Kids we picked up in the portal?

[bdroc]

Three improved on their H.S. ratings but five have slipped. Are those on the rise be up to the challenge? Will those who declined be able to turn things around?

On the rise:
Campbell was .85 now .91
Ross was .85 now .90
Pena was .84 now .91

On the decline:
Hudson was .94 now .88
White was .98 now .86
Shanahan was .94 now .88
Wafle was .89 now .85
Mack was .95 now .88

 

[Frank Lee]

Barkley. A 93 (a guess) in HS, a 99 in college, an 87 with the Giants, and a 99 with the Eagles. Things are situational in a lot of cases.

 

[LudicrousSpeedGO!]

Barkley. A 93 (a guess) in HS, a 99 in college, an 87 with the Giants, and a 99 with the Eagles. Things are situational in a lot of cases.

True, many factors play into this including injuries and rating inaccuracies. The question to me is what do we expect in terms of production from each of these transfers?

 

[bdroc]

True, many factors play into this including injuries and rating inaccuracies. The question to me is what do we expect in terms of production from each of these transfers?

It looks like we're expecting more from the risers this year. All 3 risers are expected to be major contributors this year. Hudson is the only decliner who has been regularly mentioned in that regard.

 

[LudicrousSpeedGO!]

It looks like we're expecting more from the risers this year. All 3 risers are expected to be major contributors this year. Hudson is the only decliner who has been regularly mentioned in that regard.

Hard to disagree. Care to guestimate some production numbers of these transfers?

 

[Frank Lee]

It looks like we're expecting more from the risers this year. All 3 risers are expected to be major contributors this year. Hudson is the only decliner who has been regularly mentioned in that regard.

According to stats & Franklin, Hudson doesn't drop passes. He did well against PSU last year and had that grab against LSU. Maybe straight away speed and flash go into those rankings, but I really like this guy being on the team.

 

[RickinDayton]

True, many factors play into this including injuries and rating inaccuracies. The question to me is what do we expect in terms of production from each of these transfers?

I think WR production is tied to Allars progression. Does he have the confidence to "throw them open" and to target them? Hudson was on a USC team where he was not the primary target so I hope his production increases along with Ross (deep threat) and Pena.
Hoping Wafle can get in the rotation. Word on White is he has some motivation issues so PSU might be his last opportunity if he doesn't self motivate, lose a little weight and get aggressive.
Campbell could possibly start and will at least see lots of rotational PT.
Mack will be fit in at Nickel.

 

[LudicrousSpeedGO!]

I think WR production is tied to Allars progression. Does he have the confidence to "throw them open" and to target them? Hudson was on a USC team where he was not the primary target so I hope his production increases along with Ross (deep threat) and Pena.
Hoping Wafle can get in the rotation. Word on White is he has some motivation issues so PSU might be his last opportunity if he doesn't self motivate, lose a little weight and get aggressive.
Campbell could possibly start and will at least see lots of rotational PT.
Mack will be fit in at Nickel.

That's a good rundown and reasonable assumptions.

Any thought as to who emerges as the #1 WR out of the group? #2? I'm guessing most think Pena is sort of the 1, Ross or Hudson 2, with Denmark/Saunders/Clifford/maybe Howard as a possibly 3 or 4. The WR group is critical to reaching our goals but is also the biggest remaining question mark as to how it shakes out. Plenty of candidates but no real headliners. It almost seems to me like we could end up with 3 or maybe 4 guys with similar numbers and no #1. Maybe that turns out to be a good thing? The D cannot take away that one guy. But they also don't have to game plan to take away that #1 guy.

 

[RickinDayton]

That's a good rundown and reasonable assumptions.

Any thought as to who emerges as the #1 WR out of the group? #2? I'm guessing most think Pena is sort of the 1, Ross or Hudson 2, with Denmark/Saunders/Clifford/maybe Howard as a possibly 3 or 4. The WR group is critical to reaching our goals but is also the biggest remaining question mark as to how it shakes out. Plenty of candidates but no real headliners. It almost seems to me like we could end up with 3 or maybe 4 guys with similar numbers and no #1. Maybe that turns out to be a good thing? The D cannot take away that one guy. But they also don't have to game plan to take away that #1 guy.

I agree with your assessment of no real #1 but similar #s. Again, Allar has to go through his progressions and spread the ball around. If he is focused on 1 receiver, be it a TE or WR, then the offense suffers. Coach K has to ensure play calling is balanced (run/pass) and diverse to keep defenses off balance.

 

[bdroc]

Hard to disagree. Care to guestimate some production numbers of these transfers?

I'm hoping that Hudson, Pena, and Ross each have more than 500 receiving yards. Maybe one or two gets over 800 yds. I don't expect a 1,000 yd receiver because a lot of throws will go to Dinkins & Reynolds. Clifford & Denmark will also get some targets.

