Which Penn State Class of 2023 signees start their careers as Nittany Lions today?

Penn State begins the spring semester today. Eleven of the Lions’ 22 Class of 2023 signees are on campus for their first classes today.

Five of the players who graduated high school early are defenders. Six of them will play offense. All of them will benefit from getting into the nutrition and strength and condition program immediately before spring practice. But, the sudden mix of living away from home, grueling workouts, and academics does not come without challenges.

“I do think it’s a benefit,” receivers coach and offensive recruiting coordinator Taylor Stubblefield said in December. “It is a benefit in terms of the long term. I know sometimes, initially, some of the younger guys, when they’re in the middle of that spring semester, it’s hard. It’s hard mentally, so there is keeping an eye on your early enrollees and also making sure that the guys on the team are taking care of them.

“Because, you got to remember, their friends that they’ve been with three or four years, they’re going to high school games, they’re going to dances, they’re going to prom, all of these things. Now, these guys are going to bed at 10 o’clock because they got a 6 a.m. workout on Saturday. So it’s definitely an advantage. Coach Franklin says this all the time: When you’re ready to play, you’ll play. And, some of the guys that come in early, are ready to play faster. But, it doesn’t guarantee you anything.”

Here is a look at the newly-arriving Penn State January enrollees.

Penn State early enrollees on offense

Three of the five Penn State early enrollees in the Class of 2023 on offense are linemen. Five-star Jven Williams, four-star Alex Birchmeier, and three-star Anthony Donkoh all are longtime commits who were focused on getting to campus as soon as possible from the moment they picked the Lions.

“I think you look at Birchmeier, J’ven, maybe Donkoh, I think they can play all five positions in terms of the length to play tackle, the girth to play guard and the intelligence to play center. We’ll see how that plays out,” head coach James Franklin said in December.

Williams hails from Reading, Pa., and played at Wyomissing High. Birchmeier was a two-time state wrestling champ and football standout at Ashburn, Va., Broad Run. Donkoh was a three-time team MVP at Aldie, Va., Lightridge.

Quarterback Jaxon Smolik is also in town. The Meter, Iowa Dowling Catholic three-star passer was once committed to Tulane. But, after a big showing at the Elite 11, he picked up a Penn State offer over the summer and interest from other Power-5 schools. However, the Lions locked him up in short order to fill the spot vacated by now former Penn State and Florida commit Marcus Stokes, who flipped from the Lions to the Gators.

Last but not least, Reading, Pa., Exeter tight end Joey Schlaffer and Fredericksburg, Va., four-star Mathias “Mega” Barnwell are on campus. Both are four-stars. The former holds Berks County’s all-time records in receiving yards (2,493) and receiving touchdowns (28). His brother is former Lions lineman Michal Menet. The latter has positional flexibility but will start his career on offense.

Lions early enrollees on defense

Defensive coordinator Manny Diaz is officially welcoming five new Nittany Lions into his room today.

Two of the newcomers are linebackers. Pittsburgh Brashear four-star Ta’Mere Robinson is coming off an injury but the program is still excited about what he is capable of at the next level. Fairfax, Va., four-star Tony Rojas, meanwhile, was the Washington Posts’ All-Mets Player of the Year on offense in 2022 after he rushed for 2,239 yards and 35 touchdowns and also racked up 281 receiving yards and two receiving TDs as a senior. He’ll play defense in college, of course, and was good on that side of the ball, too, finishing with 72 tackles (14 for loss), 13 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four pass breakups.

Next up are a pair of corners that have made their way to campus. Venice, Fla., four-star Elliot Washington II, who was once committed to Alabama, is fresh off an appearance in the Under Armour All-American game. He recorded 36 tackles and had eight pass breakups and four interceptions in 2022 while also playing offense. New York native and three-star corner Zion Tracy is also here after spending a season at St. Thomas More Prep in Connecticut.

Last but not least, safety Lamont Payne is enrolled and on campus. The Carnegie, Pa., Chartiers Valley standout was a Class 4A all-state pick who racked up 43 tackles and four interceptions in 2022.

Early enrollee heights and weights

As of Monday morning, none of the new Penn State players have a jersey number. But, heights and weights are in:

QB Jaxon Smolik: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds

TE Mega Barnwell: 6-foot-6, 250 pounds

TE Joey Schlaffer: 6-foot-5, 220 pounds

OL Alex Birchmeier: 6-foot-5, 285 pounds

OL Anthony Donkoh: 6-foot-5, 320 pounds

OL Jven Williams: 6-foot-5, 290 pounds

LB Ta’Mere Robinson: 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

LB Tony Rojas: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds

CB Zion Tracy: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds

CB Elliot Washington II: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds

S Lamont Payne: 6-foot, 185 pounds