Penn State Football: Top National Signing Day Targets

Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin argues a call during the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 2, 2017; Pasadena, CA, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin argues a call during the fourth quarter of the 2017 Rose Bowl game against the USC Trojans at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /
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1. Ellis Brooks, ILB, Benedictine (VA)

Let’s start with some good news for the Penn State faithful. The program that was once known for churning out linebackers seems to be returning to that formula. Look at it this way. The Big Ten has three schools whose recruiting classes are ranked in the top 15. Two of them, Ohio State and the Michigan Wolverines, are ranked in the top five and adding phenomenal skill players to the cupboard every season. The Maryland Terrapins are nipping at Penn State’s heels at number 16

This team would like to have some playmakers along the defensive front seven.

They have a very strong chance of doing so by adding inside linebacker Ellis Brooks from Benedictine in Richmond, Virginia. Brooks stands at 6-foot-2 inches tall. He weighs 233 pounds, and he’s seen as a four-star linebacker by 247Sports.com. He’s also ranked 269th on their list of the best players in the country. That goes hand in hand with being ranked at 13th among inside linebackers and tenth overall for all players from the state of Virginia.

Everyone in Happy Valley will be pleased knowing that Penn State is believed to be the favorites to land Brooks although Maryland, the LSU Tigers and the Oregon Ducks may still be in the mix as well.