Recruiting calls keep Penn State's Terry Smith busy

Penn State might get about 10 fewer names on national letters of intent than it received last year, but that doesn’t mean Terry Smith’s job will be any easier.

While quarantined at home, Smith said he is on his phone so much that at night he’s forced to give in to fatigue and go to bed.

“The recruiting has really picked up,” said Smith, the former Gateway coach who also coaches Penn State’s cornerbacks and is the program’s defensive recruiting coordinator. “It’s super busy.

“From the time I wake up, I’m on my phone until the time I lay down and say, ‘Enough is enough. I have to go to sleep.’

“You are constantly recruiting and communicating with prospects.”

Penn State received four verbal commitments in two days last week, including four-star defensive backs Kalen King, Zakee Wheatley and Jaylen Reed.

After signing 27 players in the 2020 class, Smith said he expects a smaller group this year, given the NCAA limit of 85 total scholarships.

“So we have to be a little more particular,” he said.

Penn State’s 2020 class was ranked 14th in the nation (third in the Big Ten behind Ohio State and Michigan) by Rivals.com. So far this year, with seven 2021 verbal commitments, Penn State remains 14th but sixth in the conference.

“We’re anticipating a couple more coming up here,” Smith said. “We’re probably a little ahead of schedule.

“Usually, the Blue-White weekend (Penn State’s spring game would have been this Saturday), we grab a few and then it kind of snowballs. Commitments run in rallies.”