“Hey gang. Been awhile since I posted in the recruiting threads but I’m still a lurker from time to time. I’m not a recruiting insider or even an OSU football insider by any stretch of the imagination obviously. I’ve said before and I’ll say again, the only football related “inside scoop” I ever got was finding out about McCord’s transfer a few hours before it went public. But over the holiday weekend, fate put me in front of arguably one of the bigger players in the sports agency world and we talked for like an hour about nothing but NIL and college football, specifically recruiting. We touched on rankings, recruit mindset and motivations, and we even touched on message board forums, social media and also Michigan. Some of this may be old news to many of you but the conversation fascinated me enough to write down some things in my Notes app mid-conversation. Important to note, we were talking in terms of NIL as it exists without all the new regulations being enforced just yet and in terms of what is happening right now. I figured I would share here.

The biggest thing he stressed to me is that there are 3 versions of recruiting: 1. Recruiting the top 100 players in the country. 2. Recruiting the 101st player through the 300th player and finally 3: Recruiting everyone else. He said that rejecting the “pay for play” model for the top 100 players in the country would be like quote “rejecting the internet in 2025.” He also made a point to mention that the conversations around NIL recruiting tend to center around inner city kids trying to change their family’s lives with first time generational money but he said it is completely untrue that kids and families that are well off are bowing out of NIL negotiations. He said in some instances, it can actually be tougher negotiations dealing with families that most would consider wealthy. The main point he kept coming back to is that you are either going to spend for top 100 recruits or someone else will. The market is resetting multiple times during each recruiting cycle and he doesn’t believe the new guardrails put in place are going to stop that. I pushed back that I thought player development and scheme, particularly at QB were bigger factors than NIL even for top 100 players and he flat out laughed at me. He said he wished he could show me some of the conversations he was having.

I let him skim through the 11W recruiting thread on my phone which coincided with the Felix Ojo commitment timeline and he reiterated that the sentiment that a team being unwilling to pay 5 star recruits out of principal was as antiquated as saying you’re just not going to use the internet. He enjoyed all of your posts as well as the passion. I explained a bit of the lore, 305, TeeDawg etc. He said this was much more interesting and less toxic recruiting discourse than his own fanbase (he’s a fan of an SEC school) This led me to ask if recruits decisions are ever affected by message board posts. He said he’d never heard of a recruit mentioning a message board specifically but he said X/Twitter interactions can definitely impact recruiting. He said that he’d seen more instances with players’ families than the players themselves but it has definitely been a factor which surprised me. I said what if a rival fan posed as a team supporter and purposely trolled a recruit to try to sway him away from a rival and he said he didn’t think someone would go that far (he has no idea I have spent 2 years semi-anonymously investigating the Connor Stalions sign stealing scandal consulting for a Netflix documentary for zero dollars lmao) So I definitely disagree with him on that particular tidbit.

On Ohio State’s perceived unwillingness to spend on unproven commodities: He doesn’t believe it to be true but he has no direct knowledge that OSU is keeping to this strategy out of principal. He says they’ve been competitive in the past and he hasn’t seen anything definitive that made him believe that they’ve now done a complete 180. But again, he didn’t know anything for certain here.

On Michigan 2026 recruiting. I asked if pending sanctions are a factor in recruit’s decisions and he said less than zero. He confirmed something that I suspected in saying that postseason bans would definitely impact transfers but he said he has never heard a single recruit from any tier say that impending sanctions would impact their recruitment decision.

On “fake money in NIL” This is probably what we spent the most time talking about. He says that the biggest players in the NIL game on the athlete side spend far more time policing the payment promises than they do seeking out and securing deals. It’s one of the most important part of any athlete pitch. He likened the NIL ecosystem to the crypto, NFT and sneakerhead communities. More shady characters than honest agents and can tend to be somewhat predatory at times if you don’t know the ins and outs of the game. He says that people wouldn’t believe how many people are “acting on behalf” of current athletes in an unofficial capacity. It’s extremely common for distant family members, high school friends and all kinds of loose connections to players managing to engage in extremely serious conversations with schools and collectives without the athletes themselves. “It’s a nightmare” He shared numerous anecdotes about specific recruits (all of them were SEC commits) that we’re interesting to say the least. I still find it hard to believe that a collective or even crazier, a blue blood program would engage in a conversation about money/recruiting with an 18 year old kid that’s speaking for a recruit, but he swears it happens.

I asked if he thought “bad investments” would eventually deter the kind of money we’re seeing right now. He said he believed it would depend on position. He said he was initially shocked to see how much OL recruits were getting in the early NIL days and he could see an eventual market correction there (excluding 5 stars/top 100) but he said he didn’t think 5 bad prospect investments in a row would deter teams from paying top dollar for QBs, DEs and potentially WRs and CBs. It’s the cost of doing business.

