The early signing period for football prospects in the Class of 2020 is upon us, and Penn State is expected to bring in a larger-than-usual class throughout the day. On the Penn State blog today, I’ll be breaking down each of the signees. Here is my scouting report on defensive tackle prospect Coziah Izzard.
Penn State DL prospect Coziah Izzard. PHOTO BY PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Height: 6-3
Weight: 280
School: DeMatha Catholic (Md.)
Projected position: Defensive tackle
Rating: Four stars by Rivals.com, 247sports and ESPN
Other offers: Alabama, Baylor, Boston College, Duke, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Rutgers, Syracuse, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia.
Projection: Izzard is a very well-schooled prospect, as you’d expect from a player coming out of DeMatha. He’s crafty with his hands, knows how to get off blocks and is patient in the running game. On film though, you see more explosive guys, especially considering some of his testing numbers that indicate he should be in that category. Part of that is because he’s a bigger guy playing at defensive end, and his strengths and frame indicate Penn State likely will move him inside to defensive tackle. He needs to get bigger and stronger and quicker off the snap, so bet on him redshirting in 2020 before making a run at the rotation in 2021. Still, he has solid contributor written all over him, if he takes to the position switch well.
Donnie Collins has been a member of The Times-Tribune sports staff for nearly 20 years and has been the Penn State football beat writer for Times-Shamrock Newspapers since 2004. The Penn State Football Blog covers Nittany Lions, Big Ten and big-time college football news from Beaver Stadium to the practice field, the bowl game to National Letter of Intent Signing Day. Contact: dcollins@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5368; @DonnieCollinsTT