Video Breakdown: Penn State aces its safety recruiting with Vaboue Toure
Penn State football landed its second safety in the Class of 2024 on Friday when four-star defensive back Vaboue Toure committed to the Nittany Lions. Learn how Toure became a Penn State commit from BWI recruiting insider Sean Fitz and film analyst Thomas Frank Carr. They take you through his recruiting journey and what skills he brings to the field for safeties coach Anthony Poindexter.
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Penn State goes two-for-two at safety
Not only is Toure an important commit because of his skills on the football field, but Fitz notes that his home state is also an important factor. Penn State has struggled in New Jersey for the last several years.
“Another quality pickup for Penn State. The first player out of the Garden State [in 2024]. Penn State has not signed a player from New Jersey since Amin Vanover in 2020. So getting back into the Garden State with Vaboue Toure,” Fitz said.
“It’s more top tier than anything. You look at the way they arrange these things. Dejuan Lane comes in and commits the first weekend in June and Toure comes in the second weekend, so you get a sense of the pecking order there.”
For his part, T-Frank is impressed with Toure’s skills and how well Penn State is recruiting at safety. The combination of Lane and Toure could be an interesting one down the line.
“Great instincts and great closing speed, not just in the run but the passing game. Both these guys, Lane and Toure, have good instincts. The size fact is Penn State is going more toward having guys that can play both in the field and boundary because they’re getting all these freak athletes,” T-Frank says.
But if you’re pegging one or the other [field and boundary], these two fit well together. Toure plays a lot of free safety and in a lot of two-high shells. That gives him experience with some more diverse coverages. Lane played near the box a lot and has a different skill set, despite having similar physical abilities.”
Toure committed to the Nittany Lions one week after his official visit. Unless a top national recruit shows interest in Penn State, the team is likely done at safety. With Antoine Belgrave-Shorter having safety versatility, the team is once again stacked at the position.
