PSU Nittany Lions: South Carolina Gamecocks
The RN Top 10 will appear throughout the camp and combine season and rank prospects based strictly on their on-field performance at that particular event. It does not reflect their overall prospect ranking.
ASHBURN, Va. – The East Coast and mid-Atlantic states represented well on Sunday as eight players earned invites to The Opening at the Nike Football Training Camp outside of Washington, D.C. Defense ruled the day, led by two five-star prospects from Virginia.
10. Nick Scott
Fairfax (Va.) Fairfax |RB| 5-11, 180
Scott stood out among a field of backs who were overshadowed by the prospects at nearly every other position. He earned the attention of coaches for his strong play and versatility but missed the MVP award, which went to Vincent Lowe (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), who also posted the top SPARQ score.
Scott committed to Penn State in February over an offer from Boston College.
ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert’s take: “He’s got a great frame, and what I like about him as a Penn State verbal, he’s a versatile player. He may not run by you, but he does a good job in route-running.”
ASHBURN, Va. – The East Coast and mid-Atlantic states represented well on Sunday as eight players earned invites to The Opening at the Nike Football Training Camp outside of Washington, D.C. Defense ruled the day, led by two five-star prospects from Virginia.
10. Nick Scott
Fairfax (Va.) Fairfax |RB| 5-11, 180
Scott stood out among a field of backs who were overshadowed by the prospects at nearly every other position. He earned the attention of coaches for his strong play and versatility but missed the MVP award, which went to Vincent Lowe (Chesapeake, Va./Grassfield), who also posted the top SPARQ score.
Scott committed to Penn State in February over an offer from Boston College.
ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert’s take: “He’s got a great frame, and what I like about him as a Penn State verbal, he’s a versatile player. He may not run by you, but he does a good job in route-running.”
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#BlueChipBattles: ESPN 150 release edition
April, 19, 2013
Apr 19
12:49
PM ET
By RecruitingNation | ESPN.com
Student Sports, ESPN, ESPNSpeedy Noil, Adoree Jackson and Da'Shawn Hand are three of the most coveted recruits in the Class of 2014.
: RecruitingNation summoned its writers from around the country to outline the recruiting battles for the ESPN 150's top 10 prospects.
Plus, rank the battles in SportsNation.
#TopFBMixtapes: Athlete mixtapes are all the rage in this highlight-crazed era of sports. We reached out to our Twitter followers to find out which 2014 football stars had the best highlight reels on YouTube, then had our staff rank and comment on the top submissions.
Tom Luginbill writes
: After talking to many coaches across the country and hearing their frustrations, here are their five biggest complaints about homemade highlight videos.
De'Andre Thompkins (Swansboro, N.C./Swansboro) can't believe fans already know his name.
He sat inside a restaurant during an NC State visit -- a two-hour drive from his home -- when a short man wearing a Wolfpack ball cap did a double-take from across the room. He approached the 5-foot-11 athlete: "Are you De'Andre?"
He sat inside a restaurant during an NC State visit -- a two-hour drive from his home -- when a short man wearing a Wolfpack ball cap did a double-take from across the room. He approached the 5-foot-11 athlete: "Are you De'Andre?"
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It wouldn't be fair to label Peyton Newell (Hiawatha, Kan./Hiawatha) forgetful or lacking in the smarts department.
He crammed for a six-hour study session Monday night in preparation of a college-level biology exam, boasts a 95 or better in all but one of his current classes and is on pace to graduate high school with enough credits to basically bypass his entire freshman year of college.
But even the heralded defensive tackle -- with a 3.95 GPA and a 21 ACT score -- can't keep track of all of his scholarship offers.
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Watch List WR completely shakes up top 5 
March, 8, 2013
Mar 8
6:12
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
A Watch List receiver has a new top five, and only one program from his original five finalists still finds itself among the favorite.
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De'Andre Thompkins may go to school at Swansboro (N.C.), but he can't make a turn in the hallways without being reminded of Penn State.
A Nittany Lion emblem is the classroom screensaver of his math teacher, Ed Walsh, and a PSU jacket is hanging nearby. A history teacher, health instructor and his football coach also either grew up as Nittany Lions fans or went to the university.
Heck, even a custodian inside the red-brick school chats up with Thompkins about PSU and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
A Nittany Lion emblem is the classroom screensaver of his math teacher, Ed Walsh, and a PSU jacket is hanging nearby. A history teacher, health instructor and his football coach also either grew up as Nittany Lions fans or went to the university.
Heck, even a custodian inside the red-brick school chats up with Thompkins about PSU and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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South Carolina continues to come on strong after Penn State commit Jonathan Walton and visited him again today at Daphne (Ala.) Bayside Academy.
The three-star linebacker said in a text message that he's also scheduled an official visit to South Carolina on Jan. 18. The Gamecocks previously visited Walton a day before the dead period started.
He currently remains committed to Penn State.
The three-star linebacker said in a text message that he's also scheduled an official visit to South Carolina on Jan. 18. The Gamecocks previously visited Walton a day before the dead period started.
He currently remains committed to Penn State.
