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Overview: PSU 2014 offensive signees

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- The fax machine in Happy Valley has finally stopped whirring, and the list of signees now appears finalized.

So here's a closer look at the offensive players from Penn State's Class of 2014. PSU's five early enrollees can be found here.

WR Saeed Blacknall (Manalapan, N.J.)

Four stars (Scout grade: 83), ESPN 300, No. 118 overall, No. 14 at position

Committed: Jan. 26, 2014

Top offers: Alabama, Florida State, Rutgers

Synopsis: He's the headliner of the Wednesday signees. (Yes, De'Andre Thompkins is ranked above him, but enrolled early.) Blacknall originally committed to Rutgers, but the Scarlet Knights might have gone a little too long without an offensive coordinator. During his official visit there, one still wasn't in place. He was Rutgers' top commit and is now a notch in Franklin's proverbial recruiting belt.

Scouting report Insider: Is a consistent playmaker with the ball in his hands.

WR Chris Godwin (Middletown, Del./Middletown)

Four stars (Scout grade: 83), ESPN 300, No. 159 overall, No. 21 at position

Committed: April 23, 2013

Top offers: Ohio State, South Carolina, Stanford

Synopsis: He and Thompkins are close -- and the two wanted to stay together. About a week before Franklin became head coach, Godwin told ESPN.com that Franklin was the coach he was hoping for. He represented Penn State at the Under Armour Game.

Scouting report Insider: Can be a vertical threat due to size and elevation, but might struggle to stretch and separate at next level.

RB Johnathan Thomas (Danvers, Mass./Saint John's Prep)

Four stars (Scout grade: 80), No. 44 at position

Committed: Oct. 20, 2013

Top offers: Arkansas, Boston College, Maryland

Synopsis: He attended the same high school as former coach Bill O'Brien, but was originally committed to Maryland. He flipped once PSU offered, however, as he was also a longtime PSU fan. He even sported a Penn State hat at a workout two summers ago. He's also coming off a torn ACL.

Scouting reportInsider: Overall, Thomas is a strong, downhill runner with multi-carry, load-back potential.

WR Troy Apke (Pittsburgh, Pa./Mount Lebanon)

Three stars (Scout grade: 79), No. 70 at position

Committed: April 13, 2013

Top offers: Kentucky, Minnesota, Pitt

Synopsis: Penn State fans learned the term "schadenfreude" when the Pitt target in the Panthers' backyard became Penn State's first wideout to commit. He was off the radar as an underclassman because he was part of a run-first team; that changed in a big way during his junior season. He had 54 catches as a junior and 40 as a senior, averaging more than 18 yards a catch both seasons.

Scouting report Insider: Apke is a savvy, smart and tough player who catches everything thrown in the area code.

QB Trace McSorley (Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods)

Three stars (Scout grade: 79), No. 60 at ATH position

Committed: Jan. 20, 2014

Top offers: Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest

Synopsis: McSorley has the ability to play a lot of positions, but Franklin still wants him at quarterback. He's a dual-threat who's been reportedly clocked in the 4.5s, and he could add another wrinkle to the Nittany Lions' future passing offense. He's a very different quarterback than ESPN 300 QB Michael O'Connor, who enrolled early.

Scouting report Insider: He is athletic and has a nose for the ball.

TE Mike Gesicki (Manahawkin, N.J./Southern Regional)

Three stars (Scout grade: 78), No. 12 at position

Committed: Oct. 17, 2013

Top offers: Ohio State, Florida State, Wisconsin

Synopsis: O'Brien believed he was the best tight end in the nation ... and O'Brien knew his tight ends. Gesicki greatly improved his Scout grade from his junior to senior season, and he chose PSU over an offer from Urban Meyer. He was hosted by Adam Breneman and Christian Hackenberg during his official visit.

Scouting reportInsider: He is a tweener H/WR who, with time in the weight room, could become a better fit on the inside, which would increase his BCS level value.

OT Noah Beh (Scranton, Pa./Scranton Prep)

Three stars (Scout grade: 77), No. 57 at position

Committed: June 1, 2013

Top offers: Boston College, Maryland, Pitt

Synopsis: Beh was recruited by some schools as defensive end, and O'Brien initially wasn't sold on Beh because of his 245-pound weight. He called Beh into his office once in February of last year and didn't offer, but then called him in a second time -- and told Beh he loved his blue-collar attitude and no longer believed the weight was an issue. He has the frame to add the weight.

Scouting report Insider: We feel he could possess a little greater upside as an O-lineman, but will need time to develop and at least a redshirt will likely be needed to add size and continue to develop technique.

RB Nick Scott (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax)

Three stars (Scout grade: 76), No. 107 at position

Committed: Feb. 23, 2013

Top offers: Boston College

Synopsis: ESPN named him one of the top performers at a Nike Football Training Camp, and he was sold on PSU pretty early. In an earlier interview with ESPN.com, Scott was asked when he knew during his visit that he was going to commit. His answer? Crossing the state line to Pennsylvania.

Scouting report Insider: Scott is a pretty exciting weapon as a pass catching running back with the versatility to split out in the slot and be a factor in the passing game.

OT Brendan Brosnan (Park Ridge, Ill./Maine Township South)

Three stars (Scout grade: 75), No. 98 at position

Committed: Jan. 14, 2014

Top offers: Illinois, Virginia Tech, Vanderbilt

Synopsis: He flipped from Vanderbilt four days after Franklin became head coach. He said Franklin's energy was a big reason for his commitment and believed that Penn State had the higher ceiling when compared to Vanderbilt.

Scouting report Insider: Brosnan moves well for his size.

RB Mark Allen (Hyattsvile, Md./DeMatha)

Three stars (Scout grade: 73), No. 149 at position

Committed: Oct. 16, 2012

Top offers: N/A

Synopsis: He was the first pledge of this class, and he committed as soon as he received an offer. He tore his ACL as a junior but played a big role in keeping this recruiting class together during the transition to another staff. He said he believed he needed to be a leader because he was the first commit, and he lived up to those expectations.

Scouting report Insider: We see very good change of pace/utility back potential.

OT Chance Sorrell (Middletown, Ohio/Middletown)

Three stars (Scout grade: 70), No. 50 at TE-Y position

Committed: Jan. 11, 2014

Top offers: Louisville, Vanderbilt, West Virginia

Synopsis: He injured his ankle during his junior season and then tore his labrum right before his senior season. That turned off quite a few teams, and that's a big reason Sorrell flew under the radar.

Scouting report Insider: More of a traditional in-line TE and could very well end up developing into an OL at the college level.