PSU head coach Bill O’Brien lands recruit despite heavy sanctions levied on the program.
Despite the crippling penalties aimed at bringing Penn State football to a crawl, the Nittany Lion coaching staff added its first prospect post-NCAA sanctions to its 2012 class. Linebacker Brennan Franklin, who hails from Arizona’s Peoria Centennial High, committed to Penn State earlier this week.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound inside linebacker is leaving for Happy Valley today. The coaching staff, the presence of team unity, and a chance to be part of something special undoubtedly convinced Franklin to play ball in front of 108,000 fans who are in desperate need of support during these troubling times. Franklin stated that the scandal and sanctions did not deter him or sway his interest in Penn State.
Though Brennan was not highly recruited, he did hold a handful of D-1AA scholarships and an offer from Toledo. However, the football tradition and the moniker of “Linebacker-U” was too much to pass. “It’s a dream for every linebacker to play there,” Franklin said Thursday evening after signing a tender offer with the Nittany Lions.
Though Penn State is banned from post-season play for the next for years, Franklin put things in perspective, “I know there’s a mess out there, but it’s one of the best schools to go to…if I went to New Mexico or New Mexico State or Indiana, they wouldn’t be he going to a bowl game anyway.”
