Penn State coach James Franklin is utilizing Penn State’s bye week on the recruiting trail.
On Monday, Franklin and cornerbacks coach/defensive recruiting coordinator Terry Smith visited and offered Hopewell sophomore quarterback James Armstrong. Bill Belichick and North Carolina also offered Armstrong on Monday. Pitt offered Armstrong last year.
A 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore quarterback from outside of Pittsburgh, Armstrong told Vikings Sports Now he’s honored to be gaining significant recruiting recognition.
“It means a lot,” Armstrong said. “I feel like all my hard work and everything I’ve been putting in all summer is coming to plan now… my recruiting is starting to go up. It makes me feel good about all the work I put in over the offseason.”
Armstrong is a member of the class of 2028 and hasn’t been ranked yet by 247Sports. He has already visited PSU’s campus and is building a relationship with Franklin.
“It’s an amazing program. They have amazing facilities,” Armstrong said. “My favorite (thing) as a recruit is that it’s set in stone that Coach Franklin is going to be there for a while. Seeing that, I know that if I keep doing what I need to do that I’m going to be able to go there one day.”
Armstrong holds offers from Penn State, Pitt, UNC, Akron, Delaware State, and Sacramento State.
“I’ve been thinking about stuff like this since I was little,” Armstrong said. “I was always thinking about if I was going to be one of those people. I see other guys getting offers when I was in 8th grade. I was always thinking, ‘When is my turn? When am I going to do this?’ It’s really cool, to say the least, to get some attention from Penn State and all these schools… It’s really starting to feel real to me now.”
Franklin visited five-star running back Kemon Spell (McKeesport) and four-star athlete Khalil Taylor (Pine-Richland) on Monday, who are both committed to the Nittany Lions. Armstrong believes his mind has developed from his freshman to his sophomore year. He wants to be a part of a program that appreciates him for who he is and not ulterior motives and reasons.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.“I feel like over the past year, my mind has changed a lot. I try to develop how I think about things,” Armstrong said. “I feel like I have a good tell for who’s really interested in me and who really wants me to be in their program.”
Armstrong is going to take his time before committing.
“Some people will see an offer from Penn State and other schools and jump on the bandwagon,” Armstrong said. “I want to have a real connection with the coaching staff. I want them to really want me to be on their team, not just offer because their rival school offered. I’m really happy now.”
What’s the coolest part of Penn State?
“Their stadium, obviously,” Armstrong said. “The atmosphere there, nobody else is like that. It’s an amazing place to be.”
Armstrong said he will be in attendance for the White Out game against No. 6 Oregon on September 27. No. 2 Penn State is 3-0 following non-conference victories against Nevada, FIU, and Villanova. Big Ten play begins next Saturday at 7:30 p.m. in a top 10 matchup.
