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Penn State goes JUCO route to add another DT

By Audrey Snyder/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette 8 years ago

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -— There are exceptions to every rule and when it comes to laying the foundation of a program James Franklin isn’t in favor of going the junior college route to add players.

The Lions’ head coach said so several times, even adding last November that while there are such things as quick fixes he doesn’t want to build that way. 

“That first year we could have went out and signed 15 junior college players. This year could have went out and signed 15 junior college players. But I don't think myself or the administration or our fans really want to do it that way,” Franklin said Nov. 24. “We want to do it for the long haul. Once you start doing that, then it's almost you have to commit to continuing to do that because your turnover happens every year or two.

“And like I've said from Day 1, we want to build this thing the right way for the long haul, and when you do that, it takes some time.”

Franklin made an exception to his rule Tuesday when the Lions picked up a verbal pledge from Nassau Community College defensive tackle Tyrell Chavis who will have an opportunity to add much needed depth along the Lions’ depleted defensive line. Penn State is working to replace starting tackles Anthony Zettel and Austin Johnson along with reserve Tarow Barney who was also a former JUCO product. The Lions enter spring ball with Parker Cothren, Antoine White and Robert Windsor as scholarship defensive tackles and could make some position switches to other players to help build depth. 

The Lions’ 2016 class, which will be finalized on Wednesday once letters of intent are faxed in, has verbal commitments from defensive tackles Ellison Jordan and Antonio Shelton. Shelton picked Penn State on Sunday, giving the class depth after Michael Dwumfour flipped from Penn State to Michigan and the class saw the departures of former verbal pledges Christian Colon and Karamo Dioubate.

Penn State will need help right away upfront and Chavis, at 6-4, 320 pounds won’t have to make as much of a transition in the weight room as the incoming freshman, thus helping fill one of the team’s biggest positions of need. Penn State went the junior college route in the 2015 recruiting class too with the addition of left tackle Paris Palmer who played at Lackawanna College before enrolling at Penn State last winter. 

Audrey Snyder: asnyder@post-gazette.com and Twitter @audsnyder4