Football Recruiting - Midwest Region: Penn State Nittany Lions
Bars following father, not brothers, to ND
May, 17, 2013
May 17
3:38
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With brothers at both Michigan and Penn State, offensive tackle Alex Bars (Nashville, Tenn./Montgomery Bell Academy) was facing a tough decision. Join Blake at Michigan or Brad at Penn State?
Alex went an entirely different route and followed in the footsteps of his father. The four-star lineman and the No. 55 player in the ESPN 150 committed to Notre Dame on Friday.
Joe Bars was a linebacker at Notre Dame.
“It was pretty great,” Bars said of telling his father the news. “I really appreciated him not pressuring me to go to his alma mater. I think he's pretty happy, though. He's excited for me.
“… I've been thinking hard about it these past couple months. I realized a couple weeks ago where I wanted to go, but my parents made me wait a week. Notre Dame was the best place for me.”
Bars is the fourth offensive lineman in the Irish’s class, which is quickly making a case as the best offensive line haul, at least as of May. Bars is joined by four-star guards Sam Mustipher (No. 11 among guards) and Quenton Nelson (No. 19) and three-star tackle Jimmy Byrne (No. 28). Bars is No. 7 among tackles nationally.
Notre Dame is putting a major emphasis on the offensive line for a second consecutive recruiting class. In 2013, the Irish signed two top-10 tackles and two more players in the top 30 at the position. They also signed No. 27 guard John Montelus.
Forced to nationally recruit, the Irish are doing just that in the 2014 class. Of the Irish’s 10 commitments, nine hail from different states.
Bars is the second highest-ranked commitment in the Irish’s class, which ranked No. 8 nationally before Bars’ pledge.
Michigan, where brother Blake Bars plays, and Notre Dame are scheduled to meet for the last time in 2014, which would be Alex Bars’ freshman season in South Bend. The back and forth between the brothers has not started just yet, though.
“They were disappointed I didn't go to their school, but they're happy for me,” Bars said. “Blake thinks Michigan is the best school in the country, but there hasn't been any trash-talking yet. I'm sure there will be during this season.”
WolverineNation reporter Tom VanHaaren contributed to this report.
Alex went an entirely different route and followed in the footsteps of his father. The four-star lineman and the No. 55 player in the ESPN 150 committed to Notre Dame on Friday.
Joe Bars was a linebacker at Notre Dame.
“… I've been thinking hard about it these past couple months. I realized a couple weeks ago where I wanted to go, but my parents made me wait a week. Notre Dame was the best place for me.”
Bars is the fourth offensive lineman in the Irish’s class, which is quickly making a case as the best offensive line haul, at least as of May. Bars is joined by four-star guards Sam Mustipher (No. 11 among guards) and Quenton Nelson (No. 19) and three-star tackle Jimmy Byrne (No. 28). Bars is No. 7 among tackles nationally.
Notre Dame is putting a major emphasis on the offensive line for a second consecutive recruiting class. In 2013, the Irish signed two top-10 tackles and two more players in the top 30 at the position. They also signed No. 27 guard John Montelus.
Forced to nationally recruit, the Irish are doing just that in the 2014 class. Of the Irish’s 10 commitments, nine hail from different states.
Bars is the second highest-ranked commitment in the Irish’s class, which ranked No. 8 nationally before Bars’ pledge.
Michigan, where brother Blake Bars plays, and Notre Dame are scheduled to meet for the last time in 2014, which would be Alex Bars’ freshman season in South Bend. The back and forth between the brothers has not started just yet, though.
“They were disappointed I didn't go to their school, but they're happy for me,” Bars said. “Blake thinks Michigan is the best school in the country, but there hasn't been any trash-talking yet. I'm sure there will be during this season.”
WolverineNation reporter Tom VanHaaren contributed to this report.
Jabrill Peppers (Paramus, N.J./Paramus Catholic), the No. 2 prospect in the country, has set his decision date.
The No. 1 defensive back will make his decision live on ESPNU on May 26. With almost every program in the country targeting the talented prospect, Peppers has narrowed his list down to LSU, Notre Dame, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers and Stanford.
He still plans on taking his visit to Penn State on May 18, and has already been out to Michigan, LSU and Ohio State. There might still be a surprise visit in store before the announcement as well. The five-star prospect has turned heads with his play on the field and will undoubtedly be a game changer for whichever school he picks.
After seeing Iowa State the first time, Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead outside linebacker Sam Seonbuchner knew he wanted to make a return trip.
When he did, he decided he had seen enough.
Seonbuchner committed to the Cyclones on Saturday while on his second visit to the campus this spring, giving Iowa State its fourth commitment of the 2014 class.
