STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- There's certainly not as much hype and build up to next week's signing day and understandably so. It's safe to say that the lack of uncertainly and the decreased stress is a welcome sight for the architects of the recruiting class who are housed over in the Lasch Football Building.
Penn State will put the finishing touches on the 2018 class next Wednesday, rounding out a top-5 group that already has signed and therefore has binding national letters of intent from 22 members. Six of those 22 members are already enrolled in classes and going through winter workouts.
Defensive end Jayson Oweh was the lone pledge added since the early signing period back in December, but keep in mind Oweh actually signed during the early signing period but just didn't go public with his decision until announcing at the Under Armour All-America game earlier this month. So, in all likelihood Penn State probably has about three spots left, a number that would bring the class to 25 members and certainly one that could be altered by the 85 scholarship limit knowing that there's always roster turnover after the conclusion of spring ball.
How Penn State wants to use these final three spots also shouldn't be too surprising if one is following the offers that are out there and any potential holes that still remain in this class.
Wide receiver Solomon Enis, the son of legendary former Nittany Lion Curtis Enis, is potentially the most likely of the remaining targets to join this 2018 class. Heck, Penn State football even mistakenly released a video about the 2018 class on Twitter that included Enis in a Penn State jersey before quickly deleting it.
Penn State already signed three receivers with Justin Shorter, Daniel George and Jahan Dotson in the fold. Dotson was a bit of a surprise back during the December signing period as the Lions were able to pick him up, which then makes the longtime verbal pledge from Harrisburg High School's Shaquon Anderson-Butts a little more interesting, at least to me.
Anderson-Butts had no intentions of signing in December though it's unclear if that decision was his or one that came with a little urging from the staff, wanting to make sure everything checked out academically before the spot was taken. That will be one to certainly keep an eye on next week. Would Penn State take Enis and Anderson-Butts, giving them five receivers in one class? I wouldn't rule it out, especially if they like this crop of receivers more than the 2019 group. That could make loading up this year result in a light class of receiver signees next year.
But, even if they would only end up with one of those two and have four receivers in this class that's still an impressive haul considering the upside of this group that's headlined by Shorter.
Another spot up for grabs could belong to Maryland offensive tackle Rasheed Walker, who officially visited Penn State in December and then did the same at Ohio State a couple weeks ago. Penn State signed offensive linemen Bryce Effner, Juice Scruggs and Nana Asiedu but Franklin hasn't been shy about his desire to want to add at least one more lineman to this class. Walker is at the top of that wish list and has been for months.
"We still have a need at offensive tackle," Franklin said back in December. "So there is still a need there. But overall I think we've helped ourselves in those areas up front on both sides of the ball."
Penn State likes to have at least one player signed per position per year -- with the exception of specialists -- and with Walker's two front runners seemingly down to Penn State and Ohio State it would be a boost to the Lions' future up front but would also help to keep Walker from being a guy they'd have to potentially worry about playing against in the division in the coming years. His decision will be a big one and his call is probably giving the staff the most anxiety at this point as they look to fight off the Buckeyes.
So where could that third spot go to? If they end up with two receivers and Walker that would do it. Or, if they end up with one receiver and Walker they could then reevaluate and determine if there's a final player worth using a spot on or if they hold off and don't fill every spot. They've offered a few cornerbacks recently who could factor in if space remains, but those decisions likely would only happen should Enis and Walker go elsewhere and therefore free up spots.
For the time being, including the 22 signees, I have the Lions right at 85 scholarships. They've cut ties with Irv Charles and Manny Bowen since the conclusion of the season and lost Saquon Barkley to the NFL. With three more additions they would be over, but roster movement always happens, especially after spring ball so it's not much of a concern.
NAME TO KNOW
Penn State added a walk-on specialist to the 2018 class on Monday night with the addition of Vlad Hilling. Hilling, who kicked for Hollidaysburg, could be a name to know as the Lions will head into spring ball and the summer with an open kicking competition.
With Tyler Davis out of eligibility, Penn State will turn to walk-ons Carson Landis and Nick DeAngelis who will compete with scholarship kicker Jake Pinegar once he arrives this summer. Add Hilling into that mix come July, too.
Davis handled both field goals and kickoff duties next season though Penn State will look for two players to split those duties next season.
NEXT FOUR!!!!!??⚪️ pic.twitter.com/xSjIEXWpos
— Vlad Hilling (@vladhilling) January 30, 2018