I expect Campbell to get lots of PT including some starts. It might depend on Wylie.

 

[Lazy Dave]

Three improved on their H.S. ratings but five have slipped. Are those on the rise be up to the challenge? Will those who declined be able to turn things around?

On the rise:
Campbell was .85 now .91
Ross was .85 now .90
Pena was .84 now .91

On the decline:
Hudson was .94 now .88
White was .98 now .86
Shanahan was .94 now .88
Wafle was .89 now .85
Mack was .95 now .88

Interesting post. I like the idea behind it.

A player like Wafle should be graded as INC. He's a RS FR. He shouldn't have been dropped just because he didn't play as a freshman. Or it's basically an admission that HS evaluations are poor.

Hudson is probably fair, but he split time in an offense with guys considered better only because they run the 40 faster. He put up the same stats. Kind of baffling. I think he fulfills a need we have (contested catch WR).

White and Shannahan are definitely fair. Are they released from their Aggie chains and going to thrive? No clue yet. I think we took White because he's a Philly kid, try to influence future recruits whether he plays this year or not. TJ, I think they know he's capable of stepping in if needed, but hopeful they can build him a year and get 2 out of him as a starter.

Mack intrigues me. Never would have expected his prodigal son return scenario. Shocked he dropped this much as he's fast, but I wonder where he falls. Is he our #2 S or fighting for #4/5?

WR will be interesting. We at least have known returning production. I hate we lost Wallace, these 3 would have benefit him greatly as he wouldn't be a DE facto #1. Who will be our #1? I actually don't know yet, but my guess is:

Ross #1. His speed gives him a slight edge to me over Pena.
Pena #2. Highly productive player.
Hudson #3. I think the USC offense was kinda messy and without anybody ever being the focal point he may have gotten lost in the shuffle.

I hope Denmark pushes these guys and if he beats them so be it. As long as weapons emerge, I don't care who it is.

 

[GregInPitt]

Interesting post. I like the idea behind it.

A player like Wafle should be graded as INC. He's a RS FR. He shouldn't have been dropped just because he didn't play as a freshman. Or it's basically an admission that HS evaluations are poor.

Hudson is probably fair, but he split time in an offense with guys considered better only because they run the 40 faster. He put up the same stats. Kind of baffling. I think he fulfills a need we have (contested catch WR).

White and Shannahan are definitely fair. Are they released from their Aggie chains and going to thrive? No clue yet. I think we took White because he's a Philly kid, try to influence future recruits whether he plays this year or not. TJ, I think they know he's capable of stepping in if needed, but hopeful they can build him a year and get 2 out of him as a starter.

Mack intrigues me. Never would have expected his prodigal son return scenario. Shocked he dropped this much as he's fast, but I wonder where he falls. Is he our #2 S or fighting for #4/5?

WR will be interesting. We at least have known returning production. I hate we lost Wallace, these 3 would have benefit him greatly as he wouldn't be a DE facto #1. Who will be our #1? I actually don't know yet, but my guess is:

Ross #1. His speed gives him a slight edge to me over Pena.
Pena #2. Highly productive player.
Hudson #3. I think the USC offense was kinda messy and without anybody ever being the focal point he may have gotten lost in the shuffle.

I hope Denmark pushes these guys and if he beats them so be it. As long as weapons emerge, I don't care who it is.

As you pointed out, the ratings that transfers are given seem to be mainly rewarding their production, not their base talent and potential as the ratings do for high school players. And for that reason I don't put much stock in them.

Linemen who don't usually play as freshmen or many times as sophs don't get much love. Wafle to me is the same player and prospect he was when UM took him and I'm looking for him to be in the thick of the competition for the 4th and 5th spots in the DT rotation. Shanahan is still young but proved he belongs and that he'll be a B10 starter by his ability to play early at TAM. I look at him as a steal from the portal that will be a 2 year starter at PSU and take over a starting spot to help PSU continue to have a top OL when Vega and Dawkins move on.

I'm not as optimistic with the WR as they got their "ratings" running up stats against non B10 competition (mainly other than Ross lighting up Iowa).

Hard to have much of an opinion on White. Is he still the super talented DE prospect that Barnes went all in recruiting to PSU but lost to $$TAM? Barnes and Franklin believe he can be a big contributor with the right coaching and the right environment or they wouldn't have taken him. I don't believe Franklin takes players just to appease a high school coach for PSU recruiting resume towards that school. Taking a player from a perenial talent producing high school does help future recruiting at the high school but I believe it's more a side benefit than a true strategy that would cause PSU to take a player they otherwise wouldn't.

Campbell seems like a solid addition but just because he did well at NC doen't make me believe he's better than Wylie or Speca, although he does have more game experience. But not game experience vs oh-high-ya, Oregon, and UM.....

