Penn State's 2015 recruiting class is barely in the books, but James Franklin has already turned his attention to the class of '16.
The Nittany Lions ended up with a top-15 class this year, but if you think they're content to stop there...well, you haven't been paying attention. Here are five Class of 2016 recruits who are either already committed, or at the top of James Franklin's list:
5. CB Damar Hamlin
James Franklin hasn't been shy about taking elite players from right under Pitt's nose, and Hamlin might be the next top prospect to spurn the Panthers for State College. The #10 CB in the Class of '16 has already made several visits to Happy Valley, and the coaching staff is confident they'll be getting a commitment from him in the near future.
4. OT Michal Menet
Penn State added some excellent offensive linemen in their 2015 recruiting class, but Menet might have a higher ceiling than any of them. The #7 OT in the Class of 2016 hails from Reading PA, and while Menet hasn't committed yet, he's widely considered a PSU lock.
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 #6 overall RB in the class of '16, Sanders has the potential to rise even higher over the next year.
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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