2027 Recruiting Thread

[PSU89er]

Guys they are visiting this week in addition to Sesay.

Elijah Guertin (6'5", 230) Bishop Hendricken, Rhode Island. Very under the radar kid. He has picked up close to 30 offers in the last two months. PSU appears to be in good shape, but big power 4 schools are starting to find this kid. Who Recruits Rhode Island?

Ifeanyi Emedobi (6'1.5", 215 Northorp, Indiana. High 3/low 4 star. Same old story. We'd be in great shape except for this school called Notre Dame. Biggest reason to think he might come here. If ND lands Sesay, Oneill and they are a favorite to land Jackson Vaughn (another big time NJ DE), they only have so much room and Emedobi might fall into our lap.

 

[LMTLION]

Guys they are visiting this week in addition to Sesay.

Elijah Guertin (6'5", 230) Bishop Hendricken, Rhode Island. Very under the radar kid. He has picked up close to 30 offers in the last two months. PSU appears to be in good shape, but big power 4 schools are starting to find this kid. Who Recruits Rhode Island?

Ifeanyi Emedobi (6'1.5", 215 Northorp, Indiana. High 3/low 4 star. Same old story. We'd be in great shape except for this school called Notre Dame. Biggest reason to think he might come here. If ND lands Sesay, Oneill and they are a favorite to land Jackson Vaughn (another big time NJ DE), they only have so much room and Emedobi might fall into our lap.

Guertin is the under the radar type guy Campbell typically finds, but it is tough to keep these finds on the down low. It seems like some schools just watch what Campbell does and swoop in with their own offers. He doesn’t even have a star rating on 247 yet and is a low 3 on on3, but has gotten offers from Tenn, Nebraska, FL, etc.

 

[Moogy]

Guertin is the under the radar type guy Campbell typically finds, but it is tough to keep these finds on the down low. It seems like some schools just watch what Campbell does and swoop in with their own offers. He doesn’t even have a star rating on 247 yet and is a low 3 on on3, but has gotten offers from Tenn, Nebraska, FL, etc.

PSU was Guertin's 19th D1 offer (he now has 27), and while some of the 18 that came before them weren't top level D1 programs (as in P4), there were at least some, so it's not like he found a hidden gem.

Kids do the workout/showcase circuit now. so they're seen before they even play high school ball ... they have lots and lots of tape they can send to interested parties ... they get seen all over ... although Hendricken does produce some big time talent (mostly in baseball) ... but New England, generally, is doing a much better job of getting eyeballs on talent up this way. A lot of them are centered in the elite prep schools (the 60-80K per year schools these guys attend for free just because they're big and/or athletic), but then the eyeballs increasingly are focused on them, and they also see the peripheral guys at some of the Catholics and publics.

 

[LMTLION]

PSU was Guertin's 19th D1 offer (he now has 27), and while some of the 18 that came before them weren't top level D1 programs (as in P4), there were at least some, so it's not like he found a hidden gem.

Kids do the workout/showcase circuit now. so they're seen before they even play high school ball ... they have lots and lots of tape they can send to interested parties ... they get seen all over ... although Hendricken does produce some big time talent (mostly in baseball) ... but New England, generally, is doing a much better job of getting eyeballs on talent up this way. A lot of them are centered in the elite prep schools (the 60-80K per year schools these guys attend for free just because they're big and/or athletic), but then the eyeballs increasingly are focused on them, and they also see the peripheral guys at some of the Catholics and publics.

I would agree he is not the same under the radar guy as a Reeder but the only p4 that offered him last year was BC. After PSU offered then Tenn and Florida followed suit this year.

 

[LMTLION]

Will Wood is getting noticed.

 

[PSU4U]

Will Wood is getting noticed.

In the words of JoePa "Come To Penn State"

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

In the words of JoePa "Come To Penn State"

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

I just can't see the Bourque thing happening now nor would I be willing to wait him out - lock Will Wood up and start building the skill positions around him.