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More than 150 of the top underclassmen prospects in the country were in attendance for registration to the Under Armour All-America Combine, several of which are from Georgia.
Massive OL looking to visit Wolverines
ESPN 2014 Watch List prospect Orlando Brown Jr. (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) should have no problem finding a place to play at the next level. At 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, the mammoth offensive lineman boasts offers from 36 programs, although he maintains eight of them are at the top.
Massive OL looking to visit Wolverines
ESPN 2014 Watch List prospect Orlando Brown Jr. (Suwanee, Ga./Peachtree Ridge) should have no problem finding a place to play at the next level. At 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, the mammoth offensive lineman boasts offers from 36 programs, although he maintains eight of them are at the top.
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PSU commit Walton plans S. Carolina visit
December, 27, 2012
12/27/12
2:27
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Jonathan Walton remains committed to Penn State, but the three-star linebacker said he "most likely" is going to make an official visit to South Carolina in the new year.
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound senior said the Gamecocks' new offer came as a surprise, because they stopped by Daphne (Ala.) Bayside Academy just one day before the dead period started. Walton committed to Penn State on Dec. 9.
"I just want everybody to know I'm going to do what I feel is right for me," Walton added Thursday.
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound senior said the Gamecocks' new offer came as a surprise, because they stopped by Daphne (Ala.) Bayside Academy just one day before the dead period started. Walton committed to Penn State on Dec. 9.
"I just want everybody to know I'm going to do what I feel is right for me," Walton added Thursday.
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ESPN 150 RB Williams ready to decide
December, 23, 2012
12/23/12
2:21
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
Philadelphia Imhotep Charter running back David Williams is leaving the Mid-Atlantic.
The ESPN 150 prospect will announce his commitment on Jan. 4 at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Los Angeles.
“Me and my family talked about it after the recruiting period stopped and thought it’d be good,” Williams said.
The ESPN 150 prospect will announce his commitment on Jan. 4 at the Semper Fidelis All-American Bowl in Los Angeles.
“Me and my family talked about it after the recruiting period stopped and thought it’d be good,” Williams said.
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Spurrier visits ESPN 150 RB David Williams
December, 12, 2012
12/12/12
11:58
AM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier made his in-home visit with David Williams (Philadelphia/Imhotep Charter) on Tuesday, and it only strengthened the Gamecocks’ lead for the ESPN 150 running back.
Spurrier was joined by area recruiter G.A. Mangus and running backs coach Everette Sands on the visit to the school and then later Williams’ home.
“It went well. My mom and them hit it off,” Williams said. “There was no awkwardness. Everyone was on the same page.”
Spurrier was joined by area recruiter G.A. Mangus and running backs coach Everette Sands on the visit to the school and then later Williams’ home.
“It went well. My mom and them hit it off,” Williams said. “There was no awkwardness. Everyone was on the same page.”
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ESPN 150 RB David Williams names top 3
December, 8, 2012
12/08/12
5:07
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
GERMANTOWN, Pa. -- ESPN 150 tailback David Williams said Saturday afternoon he trimmed his list to three schools: Arizona State, Ohio State and South Carolina.
Williams (Philadelphia/Imhotep Charter) isn't sure when he might make a decision, but he said it would likely come near signing day. He wants to see each school on an official visit and then talk a potential commitment over with his family.
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PSU could get visit from David Williams
December, 4, 2012
12/04/12
1:25
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
First-year program Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) is in the semifinals of the state championships, and the program is riding ESPN 150 running back David Williams to an undefeated season.
Colleges are coming through Philadelphia daily to meet with Williams, and Arizona State, Miami (Fla.), Penn State and South Carolina have all either come by the school or will be visiting this week, Williams said.
Penn State running backs coach Charles London met with Williams on Tuesday at the school and also had a chance to speak with his mother.
Colleges are coming through Philadelphia daily to meet with Williams, and Arizona State, Miami (Fla.), Penn State and South Carolina have all either come by the school or will be visiting this week, Williams said.
Penn State running backs coach Charles London met with Williams on Tuesday at the school and also had a chance to speak with his mother.
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2014 athlete DeAndre Thompkins (Swansboro, N.C./Swansboro) added his third FBS offer Thursday when Penn State's staff called him at school to tell him the news.
The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect has already made plans to visit the Penn State-Wisconsin game on Nov. 24.
"He's like a video game," his coach, Tim Laspada, said. "He runs a high 4.3 or a low 4.4. He's returned 11 kickoffs and he has five returned touchdowns -- so people stopped kicking to him."
The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect has already made plans to visit the Penn State-Wisconsin game on Nov. 24.
"He's like a video game," his coach, Tim Laspada, said. "He runs a high 4.3 or a low 4.4. He's returned 11 kickoffs and he has five returned touchdowns -- so people stopped kicking to him."
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ABOUT NITTANY NATION
Josh Moyer
Josh Moyer joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering Penn State football for recruiting website Nittany Network and City Hall for The Citizens' Voice in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Moyer graduated from Penn State and earned his graduate degree at Columbia. Email him at espnjoshmoyer@gmail.com.