For the first time in the James Franklin era, "Linebacker U" landed a five-star stud.
Highly-touted linebacker Brandon Smith committed to Penn State on Monday, becoming the fourth player in the last five days to join the Nittany Lions' growing 2019 class.
Smith — the No. 30 player in the country, per 247 Sports — is the second-highest defensive recruit Franklin has captured in his Penn State tenure, behind only Micah Parsons. The Harrisburg product, a five-star recruit in 2017, played defensive end in high school before moving to linebacker this spring.
Smith is the No.