EDIT: FWIW, sounds like (as of this week), the staff is prioritizing Wood and trying to lock him up with an in-home visit later this week. I think Bourque poking around everywhere + they see a better schematic fit are the driving factors. Let's get this one done.

 

[Moogy]

Will Wood is getting noticed.

He's not good.

 

[RyanSnyder]

Jaden Baldwin - Basha - Wide Receiver

Explore Jaden Baldwin's athlete profile at On3.com. Get news and insights into his playing career, statistics, and achievements in sports.

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[Moogy]

I just can't see the Bourque thing happening now nor would I be willing to wait him out - lock Will Wood up and start building the skill positions around him.

EDIT: FWIW, sounds like (as of this week), the staff is prioritizing Wood and trying to lock him up with an in-home visit later this week. I think Bourque poking around everywhere + they see a better schematic fit are the driving factors. Let's get this one done.

If the staff is intent on taking a QB from the area, it's Bourque or bust. Will Wood is a UMass backup or BC 3rd/4th stringer.

 

[NOYDB]

He's not good.

Can you explain this take?

 

[Bison13]

Can you explain this take?

4 star is a UMass back up .lol he's an idiot, put him on ignore

 

[Moogy]

Can you explain this take?

Sure. He was the product of a system/superior athletes. Watched him in person a few times ... not impressive. If you watch his tape, he floats a lot of balls that his superior WRs (compared to the DBs who are covering them) go get. Those throws won't play at the next level (easily defended by competent DBs). Doesn't have great athleticism or arm strength to make top level college throws on a regular basis. He's not as good at Xaverian as Henry Hasselbeck was, and Hasselbeck is a mess (washed out at UCLA after many commits/decommits during his HS recruitment process and is now at App St). Saw Bourque a bunch at CM, before he transferred to Tabor, and even though he also benefitted from superior athletes, he made the plays a college level guy would make ... and then he continued to perform when he went to Tabor, where everyone he was playing with and against was "recruited," so the talent levels evened out. He may or may not pan out, but he has a better shot than Wood at the P4 level.

 

[Chumboshifko1]

Hi ya!!!

 

[LMTLION]

Sure. He was the product of a system/superior athletes. Watched him in person a few times ... not impressive. If you watch his tape, he floats a lot of balls that his superior WRs (compared to the DBs who are covering them) go get. Those throws won't play at the next level (easily defended by competent DBs). Doesn't have great athleticism or arm strength to make top level college throws on a regular basis. He's not as good at Xaverian as Henry Hasselbeck was, and Hasselbeck is a mess (washed out at UCLA after many commits/decommits during his HS recruitment process and is now at App St). Saw Bourque a bunch at CM, before he transferred to Tabor, and even though he also benefitted from superior athletes, he made the plays a college level guy would make ... and then he continued to perform when he went to Tabor, where everyone he was playing with and against was "recruited," so the talent levels evened out. He may or may not pan out, but he has a better shot than Wood at the P4 level.

That is not the general recruiting an opinion out there. He beat a 2028 five star QB prospect in their state championship game. Throws a better ball than McSorley.

 

[Moogy]

4 star is a UMass back up .lol he's an idiot, put him on ignore

Keep it classy, gym teacher.

 

[RyanSnyder]

Ifeanyi Emedobi - Northrop - Edge

Explore Ifeanyi Emedobi's athlete profile at On3.com. Get news and insights into his playing career, statistics, and achievements in sports.

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[Moogy]

That is not the general recruiting an opinion out there.

I'm aware. Hence his stars.

He beat a 2028 five star QB prospect in their state championship game.

No, he didn't. His superior team did. QBs don't play each other. By this measure, he also lost to Springfield Central and Central Catholic (Lawrence), so does he not stack up to the QBs on those teams? Regardless, Vargas, who I don't know as much about, since he is North Shore, beyond the wall ... was only a soph and had been injured and hadn't played in the playoffs or on Turkey Day (where SJP also played XBHS in a low scoring affair), and I'm guessing he wasn't near 100% for that game, either.

