Penn State's James Franklin pleased with recruiting efforts

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - From Beaver Stadium to the Lasch Building war room, the football facilities on Penn State's campus buzzed Wednesday.

Recruits faxed in their commitments in the morning as fans on campus celebrated. For the Nittany Lions, national signing day went off without many surprises, which meant coach James Franklin and his staff could breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Shaka Toney, Penn State's only 2016 commit from the Philadelphia area, was still on the fence Tuesday night about where he should send his National Letter of Intent. The three-star defensive end and linebacker from Imhotep Charter had orally committed to Penn State but was unsure whether Penn State or Pitt was the right choice.

When Franklin heard this, he inundated Toney with calls and messages, persuading him to keep his commitment.

Franklin's efforts paid off Wednesday morning when the 6-foot-3, 210-pound Toney signed with the Lions Inside the war room, Penn State men's hockey coach Guy Gadowsky stepped up to the podium around 9:15 a.m. and announced Toney's commitment to a small crowd of fans, coaches, and reporters.

The announcement was met by cheers as Toney's nameplate was ceremoniously placed on the war room's big blue-and-white board.

"Even though you made us a nervous wreck last night ... Shake, we love you," Franklin told Toney over video chat, which was projected on TV screens at the front of the room. "We love your whole family."

With the official decision finally inked, Toney and Franklin joked about the coach's anxiety the night before.

Franklin asked: "What did I tell you I was going to do if you reaffirmed your commitment?"

"You told me you would kiss me on the mouth," Toney said with a laugh.

During breaks, Franklin scrolled Twitter, sipped orange juice, and chatted with coaches, including new offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead. Cheerleaders, Lionette dance team members, and the Nittany Lion mascot danced around and kept the energy up.

Franklin spent all morning in the war room waiting for the letters of intent of 16 new players, as well as four early-enrollees, who began classes at Penn State last month. Later in the day, Franklin moved across the street for a news conference at Beaver Stadium, where select alumni and fans attended a signing day luncheon in the recruiting lounge overlooking the media room.

"It's been fun," Franklin said of the recruiting process. "It's been crazy. I'm looking forward to getting these guys on campus so we can continue to build on the foundation that their parents have laid and help these guys mature."