Penn State got contributions from eight true freshmen in James Franklin’s first season and managed to redshirt 16 others from a 2014 recruiting class that ranked No. 25 nationally, according to Rivals.com. While Grant Haley, Marcus Allen and others made an impact right away, twice as many will enter the mix in 2015 and add valuable reinforcements to the roster.
Among the names to watch are wide receiver DeAndre Thompkins; running backs Mark Allen, Nick Scott and Johnathan Thomas; quarterback Trace McSorley and defensive end Torrence Brown. There’s plenty of young talent still looking to make a big first impression, and the 2015 season could provide the stage with depth issues still looming from NCAA sanctions.
Bob Flounders and Dustin Hockensmith broken down the Nittany Lions’ redshirt freshmen and which players are worth watching next season in this week’s Keystone Sports Network podcast. Check out audio from the show in this post and get plenty more podcasts and analysis on KeystoneSportsNetwork.com and by following @KSNSportsNet on Twitter.
Download KSN Podcast: Projecting the impact of redshirt freshmen