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 a hard-nosed linebacker out of Frackville, Tyler Elsdon.
Penn State LB prospect Tyler Elsdon. PHOTO BY PENN STATE ATHLETICS
Height: 6-2
Weight: 220
School: North Schuylkill HS
Projected position: Outside linebacker
Rating: Three stars by Rivals.com, 247sports and ESPN
Other offers: Air Force, Army, Louisville, Maryland, Vanderbilt, Virginia, West Virginia.
Projection: Elsdon is just a smart, opportunistic football player. A two-way star at North Schuylkill, Elsdon shined as a middle linebacker, because of his his ability to diagnose the play and attack the ball. He shows patience at the snap, and from there, he finds the hole in the running game and plugs it aggressively. But, his value at the next level might be as a weakside linebacker who can rush the passer. The question is, how much bigger, faster and stronger can he get, and how fast can he get to the level he needs to be? He’s a redshirt likelihood, but Elsdon is one of those players who knows the game well and seems to figure out a way to succeed. He’ll be a solid special teamer and compete in the linebacker rotation by 2022.
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