It was an awesome conversation and fortunately this was a yearly event that we will both hopefully return to next year so I can see what has changed if anything in the 12 months ahead. Again, if this is old news to some of you guys, apologies but it was super interesting to me as someone that just scratches the surface of recruiting topics.”

LONDON (AP) — This gallery, curated by AP photo editors, showcases highlights from the third and fourth rounds of Wimbledon.

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LOWELL, Mass.- UMass Lowell Field Hockey Head Coach Shannon LeBlanc has announced the addition of 10 newcomers to the roster for her program’s upcoming 50th season.
 
The River Hawks will welcome Holly Beckinsale (Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland), Alexa Guarneri (Hockessin, Del.), Helena Herlocher (State College, Pa.), Megan Macmiller (Tarzana, Calif.), Veerle Mous (Breda, Netherlands), Rena Pistilli (Lambaré, Paraguay), Jaedyn Scarlatos (South Setauket, N.Y.), Brynn Somers (Berlin, N.J.), Haley Wernig (Franklin, Mass.) and Abby Wortmann (Nazareth, Pa.)  in 2025.
 
“We are excited about the strength of this class,” said LeBlanc. “They each bring a unique, high-level skill set and all of them are committed to our program’s core values. They are accomplished both on the field and in the classroom, and have some fantastic leadership qualities. We have high expectations for this group and are looking forward to August when their newest chapter with UMass Lowell field hockey begins.”
 
RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES
 
Name: Holly Beckinsale
Hometown/High School: Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland/Belfast
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-5
Club Team: Mossley Ladies Hockey Club
Major: Exercise Science and Kinesiology
 
HIGH SCHOOL: School 1XI captain and Ulster captain for UK School Games Tournament in Loughborough, England as a senior … named Ulster U18 captain and selected to the Ireland U18 Regional Squad as a junior … also played tennis … Northern Ireland Tennis runner-up as a senior.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Michael and Beverley … has one younger sibling (Chloe) … lists piano, harmonica, baking, Girls Brigade, coaching and scrapbooking as her favorite hobbies … names Friends, Young Offenders and Gilmore Girls as her favorite TV shows … Shirley McCay is her favorite sports figure, while Ireland Hockey and England Women’s Soccer are her favorite sports teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she has never seen a team with a better atmosphere and morale than this one.
 
Name: Alexa Guarneri
Hometown/High School: Hockessin, Delaware/The Charter School of Wilmington
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder/Forward
Height: 5-5
Club Team: Delaware Sharks
Major: Nursing
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year varsity starter and two-year captain … two-time First Team All-Conference and First Team All-State selection … set single-season (38) and career goals (60) record at her high school … helped her team to three semifinal appearances … two-time NCCs qualifier … also played soccer.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Jason and Julie … has two brothers (Kyle and Cole) … both parents were college athletes … her favorite hobbies include skiing, going to the beach, wakeboarding and hiking … How I Met Your Mother and Impractical Jokers are her favorite TV shows … calls the New York Yankees her favorite sports team and lists Katie Ledecky as her favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the high-quality field hockey program and the nursing program.
 
Name: Helena Herlocher
Hometown/High School: State College, Pennsylvania/State College Area
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder/Back
Height: 5-7
Club Team: Blue Stripe Field Hockey Club
Major: Business
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Named team captain as a senior … four-time District 6 champions … tabbed Mid-Penn First Team as a senior … selected to the All-State Second Team as a junior … helped her team win the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Championship as a sophomore … named to the Pennsylvania Academic All-American Team … also played lacrosse and was part of the indoor track & field team.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Neil and Sharon … has two siblings (Phebe and Charlie) … both parents and her siblings were all college athletes … favorite hobbies are
traveling, hanging out with friends and her dog, reading, cooking, baking and hiking …
Narcos and The Office are her favorite TV shows … names Ilona Maher and Billie Jean King as her favorite sports figures … lists the Eagles and Liverpool FC as her favorite teams … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the academic opportunities and welcoming team environment.
 
Name: Megan MacMiller
Hometown/High School: Tarzana, Calif./Chaminade College Preparatory
Class: Freshman
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-4
Club Team: Ventura County Red Devils
Major: Business
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity team member … team captain as a senior … two-time All-Star … named MVP as a junior and ranked first in the nation for saves by MaxPreps … earned Best Defensive Player honors as a sophomore and Rookie of the Year as a freshman … scholar-athlete all four years … member of the National Honors Society.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Cary an Amber … has two siblings (Ian and Erin) … lists reading, horseback riding and spending time with friends and family are her favorite hobbies … Bridgerton is her favorite TV show … names the Dodgers and the LA Kings as her favorite sports teams … lists Katie Bing and Maddie Hinch as her favorite sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the field hockey community.
 