"I visited back in March for spring practice and visited the school and came away very impressed with everything," Seonbuchner said. "I wanted to go back, which [I did] today. I was even more impressed [with] the facilities, the coaches, academics, everything they have to offer. I knew I was ready to make a decision, and I committed."
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect also held offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, North Dakota State and Ohio. He also held interest from Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Penn State and Wisconsin. Seonbuchner was recruited by Iowa State defensive graduate assistant Derek Day.
When he did, he decided he had seen enough.
Seonbuchner committed to the Cyclones on Saturday while on his second visit to the campus this spring, giving Iowa State its fourth commitment of the 2014 class.
"I visited back in March for spring practice and visited the school and came away very impressed with everything," Seonbuchner said. "I wanted to go back, which [I did] today. I was even more impressed [with] the facilities, the coaches, academics, everything they have to offer. I knew I was ready to make a decision, and I committed."
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect also held offers from Ball State, Bowling Green, North Dakota State and Ohio. He also held interest from Minnesota, Northern Illinois, Penn State and Wisconsin. Seonbuchner was recruited by Iowa State defensive graduate assistant Derek Day.
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Jared Wangler's mind raced during his 50-minute flight Friday morning to State College. He leaned heavily toward PSU but, even then, he still wasn't 100 percent certain he would commit to Penn State.
The linebacker from Warren (Mich.) De La Salle stared out the window and reflected on the other opportunities at Cincinnati and Michigan State. He envisioned his career under different coaches. And he rattled off pros and cons inside his mind, right after a brief 10-minute nap.
The linebacker from Warren (Mich.) De La Salle stared out the window and reflected on the other opportunities at Cincinnati and Michigan State. He envisioned his career under different coaches. And he rattled off pros and cons inside his mind, right after a brief 10-minute nap.
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Inspired by Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign">Florida's "#ComePlayWRFortheJoker" campaign, our recruiting writers looked at other ways schools can sell themselves on the trail. Here's a look at recruiting pitches for the Big Ten:
Illinois Illini
What they’re selling: A chance to rebuild a program from the ground up, beginning with four-star quarterback Aaron Bailey, who signed in 2013.
What they’re missing: Just about all of the top prospects from their own state.
Indiana Hoosiers
What they’re selling: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson embraces the idea of a college spring break and is ready to head to Cancun with some of his players.
What they’re missing: Wilson looks like he might hold the group up in Mexico, however, as he still needs the assistance of a flotation device. Points that it is in the shape of a turtle, though.
Iowa Hawkeyes
What they’re selling: Iowa boasts one of the few staffs that can say they will be there all four years of a recruit’s career and has the history to back it up. Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and it’s not even close.
What they’re missing: Out-of-state prospects tend to think Iowa is all cornfields, leaving the staff to battle that misconception countless times throughout the recruiting cycle.
Michigan Wolverines
What they’re selling: Michigan coach Brady Hoke looks like an outlaw patrolling the sideline on Saturdays without a headset.
What they’re missing: The player who graces the NCAA Football 2014 cover Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" was one of the Wolverines’ best recruiting tools.
Michigan State Spartans
What they’re selling: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is the man behind Little Giants, one of the greatest trick plays of the last few decades.
What they’re missing: A trip to a Rose Bowl under Dantonio would put Michigan State over the top when it comes to recruiting. There is already a significant difference in the caliber of player the Spartans are now getting compared to just a few seasons ago.
Minnesota Gophers
What they’re selling: The Gophers boast the biggest locker room in college football.
What they’re missing: They have not had a winning season since 2008.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
What they’re selling: Bo Pelini whipped out “The Bernie” in the Huskers’ Harlem Shake video. Harlem Shake equals instant credibility with recruits.
What they’re missing: A lack of a strong base of in-state talent makes it tough to recruit at Nebraska, and a Harlem Shake video can overcome only so much.
Northwestern Wildcats
What they’re selling: The new facilities are right near Lake Michigan, which, as assistant Bob Heffner is telling recruits, is a great spot for fishing.
What they’re missing: Not too many high schoolers in New Jersey have taken up fishing as a hobby. At least not yet.
Ohio State Buckeyes
What they’re selling: Urban Meyer is bringing SEC speed to the Big Ten.
What they’re missing: Has anyone actually clocked Meyer in the 40-yard dash? How fast is he really?
Penn State Nittany Lions
What they’re selling: Beaver Stadium fits more than 106,000 on Saturdays, making it the second largest stadium in the country. Inside is also one of the country’s most passionate fan bases, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit once listed Penn State’s student section as “simply the loudest, most supportive student section in college football.”
What they’re missing: A full slate of scholarships and a chance to play for a Big Ten title the next few years.