I'm not really sold on Mack either as yes he has speed and talent. But yes he's under sized and PSU's best recent Safety's have had size, talent and the game savy to make plays in critical situations. I also don't see that Mack has shown the coverage skills to be a shut down slot CB. But I'm not overly concerned as Smith has a deep talent pool at CB such that if Mack is on the field in the slot he must have beaten out good players and earned his spot.

 

[Lazy Dave]

I don't believe Franklin takes players just to appease a high school coach for PSU recruiting resume towards that school. Taking a player from a perenial talent producing high school does help future recruiting at the high school but I believe it's more a side benefit than a true strategy that would cause PSU to take a player they otherwise wouldn't.

I think the optics of it are important. This is the 3rd former top 50 PA kid we've lost to an out of state school during the HS recruitment that didn't pan out and returned to us via the portal (Rucci, Fleming). If we can continue to improve Rucci and perhaps develop White into a draft pick, I think that bodes well for the future with PA kids.

Campbell seems like a solid addition but just because he did well at NC doen't make me believe he's better than Wylie or Speca, although he does have more game experience. But not game experience vs oh-high-ya, Oregon, and UM....

He was a really good player on a really bad defense. Like you, no idea how it turns out, but he at least adds to the room. He's at least our possible #3 just off experience alone and if he gets passed, so be it.

I'm not really sold on Mack either

Crazy that Mack left last year because he was behind a set 3 safety rotation and then Winston goes down in week 2. Mack could have played ALL YEAR. Instead, he chose a bag and went to Bama...and played about half the year.

 

[RickinDayton]

As you pointed out, the ratings that transfers are given seem to be mainly rewarding their production, not their base talent and potential as the ratings do for high school players. And for that reason I don't put much stock in them.

Linemen who don't usually play as freshmen or many times as sophs don't get much love. Wafle to me is the same player and prospect he was when UM took him and I'm looking for him to be in the thick of the competition for the 4th and 5th spots in the DT rotation. Shanahan is still young but proved he belongs and that he'll be a B10 starter by his ability to play early at TAM. I look at him as a steal from the portal that will be a 2 year starter at PSU and take over a starting spot to help PSU continue to have a top OL when Vega and Dawkins move on.

I'm not as optimistic with the WR as they got their "ratings" running up stats against non B10 competition (mainly other than Ross lighting up Iowa).

Hard to have much of an opinion on White. Is he still the super talented DE prospect that Barnes went all in recruiting to PSU but lost to $$TAM? Barnes and Franklin believe he can be a big contributor with the right coaching and the right environment or they wouldn't have taken him. I don't believe Franklin takes players just to appease a high school coach for PSU recruiting resume towards that school. Taking a player from a perenial talent producing high school does help future recruiting at the high school but I believe it's more a side benefit than a true strategy that would cause PSU to take a player they otherwise wouldn't.

Campbell seems like a solid addition but just because he did well at NC doen't make me believe he's better than Wylie or Speca, although he does have more game experience. But not game experience vs oh-high-ya, Oregon, and UM.....

I'm not really sold on Mack either as yes he has speed and talent. But yes he's under sized and PSU's best recent Safety's have had size, talent and the game savy to make plays in critical situations. I also don't see that Mack has shown the coverage skills to be a shut down slot CB. But I'm not overly concerned as Smith has a deep talent pool at CB such that if Mack is on the field in the slot he must have beaten out good players and earned his spot.

I see Campbell being a very solid contributor. The ACC is still a power conference and he excelled there.
I think Mack might spend more time at slot than safety.
I agree with your take on Shanahan fir 2026. He will either start or receive lots of reps as back up OL.
White has the talent he needs to self motivate and lose some weight.

 

[GregInPitt]

I think the optics of it are important. This is the 3rd former top 50 PA kid we've lost to an out of state school during the HS recruitment that didn't pan out and returned to us via the portal (Rucci, Fleming). If we can continue to improve Rucci and perhaps develop White into a draft pick, I think that bodes well for the future with PA kids.

The other big factor in PSU going after the transfer portal former top PA players is the fact that Franklin and his staff spent a lot of time getting to know both the players and their families. Franklin has often said that he prefers to focus his potential transfer portal players on players he recruited coming out of high school as he has relationships with them already as well as with their families. I've heard him explain that when players enter the portal their decision making is most often pretty quick, so knowing them and having determined that they would fit with PSU, be players that would fit into the PSU locker room and not upset team continuity, allows Franklin and his staff the opportunity to quickly focus on those players and offer them again without having to take the time they like to take starting from scratch and which is often not possible with portal players that are going to pick a new team ASAP. So any of the former top players in PA, unless they had backage in high school, fit into that category.

 

[LMTLion]

According to stats & Franklin, Hudson doesn't drop passes. He did well against PSU last year and had that grab against LSU. Maybe straight away speed and flash go into those rankings, but I really like this guy being on the team.

As long as Hudson does not create his own ints vs osu like wallace did, I will be happy!