Penn State recruiting notes: Visits, a decommit to watch, more as it looks to build the Class of 2019 and beyond
The Penn State universe has been focused on the start of spring practice, NCAA wrestling success, the NIT tournament, and pro day over the last few days.
All have been exciting events, but that doesn't mean that things are quiet on the recruiting front.
It's time to shift the focus back to head coach James Franklin and his staff's work on the trail to help build the program for future success after sending off the former stars on Tuesday, a day after the 2018 edition of the Lions kicked off drills for the first time in the new year.
Below are the latest news and notes.
Top DB targets eyeing recruiting conclusion
There are more than a few names to know on Penn State's recruiting board in the secondary, but perhaps the most consistent two of late have been Marquis Wilson and Tyler Rudolph.
Fittingly, then, both have set a timeline to make a verbal commitment.
Wilson, a four-star athlete who could play corner or safety but probably the former in college, declared recently that he will take all five official visits this spring before making a decision sometime before his senior season begins.
The ability to do so, of course, is thanks to the new NCAA recruiting rule that allows for juniors to take all-expenses paid trips between April 1 and June 26. Penn State is expected to earn one of his quintet, and the Lions are right in the thick of things for the 6-foot, 175-pound prospect after he visited campus earlier this year.
As for Rudolph, the Waterbury, Conn., safety is also a four-star with Penn State heavily in the running. He revealed to Land of 10's Tyler Donahue recently that he will officially visit Penn State for the Blue-White game the weekend of April 20-22, and he plans to announce his choice in June.
Speaking specifically about the Lions, Rudolph told the outlet: "Everything; with them it just feels like a family. The amount of love they show is crazy."
Penn State will be showing many prospects attention on Blue-White weekend, as the new visit window is expected to bring a flock of official, and of course the typically large list of unofficial visitors, to campus for the spring scrimmage.
A decommit to watch
Chesterfield, Va., 2019 defensive tackle Hakeem Beamon has popped up as a visitor at Penn State on a few instances since he committed to North Carolina some time ago, but that commitment is no more.
The 6-foot-3, 245-pound recruit decommitted from the Tar Heels on Monday, and now he'll explore all of his options, and Penn State is one of them.
"Decommitting has been on my mind for a long time," Beamon told Rivals' Adam Friedman. "Communication played a big part. I was going to do it on spring break but it's been on my mind for the past couple weeks so I figured I might as well do it today.
"I'm going to do some camps and visit some schools."
Penn State was not among the four schools listed as the front runners, though, but Friedman doesn't think that's much of a negative, writing:
"Even though they aren't in his top group, Penn State and Virginia Tech will play a role in his recruitment before all is said and done.
Expect the Lions to attempt to get him on campus quickly as his recruitment is likely to pick up steam in a hurry.
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A quarterback development in the Class of 2020
Penn State already has one quarterback of the future committed in 2019 pledge Ta'Quan Roberson, a three-star from New Jersey, but in the interest of always hunting for more passers, the Lions are set to soon host a 2020 recruit at the position.
Brian Dohn of 247Sports reports that New Canann, Conn., four-star sophomore quarterback Drew Payne will take trip to see the Lions on April 9-10. The 6-foot-1, 172-pound recruit is the lone 2020 player with a Lions offer at his position, which of course makes him the program's top want in that class.
"I am looking forward to spending time with (offensive coordinator) coach (Ricky) Rahne and learning more about the Penn State offense, and how he approaches the quarterback position within the offense," Payne told the outlet.