Throws a better ball than McSorley.

I don't see that at all but, then again, I didn't see much of McSorley in high school. McSorley definitely threw a better ball, in college, than Will Wood does in high school.

 

[EricStratton-RushChairman]

Can you explain this take?

Don't take anything he says too seriously... he clearly dislikes all Boston Catholic Conf schools, probably because he was denied acceptance

 

[NOYDB]

Sure. He was the product of a system/superior athletes. Watched him in person a few times ... not impressive. If you watch his tape, he floats a lot of balls that his superior WRs (compared to the DBs who are covering them) go get. Those throws won't play at the next level (easily defended by competent DBs). Doesn't have great athleticism or arm strength to make top level college throws on a regular basis. He's not as good at Xaverian as Henry Hasselbeck was, and Hasselbeck is a mess (washed out at UCLA after many commits/decommits during his HS recruitment process and is now at App St). Saw Bourque a bunch at CM, before he transferred to Tabor, and even though he also benefitted from superior athletes, he made the plays a college level guy would make ... and then he continued to perform when he went to Tabor, where everyone he was playing with and against was "recruited," so the talent levels evened out. He may or may not pan out, but he has a better shot than Wood at the P4 level.

Appreciate the response! The QB position is a guessing game with any of these players imo.. more will wash out than become a superstar.

Manske could turn into a superstar or even the freshman from TX and this year’s recruiting class QB (Bourqe or Wood) will be transferring out.. PLUS, the portal is the future of QB’s that have great years. They will either be paid handsomely or enter the sweepstakes.

 

[Moogy]

Don't take anything he says too seriously... he clearly dislikes all Boston Catholic Conf schools, probably because he was denied acceptance

We've been through this before ... as I explained then, as I didn't grow up in this area and, in fact, grew up in PA, I think it would have been pretty inconvenient of me to apply to a Boston Catholic school. "You don't value this player as highly as some others do? Well, oh yeah, you're probably just jealous because you applied to those schools and didn't get in." - says a sad, desperate teenager who doesn't have a logical underpinning to his argument ... definitely not from a functioning adult.

When I critiqued the Liam Andrews recruitment (not him as a player, but where they planned to put him) ... because I didn't think he had the frame to support being a superior DT, and he slotted in more as a DE (or possibly even a TE ... although I didn't know anything about his receiving skills) because of his athleticism (and frame) ... was that because I was jealous of not being inappropriately touched in Catholic high schools, and turning into an addict to cope with the subsequent feelings (even though he didn't go to a Catholic high school)? Or just because I had an opinion, which wasn't the popular opinion ... which, so far, has proven out to be true? I still think his best bet is at DE, and with this new defense, he can kind of slide into a larger DE role (though I think he'd still have a better chance as a lighter DE).

Speaking of Catholic schools in the greater Boston area ... Brody Bumila out of Feehan ... stud baseball player. He's legit. HUGE injury risk (already had TJ ... and I called that when he was under 6 ft tall as a 13U ... maybe he hurt his arm swatting away the priests?) ... but undeniable talent.

 

[Moogy]

Appreciate the response! The QB position is a guessing game with any of these players imo.. more will wash out than become a superstar.

Manske could turn into a superstar or even the freshman from TX and this year’s recruiting class QB (Bourqe or Wood) will be transferring out.. PLUS, the portal is the future of QB’s that have great years. They will either be paid handsomely or enter the sweepstakes.

I've been wrong before, and there's absolutely a huge variance in projection v. results ... as these are all idiot kids, and there's a bunch of uncertainty of how they'll develop once they move on to college ... but I don't see it with Will Wood and I do with Bourque (even though he's a Hingham brat). I didn't think Hasselbeck was likely to pan out, either ... but I thought he was better than Wood.

