North Schuylkill/PSU commit LB Tyler Elsdon gets two huge gifts in last few months @Tyler_Elsdon40 @NSAthletics1

Tagged under: District 11, News, Recruiting

Billy Splain | June 26, 2019

Just a couple months ago, the family the family Tyler Elsdon lived with with since he was two years old, John and Nea Griffin, made it official and legally adopted him. Just a few days ago Penn State offered him a spot on their team. On Tuesday, he accepted that offer and committed to play for the Nittany Lions. I mean, I’ve been with them since I was two years old and they’re the best support I could ask for.  I mean, I was 18 and I officially got adopted on paper, I was just real excited when that happened.” “My dad, he was a midget coach in Frackville so I been playing since I was five years old. I started out as a water boy, then my dad started coaching me. He’s a small detail guy and he’s helped with that. My mom, she’s not big on football knowledge but she really supports me too and she’s always yelling out to me in the stands, I just can’t say enough good things about them.

To say that the North Schuylkill linebacker has been a hot recruit might be an understatement.  Beginning with his first offer, from the University of Massachusetts, Elsdon’s offers list exploded. Army, Bowling Green, Princeton and others came calling with offers in hand. Then more recently the FBS teams starting offering the talented 6-2, 220 pound incoming senior. Maryland, West Virginia and Virginia got in, but it was the Penn State offer he received over this past weekend that he was waiting for. “It was just special to get that offer. I’ve been to their camp, then they have that cookout thing which is where I got that offer, it’s just great. To me playing for couple thousand then now I’m gonna play in front of a hundred thousand? That’s crazy. ”

Tyler announced his offer on twitter:

“He’s probably our biggest recruit since Major Jordon went to Lafayette a couple years ago, but I don’t think we’ve had one in the FBS type teams” said Trojan Head Coach Walter Hall. “You certainly have to love the game, and Tyler does love the game. He’s long, he’s physical and he’ll be good for their team”

Tyler could be described as an old school linebacker. He isn’t afraid of contact.  His size and speed are a perfect fit for the FBS level.   “Sean Lee, he’s my favorite former PSU player. He wasn’t the biggest, or fastest guy and he wasn’t heavily recruited. He kinda reminds me of how I play. He was a 3 or 2 star, I don’t even know. Now he’s in the NFL with the Cowboys and I have nothing but respect for that.” His defensive stats read like you would expect from a PSU linebacker recruit: 115 Tackles, 23 TFL, 7 Sacks, 2 Caused fumbles, 3 Pass Break Ups, 2 INT, 1 TD 28 yds, 1 kick block, 3 punt blocks and 1 Safety. He’s been named to the Writers All State, PAFootballNews.com Coaches Select All State team, he’s a member of the PFN All Academic Team, All conference, pretty much any award available to him he’s won.

Tyler made the announcement he was committing to Penn State via twitter:

When asked about what drew him in to Penn State, he said being familiar the the program was a big part of his decision. “I really liked West Virginia, but it just didn’t feel like home to me. I’m familiar with Penn State. My neighbor, he played there, my parents went there, my buddies, my uncle.  I can’t say I ever went to a WVU game, or a Vanderbilt or Louisville game. I can say  I went to a Penn State game so yeah, the familiarity with Penn State definitely affected my decision.”

The recruiting process happened real fast for Tyler. His first offer came late last year. “I got my first offer after my junior, I been going to camps before my freshman year. There was times I’d be like “why am I doing this but I realize it was very important. You get to learn new techniques, meet new people but when the offers started coming in it was crazy. The first 2 months I had no stress but then it blew up. I don’t really know how to describe it except it was awesome. Then the power five offers start coming in, they get a little more attention, it’s just the greatest feeling. The people who came out to show support, man, I never knew that many people supported me.Alabama was my dream school, I just know its my best fit. I mean if they were to offer me I don’t think I’d go. You just can’t beat PSU athletically, academically, the fan base, the location, I just wanted to get it off my plate and play for a championship in high school.”

Tyler big hit vs Loyalsock

The person at Penn State who influenced him the most, Coach Pry, didn’t just impress upon him for football, but how he treats recruits and players with life in general.  “Just communicating with him, he’s such a great guy.  The way he develops people, I feel like he can really help me be an even better player and person. And the way he uses football to develop you as a person and build your life, that really drew me in.”

So what does Tyler said Penn State is getting in a player like himself? “I told coach Franklin, I’m a leader. I want to be a leader in the locker room, on the field, everywhere. I’m never satisfied. There’s always someone better than you and you’re getting someone that’s always gonna work whether I start or not.”

“I want to openly thank my teammates, friends, my teachers in the classrooms for pushing me and everyone for just going to the games and supporting our team. In a small community that kind of support just makes you want to do good things. Their support has always just been amazing.”

How big is Tyler’s commitment to the North Schuylkill area? “Something like this, it’s big for the school, the community, the surrounding area” said Coach Hall. “When you have an opportunity to have a kid from the area to go to play big time college football right here in Pennsylvania, that’s great. We have five different towns that feed into our school, two separate youth organizations and when they see kids doing well like this that’s important to them. The community support is great and we also try to give back to them for that support. “z

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