The Penn State Nittany Lions ended up with a top-15 class in 2015, but if you think they’re content to stop there…well, you haven’t been paying attention. Head coach James Franklin is poised to reel in another top class in 2016, and is hoping to sign these five-star prospects:
3) RB Miles Sanders
Sanders has already committed to the Nittany Lions, and he has the potential to be the best PSU running back since Evan Royster. Rated as the #3 overall RB in the class of ’16, meaning several schools - namely Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, and Pitt - are trying to get him to flip his commitment. However, the Pittsburgh native seems very intent on honoring that commitment to PSU.
2) DE Shane Simmons
The 5-Star DE is the #2 player at his position in the Class of ’16, and the #1 recruit in the state of Maryland. He ruffled some feathers in-state by committing to the Nittany Lions last summer, and he’s PSU’s first 5-Star commit since a kid you might remember named Christian Hackenberg. Other schools won’t give up on him easily – Alabama and Florida State are lurking – but he wouldn’t have visited PSU five times since committing (or tried to recruit his fellow teammates at MD powerhouse DeMatha Catholic) if he wasn’t sold on Happy Valley.
1) DT Rashan Gary
Let’s be clear on one thing: Penn State landing Rashan Gary is still a long shot. The #2 overall player in the Class of ’16 is being heavily recruited by every major program in the country, and has his pick of offers…but the Nittany Lions do have a very real chance. PSU was the first school to offer Gary back in Summer 2013, and he’s attended football camps in State College as well. If Penn State manages to beat out the competition and sign the dominant DT, it’ll be a massive statement of intent for the program as a whole.
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