 

[Nits1989]

We've been through this before ... as I explained then, as I didn't grow up in this area and, in fact, grew up in PA, I think it would have been pretty inconvenient of me to apply to a Boston Catholic school. "You don't value this player as highly as some others do? Well, oh yeah, you're probably just jealous because you applied to those schools and didn't get in." - says a sad, desperate teenager who doesn't have a logical underpinning to his argument ... definitely not from a functioning adult.

When I critiqued the Liam Andrews recruitment (not him as a player, but where they planned to put him) ... because I didn't think he had the frame to support being a superior DT, and he slotted in more as a DE (or possibly even a TE ... although I didn't know anything about his receiving skills) because of his athleticism (and frame) ... was that because I was jealous of not being inappropriately touched in Catholic high schools, and turning into an addict to cope with the subsequent feelings (even though he didn't go to a Catholic high school)? Or just because I had an opinion, which wasn't the popular opinion ... which, so far, has proven out to be true? I still think his best bet is at DE, and with this new defense, he can kind of slide into a larger DE role (though I think he'd still have a better chance as a lighter DE).

Speaking of Catholic schools in the greater Boston area ... Brody Bumila out of Feehan ... stud baseball player. He's legit. HUGE injury risk (already had TJ ... and I called that when he was under 6 ft tall as a 13U ... maybe he hurt his arm swatting away the priests?) ... but undeniable talent.

Kinda hope you're right that he can work his way into playing time as a large DE. Hope he shows the athleticism you noticed. I remember Michigan occasionally having very large DEs that were problems for offenses.

 

[rigi19041]

Don't take anything he says too seriously... he clearly dislikes all Boston Catholic Conf schools, probably because he was denied acceptance

I hate all catholic schools.

 

[LionsAndBears]

I realize Moogy is trolling but to be honest, I didn't like Wood's tape. I'm not a coach and my opinion doesn't matter but I thought it was a lot of just chucking it deep. It reminded me of former 5* Anthony Morelli.

 

[psuno1]

I realize Moogy is trolling but to be honest, I didn't like Wood's tape. I'm not a coach and my opinion doesn't matter but I thought it was a lot of just chucking it deep. It reminded me of former 5* Anthony Morelli.

Morelli put up 5,000 yards and 56% completion rate in 2 years starting for PSU. I think Will Wood would take that. Just get both Bourque and Wood problem solved.

 

[Corner Room Breakfast]

Guertin is the under the radar type guy Campbell typically finds, but it is tough to keep these finds on the down low. It seems like some schools just watch what Campbell does and swoop in with their own offers. He doesn’t even have a star rating on 247 yet and is a low 3 on on3, but has gotten offers from Tenn, Nebraska, FL, etc.

Some schools are either lazy recruiters or out bidders. Justin Fields was a prime example.
ND on the other hand has independent money, UCLA has new money, and some schools
are gambling on recruits with a budget.

 

[LionsAndBears]

Morelli put up 5,000 yards and 56% completion rate in 2 years starting for PSU. I think Will Wood would take that. Just get both Bourque and Wood problem solved.

Those numbers are not good enough for what we want to do here. Morelli never made the transition from a HS QB to a D1 QB. He played like he was still drawing up plays in the dirt.

 

[TheWizardofCamelot]

I realize Moogy is trolling but to be honest, I didn't like Wood's tape. I'm not a coach and my opinion doesn't matter but I thought it was a lot of just chucking it deep. It reminded me of former 5* Anthony Morelli.

42 TDs to 1 INT seems like a bit more composed than "a lot of just chucking it deep." His scouting report is efficiency and accuracy. And he also ran for ~500 yards last year.

I don't know if he's going to work out either, but basing an opinion on a couple of hudl clips isn't exactly in-depth scouting on your part.

Take Wood and see how it works out. Beats paying top dollar for Bourque who probably has similar chances of being the next great PSU QB. Campbell & Co have a much better start on a bunch of QB prospects in the '28 class anyway.

