What Penn State head coach James Franklin said about PSU's two new signees
Penn State Nittany Lions football announced two additional signees on National Signing Day Wednesday.
Lackawanna College safety Tyrece Mills became Penn State’s 24th signee in the 2022 class. Mills committed to Penn State in May but did not sign in the early signing window.
Three-star offensive lineman Vega Ioane followed with his announcement around noon, giving the Nittany Lions a second signing day addition — and one that previously had not been in the fold.
Penn State’s Class of 2022 still ranks seventh nationally according to the On3 Consensus, and second in the Big Ten behind Ohio State.
James Franklin spoke about his two new signees for the first time during his press conference on Wednesday.
Penn State signee Tyrece Mills
Rated as the No. 11 Junior College player in the country according to the On3 Consensus, Mills continues a growing tradition of Lackawanna defensive backs making their move to Penn State.
Jaquan Brisker parlayed that move into an NFL career, and Ji’Ayir Brown doesn’t seem too far behind, after tying for the NCAA lead in interceptions with six last season.
“We’ve had a lot of success obviously, with that position specifically, when it comes to Lackawanna junior college and what that staff has done over there,” James Franklin said.
“I think those things have been helpful to both our programs, there’s no doubt about that.”
Franklin said he saw “some similar traits” in Mills, relative to his two predecessors.
“I think the biggest thing is his physicality,” Franklin said. “You’re talking about a guy that I think can play any three of the safety spots, which is the two deep safeties, but also that field backer-slash-safety player that we like to play with.
“I think his biggest strength is coming downhill and supporting the run like Marcus Allen did, but he also has the athleticism and ball skills to make some plays in those areas as well.”
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Franklin thinks it’s key that the Nittany Lions will get three years of eligibility out of Mills thanks to the COVID year, which applied to Juco athletes as well.
Franklin hopes that Penn State can get Mills involved on special teams next season and fit him in the rotation on defense, too.
Nittany Lion signee Vega Ioane
Penn State received offensive lineman Vega Ioane’s letter of intent during Franklin’s press conference, so he announced that addition publicly in real time.
Ioane, from Graham, Washington, is the No. 537 overall prospect in the 2022 class, according to the On3 Consensus. He is the No. 42 interior offensive lineman and the No. 10 player in the state.
“You’re talking about a guy that was part of a state championship team this year, a guy that we think is physically going to have the opportunity to come in and compete early in his career,” Franklin said.
Franklin said Ioane weighs in at 6-foot-4, 330 pounds, and carries that weight well.
“We’re talking about another high-level offensive lineman that played for a really good high school, and obviously from an academic perspective, too, is a great fit for Penn State,” Franklin said.
