Penn State breaks drought, adds linebacker recruit

Penn State received some much-needed recruiting help at linebacker and safety for its idling 2017 class.

And there are signs that Wednesday's verbal commitment from a North Carolina linebacker/safety hybrid may start a mid-summer recruiting run for the Nittany Lions.

The recent addition is Brelin Faison-Walden from Grimsley High in Greensboro, a three- or four-star pledge depending on the national recruiting site. He is the ninth member of this class and breaks a three-month commitment drought for head coach James Franklin and staff.

He is 6-foot-1 and about 195 pounds and could play the "star" position in Penn State's defense — a mix between outside linebacker and safety. Redshirt sophomore Koa Farmer could fill that role in the fall.

Faison-Walden certainly boasts an impressive list of scholarship offers, including Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, Florida State, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Oregon and Michigan. His commitment won't be binding until National Signing Day in February.

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Most importantly, to some recruiting experts, is his versatility for a defense still reloading from NCAA sanctions and depleted recruiting classes.

"You need kids to play multiple positions in the back-seven," said Brian Dohn, a national recruiting analyst with Scout.com. "Offenses are moving so fast it's hard getting players on and off the field. Kids who play strong safety and can morph into a linebacker are ahead of the game. You need player flexibility."

Faison-Walden said he likes the hybrid position possibility "because it will give me the chance to do a lot of different things. I'll come up close to the line of scrimmage, blitz and also cover receivers," he told Michael Clark of Scout.com.

The North Carolina native reportedly took his first visit to Penn State last weekend with his family. He is the second linebacker in this recruiting class, joining Virginia's Dylan Rivers (6-2, 225 pounds).

Next in line for the Nittany Lions could be four-star safety Jonathan Sutherland from Episcopal High in Alexandria, Virginia. The 6-foot, 195-pound recruit told Scout.com he will decide Sunday between Penn State, Wisconsin, Syracuse and Boston College.

Penn State's small class so far is still ranked outside the Top-25 nationally. Other recruits now trending for the Lions include safety Derrek Pitts from South Charleston, West Virginia and outside linebacker Brailyn Franklin from Haymarket, Virginia. Both are three-star prospects.