Penn State legacy Anthony Sacca recaps first college visit
Penn State football hosted over 40 prospects Saturday for its final junior day of the January contact period.
Of those players, 25 of them already hold a scholarship offer from James Franklin and the Penn State coaching staff, including a few of the region’s top up-and-coming freshmen.
Yes, the Class of 2025 feels a long ways away, but in recruiting, it’s never too early to get your foot in the door with a top prospect, and that’s what Penn State has done with St. Joseph’s Prep safety Anthony Sacca.
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“A couple highlights were definitely getting to meet the staff,” Sacca said. “I’ve been in touch with Coach Terry Smith because of my dad, but it was nice to meet the rest of the coaching staff formally for the first time. Another highlight was definitely getting to walk out onto the field at Beaver Stadium. I haven’t been to Penn State for a football game since I was a baby, so it was definitely cool to see the field from that perspective.
“My parents also liked how they highlighted all the academic options and help that student athletes get at Penn State.”
If you’re wondering, yes, Anthony is the son of former Penn State quarterback Tony Sacca, who played for the Nittany Lions from 1988-1991. Those ties should help Franklin and his staff as Sacca’s recruitment progresses, but Penn State’s coaches also made it clear that he’s not being recruited because of his family ties.
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“Coach Franklin is really welcoming. He’s definitely very good at his job of trying to get people to come play for him,” Sacca said. “He made it very clear to me that I wasn’t just there because of my dad and he’s recruiting me for who I am as a player. Coach [Anthony Poindexter] was really cool and showed us how the safeties in their defense have free range to do basically what they want in the defense.”
Penn State was the fourth school to offer Sacca. Temple was the first back in November, with PSU, South Carolina and Tennessee following a few weeks later in December. Sacca is now up to 13 offers total, with programs like Kentucky, Miami, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Virginia Tech all offering in recent weeks.
“They told me I could come up whenever I wanted to, whether it’s a spring practice or the summer,” Sacca said. “I most likely will be back for a spring practice. I haven’t visited anywhere else yet, but I believe I will be going to Notre Dame and Ohio State in the spring or summer.”
Playing at arguably the deepest high school program in the state, St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, Sacca not only contributed but started as a freshman at safety, totaling 79 tackles, four interceptions and two fumble recoveries.