Purdue Boilermakers
What they’re selling: Few programs have the history Purdue does at quarterback, and former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are all on NFL rosters. The Boilermakers just signed ESPN 300 QB Danny Etling, too.
What they’re missing: Brees, Orton and Painter.
Wisconsin Badgers
What they’re selling: The Badgers have been to three straight Rose Bowls.
What they’re missing: The coach who took them there.
Illinois Illini
What they’re selling: A chance to rebuild a program from the ground up, beginning with four-star quarterback Aaron Bailey, who signed in 2013.
What they’re missing: Just about all of the top prospects from their own state.
Indiana Hoosiers
What they’re selling: Indiana coach Kevin Wilson embraces the idea of a college spring break and is ready to head to Cancun with some of his players.
What they’re missing: Wilson looks like he might hold the group up in Mexico, however, as he still needs the assistance of a flotation device. Points that it is in the shape of a turtle, though.
Iowa Hawkeyes
What they’re selling: Iowa boasts one of the few staffs that can say they will be there all four years of a recruit’s career and has the history to back it up. Kirk Ferentz is the longest tenured coach in the Big Ten and it’s not even close.
What they’re missing: Out-of-state prospects tend to think Iowa is all cornfields, leaving the staff to battle that misconception countless times throughout the recruiting cycle.
Michigan Wolverines
What they’re selling: Michigan coach Brady Hoke looks like an outlaw patrolling the sideline on Saturdays without a headset.
What they’re missing: The player who graces the NCAA Football 2014 cover Denard Robinson. "Shoelace" was one of the Wolverines’ best recruiting tools.
Michigan State Spartans
What they’re selling: Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio is the man behind Little Giants, one of the greatest trick plays of the last few decades.
What they’re missing: A trip to a Rose Bowl under Dantonio would put Michigan State over the top when it comes to recruiting. There is already a significant difference in the caliber of player the Spartans are now getting compared to just a few seasons ago.
Minnesota Gophers
What they’re selling: The Gophers boast the biggest locker room in college football.
What they’re missing: They have not had a winning season since 2008.
Nebraska Cornhuskers
What they’re selling: Bo Pelini whipped out “The Bernie” in the Huskers’ Harlem Shake video. Harlem Shake equals instant credibility with recruits.
What they’re missing: A lack of a strong base of in-state talent makes it tough to recruit at Nebraska, and a Harlem Shake video can overcome only so much.
Northwestern Wildcats
What they’re selling: The new facilities are right near Lake Michigan, which, as assistant Bob Heffner is telling recruits, is a great spot for fishing.
What they’re missing: Not too many high schoolers in New Jersey have taken up fishing as a hobby. At least not yet.
Ohio State Buckeyes
What they’re selling: Urban Meyer is bringing SEC speed to the Big Ten.
What they’re missing: Has anyone actually clocked Meyer in the 40-yard dash? How fast is he really?
Penn State Nittany Lions
What they’re selling: Beaver Stadium fits more than 106,000 on Saturdays, making it the second largest stadium in the country. Inside is also one of the country’s most passionate fan bases, and ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit once listed Penn State’s student section as “simply the loudest, most supportive student section in college football.”
What they’re missing: A full slate of scholarships and a chance to play for a Big Ten title the next few years.
Purdue Boilermakers
What they’re selling: Few programs have the history Purdue does at quarterback, and former Boilermakers Drew Brees, Kyle Orton and Curtis Painter are all on NFL rosters. The Boilermakers just signed ESPN 300 QB Danny Etling, too.
What they’re missing: Brees, Orton and Painter.
Wisconsin Badgers
What they’re selling: The Badgers have been to three straight Rose Bowls.
What they’re missing: The coach who took them there.
Regional recruiters are not the ones coming in to see a prospect the size of Sterling Jenkins (Pittsburgh/Baldwin). Colleges are sending offensive line coaches directly instead to size up the fastest-rising 2015 prospect in Pennsylvania.
There are not too many 16-year-old sophomores who stand 6-foot-8 and weigh 295 pounds, so coaches are the ones traveling to the Steel City to see Jenkins to properly gauge his stature. Baldwin coach Pete Wagner said colleges are surprised to see he is the real deal.
There are not too many 16-year-old sophomores who stand 6-foot-8 and weigh 295 pounds, so coaches are the ones traveling to the Steel City to see Jenkins to properly gauge his stature. Baldwin coach Pete Wagner said colleges are surprised to see he is the real deal.
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Cornerback Marcus Whitfield (Massillon, Ohio/Washington) posted a 99.87 at the SPARQ Combine a few months ago at his school. His teammate, tight end Beau Huffman, landed a camp-best 119.58 the same day.
