Penn State offers 2023 four-star tackle; former Lions linebacker 'a riser' after Shrine Bowl: Newsstand
Welcome back to the Penn State newsstand.
Each weekday, this piece collects the top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions, plus a quote of note.
Today, we reveal a new Lions offer to a Class of 2023 recruit and review the praise being heaped on a former Penn State linebacker. Other topics are covered, as well.
Let’s dive into the latest on the Lions.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with an offer that went out on Wednesday night.
Penn State has joined the race for Tuscaloosa, Ala., On3 Consensus four-star Wilkin Formby. The 6-foot-7, 295-pound junior projects as a tackle at the next level. He holds 20-plus offers, including ones from Ole Miss (which currently leads in the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine), Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, and Tennessee.
Formby’s grandfather played for the Crimson Tide. That and his proximity to campus will make head coach Nick Saban’s program seem like the team to beat in the long run. The question, ultimately, will be whether or not the nation’s No. 227 player and No. 12 tackle has any interest in going to college outside of the south. If so, Penn State could land a visit. If not, its chances are on the wrong side of slim and none.
Moving along, former Penn State linebacker Ellis Brooks turned at least one evaluator’s head at the Shrine Bowl.
Eric Galko, the game’s Director of Player Operations and Player Personnel, tweeted that Brooks made a jump following the January all-star game.
“Ellis Brooks wildly impressed scouts in interviews, and his leadership, football IQ, and positioning on field made him a riser,” Galko writes.
Brooks was not invited to the NFL Combine. It means his next chance to impress NFL personnel will come at Penn State Pro Day next month.
Finally, we wrap this section with a pair of coaching notes that are indirectly related to Penn State.
Former tight end and Lions team captain Al Golden is officially Notre Dame’s new defensive coordinator. And, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who flirted with the NFL up until just a couple weeks ago, has received a contract extension in Ann Arbor. Terms of that deal were not disclosed.
Headlines of the day
How Penn State Football Has Fared In Thursday Games: Prime, Onward State
Why Penn State-Purdue on a Thursday makes sense, plus a throwback and thought on the Lions: Pickel, BWI
Max Dean moves up to No. 1 at 197 for Penn State wrestling in latest InterMat rankings: Allen, Daily Collegian
Penn State coach Micah Shrewsberry turns to Nick Saban for lesson in success: Bauer, BWI
Kaytron Allen looms as a ‘big’ presence in Penn State’s running back picture moving forward: Flounders, PennLive
Pair of Penn State assistants have additional titles entering 2022 season: Pickel, BWI
Assistant football coaches at these schools have seen recent career progression: Layberger, Forbes
PSU commit J’ven Williams learning from Ross Tucker: Frank Carr, BWI
Big Ten ADs prefer to keep nine-game league schedule, despite its effect on alliance, says Ohio State Buckeyes’ Gene Smith: Rittenberg, ESPN
Get to know the Lions’ top 2024 defensive line targets: Snyder, BWI
Notre Dame quick-hitters: Al Golden talks Super Bowl, return to college football: Pollard, BGI
Eric Wilson opens up about Nittany Lions, Phil Trautwein: Frank Carr, BWI
Quote of the day
“I think we would all say we were disappointed with [last season]. We knew going into the year like we had a great chance to mesh and be a great offensive line. And it just didn’t happen for us for whatever reason. I think we’d all own that. We know that we have a room that can be great. I say ‘we’ still. I feel like I’m a part of those guys like that. There is greatness in that room, and I have 100 percent faith that they’re going to get that this year.”
–Former PSU guard Eric Wilson on the Paydirt Podcast about the Lions’ line in 2021 and what lies ahead.
