Virginia and others Troy Reeder LB Wilmington, Del. Salesianum School HS Coach: Bill DiNardo Ht: 6-2 Wt: 235 Reeder was instrumental in Salesianum School winning the 2013 state championship, earning first-team All-State honors at middle linebacker twice and at running back as a senior. Also played quarterback during his prep career and brings good size, athleticism and instincts to the field. Named the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year by the Delaware Interscholastic Football Coaches Association after recording 76 tackles, 3.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He ran for 1,154 yards on 175 carries (6.6), scoring 18 touchdowns. Reeder won the 2012 Michael DeLucia Sportsmanship Award, presented for 40-plus years to a senior football player from a Delaware Catholic high school. Reeder also was a prep All-America lacrosse player, leading his team to three state titles. His father, Dan, played football at the University of Delaware and with the NFL s Pittsburgh Steelers and the Los Angeles Raiders, and his mother, Cheryl, helped Elizabethtown College win the NCAA Division III women s basketball national championship. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Maryland, Miami (Fla.), Pitt, Rutgers and Virginia Nick Scott RB Fairfax, Va. Fairfax High School HS Coach: Kevin Simonds Ht: 6-0 Wt: 190 A versatile athlete, Scott served several roles for the Fairfax High School offensive attack during his final two prep seasons. Scott rushed for 1,582 yards on 182 carries and completed 31-of-72 passes for 511 yards with three touchdowns. He also had 11 catches for 129 yards and complied a total of 25 touchdowns in An All-State selection as a senior, he also earned a first team nod on the All-Metro, All-Region and All-Conference teams, while being named the Liberty District Outstanding Athlete of the Year. Scott played outside linebacker, free safety, quarterback, running back and wide receiver. He played his first two prep seasons at Brookline High School, earning two varsity letters. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Nebraska and South Florida Chance Sorrell

8 OL Middletown, Ohio Middletown High School HS Coach: Troy Everhart Ht: 6-6 Wt: 270 A strong combination of size and athleticism made Sorrell, a standout tight end at Middletown High School, a target for numerous college programs. The 6-foot-6, 270- pound Sorrell will transition to the offensive line, encompassing the size and football IQ to handle the blocking schemes of the position. Between catches passes as a tight end and serving as a blocking back for the Middies run-based offense, Sorrell was selected as the Anthony Munoz Foundation Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year. With good speed and size and the ability to find the soft spot in the defense, Sorrell was a firstteam All-Conference selection as a senior after making 15 catches for 208 yards and three scores. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Vanderbilt, West Virginia and others Johnathan Thomas RB Danver, Mass. St. John s Prep HS Coach: Jim O'Leary Ht: 5-11 Wt: 220 A downhill runner that had success running between the tackles while at St. John s Prep, Thomas was an ESPN Boston All-State selection as a junior after helping lead the Eagles to their first MIAA Division 1 Super Bowl title in 15 years. He carried the ball 220 times for 1,794 yards and 15 touchdowns that season, adding nine catches for 153 yards and three touchdowns. He also posted 25 tackles and two interceptions. He was also one of five finalists for ESPN Boston's annual "Mr. Football" Award, given to the best player in Massachusetts, and the only junior named to the list in Thomas scored four touchdowns, including a 107-yard interception return for a touchdown that was selected the day s No. 1 play on SportsCenter. Selected Penn State over: Arkansas, Boston College, Connecticut, Maryland and Yale DeAndre Thompkins WR Hubert, N.C. Swansboro High School HS Coach: Tim Laspada Ht: 6-0 Wt: 175 Thompkins enrolled in the University in January. One of the nation s top prep receivers, Thompkins ranked 66th in the 2014 ESPN 300 and played in the Under Armour All- America Game. As a senior, Thompkins rushed for 699 yards and nine touchdowns, while making 28 receptions for 269 yards and four scores. The 5-foot-11 wideout helped the Pirates to an 8-4 overall record and an appearance in the NCHSAA 3A playoffs as a senior. The multi-talented Thompkins played multiple positions as a prep; spending time at running back and receiver, along with returning kickoffs and punts, and was invited to the 2014 ESPN The Opening. He amassed over 2,000 all-purpose yards during his junior season and gained nearly 1,500 all-purpose yards as a senior. He also saw time in the secondary where he accumulated 100 tackles, two interceptions and recovered seven fumbles.

9 Selected Penn State over: Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Notre Dame, Tennessee, West Virginia and others Antoine White DL Millville, N.J. Millville High School HS Coach: Jason Durham Ht: 6-2 Wt: 280 White enrolled in the University in January. One of the top defensive linemen in the state, White earned second-team All-New Jersey, was named the South Jersey Times Defensive Player of the Year and earned first-team all-conference three times in his career. As a junior, White posted 80 tackles and made 14 stops behind the line of scrimmage. White has an opportunity to add to the long list of successful Nittany Lions to hail from the Garden State and will look to fill the void left by the departure of firstteam All-Big Ten tackle DaQuan Jones and Kyle Baublitz. Selected Penn State over: Boston College, Duke, Maryland, Michigan State, North Carolina, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse and others Daquan Worley DB Coatesville, Pa. Coatesville High School HS Coach: Matt Ortega Ht: 5-10 Wt: 180 Worley played cornerback and running back, earning first-team PIAA Class AAAA All- State accolades. He suffered a serious knee in a late October game vs. West Chester East and missed the rest of the season. Worley gained 230 all-purpose yards, including an 82-yard punt return and 57-yard for touchdowns, and scored three times earlier in the game. He helped Coatesville to a 9-0 record prior to his injury. Worley was instrumental in leading the Red Raiders to the 2012 PIAA Class AAAA state championship game. He was a 2012 first-team All-Southeastern Pa. selection after gaining 1,779 yards on 228 carries, scoring 20 touchdowns. Worley grabbed three interceptions as a junior. Selected Penn State over: Georgia Tech, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and others Chasz Wright OL Woodbridge, Va. C.D. Hylton HS/Milford Academy HS Coach: Tony Lilly Ht: 6-7 Wt: 310 Wright enrolled in the University in January. He starred as a two-way standout at C.D. Hylton High School, located 30 minutes south of Washington, D.C., before attending Milford Academy last season. Wright helped the Falcons to a 9-3 record, helping the offense pile up 2,247 yards rushing and more than 2,700 yards passing. Milford Academy averaged 37.9 points per game with 18 rushing scores and 25 passing touchdowns. Wright was a three-time first team All-District selection and earned second team All-Region as a sophomore and junior for the Bulldogs. The 6-foot-7, 268- pounder will look to make an immediate impact on an offensive line unit that lost three starters to graduation in 2013.

10 Selected Penn State over: Connecticut and Temple