Say what you will about former Penn State coach James Franklin, and many people certainly have, but he is an ace recruiter. He brought top tier talent to PSU, and he elevated the program to a level they haven't seen since the Reagan administration.
However, Franklin, in many ways, was more someone who played a college football coach online and on television than he was an actual coach. He just isn't a game management or Xs and Os kinda of guy; period. And no one will ever claim that he can win really big games either.
However, he's a fantastic CEO of a program, and you can see that now with what PSU has become since he left.
James Franklin was a top trending term on social media, Friday night, for two reasons. The first is his current gig, at Virginia
Tech, where his team lost (partially due to Franklin's own gaffes) in heart-breaking fashion to Pitt. The second reason is what happened at his old job- Penn State getting boat-raced at Northwestern.
Penn St. was just taken to the woodshed by the Cats, and they now find themselves 3-8 in their last 11 Big Ten Conference games. And simply put, the talent just isn't there right now.
The school is 7th all-time, nationally, in terms of all-time NFL Draft picks (390). Franklin was able to send players to the NFL who became elite talents, at the highest of levels. in recent years. Saquon Barkley and Micah Parsons are two of the best overall players in the league, regardless of position.
Happy Valley has also produced two players who were drafted first overall (Courtney Brown, 2000 and Ki-Jana Carter, 1995).
They probably won't have a presence on day one of the next draft. Don't be surprised if they're missing from day two as well.
The top talent in State College is more in that middle round kind of range, and it lies in the tight end room.
Benjamin Brahmer #18 has the highest draft stock of anyone on this Penn State team, and he's a huge part of what they like to do on offense. He's a solid fourth round prospect, but as this (lost?) season rolls on he could rocket up the boards.
There weren't many bright spots for the Lions in Evanston, but he was one.
His back-up, Andrew Rappleyea #87, is talented, and a great prospect to keep an eye on for 2028. It is too early to give him a true projection. Another guy to watch in the draft is linebacker Tony Rojas #13.
If Brahmer isn't first Nittany Lion off the boards in April, it should be Rojas.
This article originally appeared on Draft Wire: Penn State's top future NFL Draft talent is in the tight end room