Since that February morning, their recruitments have taken off.
Since that February morning, their recruitments have taken off.
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The order of the top group for four-star Quenton Nelson (Red Bank, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) open to interpretation.
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman listed a top five of Notre Dame, Boston College, Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State. And is that in order?
The 6-foot-5, 285-pound offensive lineman listed a top five of Notre Dame, Boston College, Ohio State, Rutgers and Penn State. And is that in order?
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Thomas Holley’s recruitment has been a lot like his most recent visit.
The ESPN 150 defensive tackle out of Brooklyn (N.Y.) Abraham Lincoln was at Penn State for the annual spring game, which was hampered by every weather condition imaginable.
“It did a little bit of everything -- rain, snow, everything -- it was crazy,” Holley said.
The first few months of his recruitment have been the same. Holley, No. 93 in the ESPN 150, has seen it all in a short time. He went from basketball prospect to first-year football player to playing just a handful of games to landing his first offer. Now he is an Under Armour All-American with more than 20 offers.
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Big Ten endearing itself to RB Ollison 
April, 26, 2013
Apr 26
4:09
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
One of the fastest-rising prospects in the East is Buffalo (N.Y.) Canisius running back Qadree Ollison, who has seen several Big Ten teams come for him the last few weeks.
The latest is Penn State, and while the Nittany Lions have not offered, Ollison says the PSU coaching staff is very interested following a visit for the spring game.
The latest is Penn State, and while the Nittany Lions have not offered, Ollison says the PSU coaching staff is very interested following a visit for the spring game.
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2015 RB Baker picks up four huge offers
April, 22, 2013
Apr 22
6:25
PM ET
By
Brad Bournival | ESPN.com
Jerome Baker (Cleveland/Benedictine) was told his recruitment would start blowing up after a successful sophomore season.
The 2015 running back/linebacker wasn’t expecting anything like this, however. And he surely wasn’t expecting the offers to come from such heavy hitters in the college football world, either.
The 2015 running back/linebacker wasn’t expecting anything like this, however. And he surely wasn’t expecting the offers to come from such heavy hitters in the college football world, either.
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Watkins not ready to leave Michigan State
April, 21, 2013
Apr 21
6:16
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With two commitments, Mark Dantonio was already having a pretty good weekend. The Michigan State coach would have had a great one if he landed one more important piece.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins did not commit, but he wasn’t exactly ready to leave Michigan State when it came time to head home.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins did not commit, but he wasn’t exactly ready to leave Michigan State when it came time to head home.
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Offer helps Penn State in chase for ATH
April, 11, 2013
Apr 11
7:34
PM ET
By
Jared Shanker | ESPN.com
With time running out, Penn State was not going to hang around any longer.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins is set to make his decision sometime in May, and Penn State was the only finalist yet to offer the 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect. Unwilling to wait any longer to offer Watkins on campus, Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien offered Thursday.
“Coach O’Brien at Penn State decided to offer Dariean tonight over the phone rather than waiting on his visit,” Watkins’ father, Heath, wrote in a text message.
Galion (Ohio) High School athlete Dareian Watkins is set to make his decision sometime in May, and Penn State was the only finalist yet to offer the 6-foot-1, 195-pound prospect. Unwilling to wait any longer to offer Watkins on campus, Nittany Lions coach Bill O’Brien offered Thursday.
“Coach O’Brien at Penn State decided to offer Dariean tonight over the phone rather than waiting on his visit,” Watkins’ father, Heath, wrote in a text message.
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There is a movement for college football prospects to decide earlier and earlier, but Noah Brown (Sparta, N.J./Pope John XXIII) doesn’t see himself doing anything before the start of his senior season.
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2015 DE Jashon Cornell was standing in the lunch line Wednesday when his coach interrupted. Penn State wanted to speak with him on the phone.
The 6-foot-4 rising junior out of St. Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall didn't know what was coming next. He sat down to three sandwiches -- "That's how much I normally get" -- french fries and a chocolate milk before walking briskly to his coach's office. He then called the number his coach provided him.
Bill O'Brien was on the other line.
The 6-foot-4 rising junior out of St. Paul (Minn.) Cretin-Derham Hall didn't know what was coming next. He sat down to three sandwiches -- "That's how much I normally get" -- french fries and a chocolate milk before walking briskly to his coach's office. He then called the number his coach provided him.
Bill O'Brien was on the other line.
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RECRUITING NATION MIDWEST COVERAGE
The Midwest Region consists of the states of Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin and is where the foundation of most Big Ten recruiting classes are made up of. It's also where the MAC finds most of its talent and national programs hunt for prospects.
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