 

[LB99]

I realize Moogy is trolling but to be honest, I didn't like Wood's tape. I'm not a coach and my opinion doesn't matter but I thought it was a lot of just chucking it deep. It reminded me of former 5* Anthony Morelli.

I’m not sure why people are giving him a hard time. He has seen the kid play in person, unlike the rest of us. Although, coaches see and recognize things we don’t, so they have a better idea of the probability of developing into a good college QB.

 

[LB99]

Morelli put up 5,000 yards and 56% completion rate in 2 years starting for PSU. I think Will Wood would take that. Just get both Bourque and Wood problem solved.

Morelli was plan B for missing out on Henne. Wood, it appears, is plan C for missing out on Mencl and Borque.

 

[LB99]

Those numbers are not good enough for what we want to do here. Morelli never made the transition from a HS QB to a D1 QB. He played like he was still drawing up plays in the dirt.

Rumors from the Big 33 game that year was that he couldn’t read a defense, which is why Henne was more highly sought after. To be fair though, one NFL scout did call Morelli the most undercoached QB he had ever worked with after leaving PSU. That’s not a ringing endorsement for PSU QB coaching at the time.

 

[LB99]

Morelli put up 5,000 yards and 56% completion rate in 2 years starting for PSU. I think Will Wood would take that. Just get both Bourque and Wood problem solved.

56% completion percentage is not very good.

 

[Mongrel]

Rumors from the Big 33 game that year was that he couldn’t read a defense, which is why Henne was more highly sought after. To be fair though, one NFL scout did call Morelli the most undercoached QB he had ever worked with after leaving PSU. That’s not a ringing endorsement for PSU QB coaching at the time.

That was a coach for the AZ Cardinals with whom Morelli signed as a free agent. The Cardinals cut him fairly early into training camp. He had tremendous physical measurables and overall was a decent D1 quarterback. What he lacked were the instincts that separate QBs from being next level. One of the plays I distinctly remember was against tOSU in the Horseshoe. It was 3rd and 1 around PSU's 35; Anthony broke out of the pocket and could have easily moved forward and got the first down. Instead, he started to run parallel to the line of scrimmage looking downfield for an open receiver. The OSU linebacker (James Laurinaitis) closed in on him and tackled Anthony for no gain. PSU punted and missed an opportunity to gain momentum in what was at the time a close game.

 

[LB99]

That was a coach for the AZ Cardinals with whom Morelli signed as a free agent. The Cardinals cut him fairly early into training camp. He had tremendous physical measurables and overall was a decent D1 quarterback. What he lacked were the instincts that separate QBs from being next level. One of the plays I distinctly remember was against tOSU in the Horseshoe. It was 3rd and 1 around PSU's 35; Anthony broke out of the pocket and could have easily moved forward and got the first down. Instead, he started to run parallel to the line of scrimmage looking downfield for an open receiver. The OSU linebacker (James Laurinaitis) closed in on him and tackled Anthony for no gain. PSU punted and missed an opportunity to gain momentum in what was at the time a close game.

Didn’t he have multiple pick 6s in one of the games at the shoe also?

 

[psuno1]

Those numbers are not good enough for what we want to do here. Morelli never made the transition from a HS QB to a D1 QB. He played like he was still drawing up plays in the dirt.

True he did not live up to the 5 star hype, spot on with drawing up plays in the dirt- but not terrible numbers.

 

[rigi19041]

Didn’t he have multiple pick 6s in one of the games at the shoe also?

"Franklin" ruined him

 

[RyanSnyder]

David Tarawallie - Riverside - Offensive Tackle

Explore David Tarawallie's athlete profile at On3.com. Get news and insights into his playing career, statistics, and achievements in sports.

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[LMTLION]

We just got his verbal last week. Georgia continues to follow PSU offers and now PSU commits.