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HOME GAME SPECIAL: NEWS COVERAGE INSIDE Published independently by students at Penn State Vol. 117 No. 145 Friday, April 21, 2017 PAVING the WADE Page 2: From high school stud to promising Penn Stater — the meteoric rise of Lamont Wade Photo by: Antonella Crescimbeni; Design by: Alexander Andreades PAGE A2 | FRIDAY, APRIL 21, 2017 VERSUS THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Caitlin Lee?Collegian Lamont Wade (38) talks with Josh Gattis, Offensive Recruiting Coordinator, during football practice at the Lasch building on Wednesday, April 19, The story behind the potential Penn State football prodigy By Andrew Rubin know the players’ names on the — at least for now. THE DAILY COLLEGIAN other side of the television, but “I don’t see him changing from he knew everyone sitting in the where he is right now,” safety The road to playing inside Bea- living room and the various other Nick Scott said. “From a player’s ver Stadium started for Lamont parts of their lives. He spent time standpoint and from a team- Wade when he was just five or six talking to moms and dads, grand- mate’s standpoint, he is killing it. years old. parents, siblings and cousins. He is confident as ever, and he is He would spend time at his Everyone in the War Room could only going up from here. home playing football, watching feel the connection Franklin had “He is taking reps with the ones film and competing with his two made with the families through- and he is making plays… I’m just childhood friends, Noah Ham- out the recruiting process. excited to see his growth. I think lin and Harrison Dreher, both of For Carlton, who has known he is going to be one of those guys whom play college football for Terry Smith — Penn State’s as- that really helps contribute his Cincinnati and Robert Morris, re- sistant head coach, cornerbacks first year here, which we are ex- spectively. coach and defensive recruiting cited for.” The three would push each coordinator — for years, he im- After practice on April 12, fellow other to drive themselves to a mediately felt like the Wades corner Grant Haley said Lamont higher level. One funny memory were welcomed into the Penn had gotten his third interception Lamont’s father, Carlton, had of State family. of the spring, tying him for the the trio’s younger days was that “When we went up there, we team lead. the kids always tried to look like felt like home. We felt comfort- One of those three intercep- their favorite football players. able; we felt like part of the fam- tions was even labeled the play of “They used to put tape every- ily,” Carlton said. “How they the spring by one of his new team- where,” Carlton told the Daily talk to you, the hugs, they shake mates. Collegian. “All up their arms, your hand but they gave us hugs. “Lamont Wade had a diving around their legs. Back in the Coach Franklin made us feel like pick on the sideline,” defensive day, I just know from buying a we were part of the family… Ev- end Torrence Brown said. “It was lot of tape, putting tape on their erybody is so cordial and nice.” one of the most amazing plays socks, and wrist and ankles. I just When Smith visited the Wade I’ve seen since I’ve been here at thought that was really funny.” family, he went to Carlton’s practice. He jumped an out route, Throughout Lamont’s younger mom’s house with all of Lamont’s and he made a diving intercep- years, the three always played close relatives there. Everyone tion that just blew my mind.” together. Their successes and wanted to question him as to That same day, while practice failures on the gridiron were what Penn State had to offer and was open to the media, Lamont shared as they taught each other how they were going to take care was working in the nickel, which the game. Carlton believes they of Lamont. The Wade family felt is the third corner on the field inspired and pushed each other, satisfied at the end of the meet- in a subpackage, opposite of ris- as Lamont didn’t have a profes- Courtesy of Carlton Wade ing, and since Lamont arrived at ing senior slot receiver DaeSean sional coach available to him. University Park in January as an Hamilton. It was only a limited swing for the Clairton, Pennsylva- job as a true freshman. “He didn’t have any legitimate early enrollee, the Nittany Lions amount of reps while the media nia product. “West Virginia was wide open,” training as far as playing D- staff has kept their word on all of was there. But in the limited sam- Carlton said. “The coaches were back,” Carlton said. “He never Lamont was in the process of it. ple, it looked like the freshman telling him, ‘This is your spot; had a coach like a lot of guys. He making the biggest decision of “Everything Penn State has was comfortable in a one-on-one you have a spot right here.’ Penn went on YouTube and learned his life. Just days after he and told us has been true, everything matchup with one of the most State’s situation was a little dif- stuff himself.” his team lost the state champion- they laid on the line to us,” Carl- established wide receivers in the ferent because the team had ev- Carlton started to believe ship game to end his high school ton said. “They told us he would Big Ten. erybody back and it wouldn’t be that Lamont was going to play career — in a senior season that have a chance to compete for Several parts of Lamont’s Division-I football as his middle earned him the small-school win- as easy to get on the field. But me the nickel spot and that he would and my wife really pushed Penn makeup have allowed him to be- school days came to a close and ner of the Mr. PA Football award, have a great chance of playing come such an effective player in his midget league team won given to the best high school play- State because of the academics right away.” and because it wasn’t too close to the secondary. His high school the championship. Hamlin and er in the state — he was deciding head coach and cousin Wayne Dreher were also on that team. home.” between West Virginia and Penn Wade saw Lamont’s skillset de- Lamont started to receive recog- They wanted Lamont just out State. Cover corner velop throughout his four years. nition, and it only grew through- of arm’s reach so it was close Other schools that were pre- So far, the Penn State fan base “There are three things,” out high school. enough for him to come home, viously in the mix, such as Ohio has seen only glimpses of Lamont Wayne said. “One, he has the “He was always one of the guys but not too close where child- State and Pitt, had been eliminat- competing in the blue and white, speed to play the corner. Two, he on the team that stuck out,” Carl- ed from Lamont’s list, as they fell hood friends could easily stop just short tapes of a single rep by for quick visits. The Nittany is a very patient kid. He doesn’t ton said. “He was always one of short for their own reasons. of him in practice that assistant Lions were just the right dis- bite on things all the time; he the leaders. He was always one The Buckeyes didn’t offer coaches have tweeted. tance away, about two-and-a-half doesn’t cheat; he won’t get ner- of the guys who did all the extra Lamont the option to enroll early All indications point hours, and had thee family atmoatmo-- vous, or he won’t get out of a back stuff.” until later in the process after ini- towardtoward LLamontam being sphere around thee lockerlocker room pedal too early — he’s a very pa- tially saying he wouldn’t be able labeledlabeled a “green” — for which the Wadede ffamilyamily was tient corner. Three, is his knack to come a semester early. Anoth- Franklin’sFranklin’s designation looking. to get to the ball while it is in the Making Happy Valley er major strike against Ohio State forfor true ffreshmenre who Penn State’s footballotball ffamilyamily air is some of the best I’ve ever was Luke Fickell, its defensive areare ggoingoing tto burn their home is something numerousmerous coached. That ball is in the air, redshirtsredsr hirt and play Early in his high school career, coordinator at the time, who for- recruits have pointedted to Lamont is getting to that ball.” startingstarti in Week Lamont had already reached a got Lamont’s name while he was as a big aspect of wwhathat Lamont’s new teammates in 1 — by the time level where he and his family in Columbus, Ohio on a visit and drew them to Jamesames the secondary have already no- the regularr sea- knew he was going to play for a called him by another player’s Franklin’s program.gram. ticed his ability to get to the ball. sonson rorolls around. top-tier Division-I football team, name. Franklin doesn’t jjustust During just the second week of WhenWh Lamont a major step toward reaching the His father, Carlton, believes entertain recruitss — spring practice, senior safety comcommitted to NFL.

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