The Class of 2027 may seem far off in the distance for fans, but for Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff, spotting the region’s best talent early has always been a key goal to kickstart the recruiting process. This upcoming weekend is an opportunity for them to do just that, as so far nine rising sophomores have confirmed they plan to be on campus either Friday or Saturday for the annual Lasch Bash Barbecue.
On Monday evening, two more up-and-coming prospects from Imhotep Charter in Philadelphia were added to the list, as linebacker Zykee Scott and wide receiver Kareem Haqq confirmed their plans to be back on campus this Saturday, July 27.
Listed at 6-foot, 190 pounds, Scott was the first of those two to land an offer from Penn State back in May 2023. That’s resulted in two visits already, as Scott attended a junior day back in January and a team camp this past June.
“I like how the program treats each other more like family. It’s like Penn State against the world,” Scott said. “I watched Penn State growing up because my grandpop is a big Penn State fan. Me personally, I love Penn State. Everything just feels like family up there.”
Since he’s just now entering his sophomore season, Division I coaches won’t be able to initiate electronic communication with Scott and all 2027 prospects until next summer. That’s why early visits like this and the previous ones he’s taken are oftentimes important, as it gives coaches an opportunity to get a foot in the door before most others.
“I talked with the new linebacker coach, Tom Allen ,” Scott said when asked if he’s gotten to know members of Penn State’s staff yet. “He actually came up to the school [back in the spring], but I talked to him when I went up to PSU in January. I like the way he coaches as well, and I have a good relationship with Deion Barnes , the D-line coach.”
During his freshman year, Scott steadily saw more playing time as the season progressed. In nine games, he totaled 18 tackles, including four tackles for loss. He also had one sack, a forced fumble and a recovery.
As for Haqq, he saw his playing time increase as the season progressed as well. With 2024 Penn State signee Tyseer Denmark forced to sit out of the PIAA playoffs due to transfer rules, Haqq played a key role in Tep’s state championship run, totaling 24 receptions for 452 yards and six touchdowns in nine games.
“I’m really just trying to see how Penn State is without football and workouts cause I know how tough it is sports-wise already,” Scott added. “I wanna learn more about the defensive scheme, but also, I wanna visit for a good time.”
So far, Penn State is the lone Power Four program to offer Scott, but he is receiving interest from schools like Indiana, Notre Dame, Rutgers and Syrcause. He visited Rutgers earlier this year. Haqq holds two early offers from Penn State and Pitt.
The post Penn State adds two fast-rising Philadelphia prospects to Lasch Bash visitor list appeared first on On3 .
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