Recruiting Wrap-Up: Week Four

Story posted September 23, 2013 in CommRadio, Sports by Matt Lawrence

There isn’t much to report this week on the recruiting front for Penn State. The Nittany Lions took care of business Saturday afternoon against Kent State in monsoon-like conditions which prevented prospects from making the trip to State College.

With a bye week approaching, many members of the coaching staff will hit the road this weekend to scout members of the 2014 and 2015 classes. Be sure to check back next Monday to see which players Penn State were stopped in on.

For this week’s Recruiting Wrap-Up we’ll take a look around the rest of the Big Ten and check in on some of the remaining top, uncommitted prospects around the country. All rankings are courtesy of Rivals.com.

Change of plans for nation’s top prospect

The Rivals number one player, defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, from Woodbridge, Virginia, rearranged his official visit schedule this week, which is positive news for one member of the Big Ten.

Now down to Alabama, Florida and Michigan, Hand, who was initially scheduled to visit Alabama for their Nov. 9 showdown with LSU, will now make the trip to Tuscaloosa Oct. 26 for the Crimson Tide’s game against Tennessee. Certainly, the atmosphere won’t compare to a potential primetime game with national championship implications.

Hand has already taken an official visit to Michigan when the Wolverines knocked off Notre Dame in primetime at “The Big House”. He will make an announcement on Nov. 14 and at this time, Brady Hoke and company appear to be in the driver’s seat for the nation’s top overall prospect. Michigan already has a commitment from the nation’s number two prospect in Paramus Catholic defensive back, Jabrill Peppers.

Buckeyes falling for top linebacker?

Hinesville, Georgia, product Raekwon McMillan is the country’s top rated inside linebacker and recently named a final five of Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Georgia and Ohio State. Many have felt that Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes have been in the lead for a few months now, but that may be beginning to change.

McMillan loved his visit to Clemson to see the Tigers knock off Georgia in week one and the implications are that Clemson may be gaining some

serious ground. Distance will ultimately play a factor here, and Ohio State has work to do if they want to keep McMillan out of SEC country.

LSU picks up first 2017 commitment

No, that is not a typo. LSU picked up their first class of 2017 commitment last night when linebacker Dylan Moses (Baton Rouge, Louisiana, University Lab) made his pledge to the Tigers. Moses, only 15 years old and in his first year of high school football, held offers Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Texas, among others.

At 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds, Moses is a physical specimen for someone his age. Look for him to be one of the top prospects for the class of 2017. But remember, it will be four years before he even steps onto to the LSU campus.

Matt Lawrence is a junior majoring in broadcast journalism and economics. To contact him, email mdl030293@gmail.com.