Name: Veerle Mous
Hometown/High School: Breda, Netherlands/De Nassau
Class: Freshman
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 5-9
Club Team: BHV Push Breda
Major: English
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Helped her club finish third in the Super A U16 National Championships.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Tim and Karien … has two brothers (Klaas and Ot) and a twin sister Feline … spends her free time skiing, snowboarding, hanging out with friends and shopping … favorite TV show is Gossip Girl … calls Lando Norris and Frenkie de Jong her favorite sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she sees an opportunity to merge her passions for journalism and field hockey into a unique and meaningful experience.
 
Name: Rena Pistilli
Hometown/High School: Lambaré, Paraguay
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Club Team: CURDA
Major: Liberal Arts
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Totals 30 FIH caps with eight goals … helped lead her club to two Senior Vice Champion titles in the national tournament … captained her team at the Pan American Senior Challenge and the FIH Hockey5s World Cup in 2024 … also served as captain at the 2023 Hockey5s Pan American Cup … youngest member of the Senior National Team to participate at the 2022 Odesur Senior Tournament … made the Senior National Team at 16 years old and traveled to Peru for 2021 Pan American Challenge.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Carlos and Raquel … has three siblings (Fabriccio, José and Lara) … enjoys drawing and cooking in her free time … lists Twilight as her favorite TV show … names the Chelsea and Olimpia soccer teams as her favorite professional teams … Julieta Jankunas and Frederique Matla are her favorite sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it offered the perfect balance between competitive DI athletics and strong academics.
 
Name: Jaedyn Scarlatos
Hometown/High School: South Setauket, N.Y./The Hill School
Previous School: Bryant
Class: Sophomore
Position: Back/Forward
Height: 5-3
Club Team: WC Eagles
Major: Psychology
 
AS A FRESHMAN (2024 AT BRYANT): Started all 18 games … posted first collegiate goal against Queens (NC) … finished the season with one goals and two assists for four points.
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Helped lead her team to three MAPL Championships … led her team in assists and was named to the All-State Second Team twice … member of the 2022 State Championship winning squad … earned an All-State honorable mention as a sophomore … was also a member of the track & field team.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of John and Kimberly … has three siblings (Jonathan, Jamison and Jaxson) … mother Kimberly played field hockey at UMass Amherst … enjoys reading, cooking, going to the beach and hanging out with friends and family in her free time … Gilmore Girls is her favorite TV show … calls the New York Islanders her favorite sports team and Michael Jordan her favorite sports figure … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she loved the community, team and culture, and felt it was the perfect home for her.
 
Name: Brynn Somers
Hometown/High School: Berlin, N.J./Eastern Regional
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder/Back
Height: 5-5
Club Team: Uprise
Major: Undeclared
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity starter and two year-captain…named First Team All Group 4, First Team All-Conference, First Team SJFHCA All-South Jersey as a senior … SJFHCA All-Star selection and Top 100 Senior in New Jersey … selected to the All-Conference First Team and named the Top 100 junior in N.J. … first place in U19 Disney Tournament and second place in the U19 Junior Premier League as a junior … U16 National Club Championship as a sophomore and freshman … also played lacrosse … member of the Spanish Honor Society.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Shannon and John…has four sisters (Kayla, Peyton, Tara and Maura) … sisters Tara, Kayla and Maura all played collegiate field hockey … favorite hobbies are playing piano, cooking, watching movies and hanging out with friends and family … favorite TV shows are How I Met Your Mother and Modern Family … the Phillies and the Eagles are her favorite sports teams … lists Simone Biles, Bryce Harper and Saquon Barkley as her favorite athletes … chose to attend UMass Lowell for the atmosphere and environment of the place and people, on and off the field.
 
Name: Haley Wernig
Hometown/High School: Franklin, Mass./Franklin
Class: Freshman
Position: Forward/midfielder
Height: 5-5
Club Team: Premier
Major: Business
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity team member … four-year Hockomock League Champions … named Best of 60 Senior All-Star, Hockomock League MVP, and NHSCA All-Region as a senior … Division I Massachusetts State Elite 8 as a senior and Final Four as a junior … surpassed 100 career goals as a senior … named Boston Globe, Boston Herald and Metrowest Daily News All-Star, and the 2023 Field Hockey Top Performer in Massachusetts as a junior … also played ice hockey and served as a four-year varsity captain.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Adam and Carrie …has two brothers (Nathan and Jack) … mom Carrie played field hockey at Providence College … favorite hobbies include spending time with friends, skiing and ice skating … Gossip Girl is her favorite TV show … the Boston Bruins are her favorite sports team … lists her mom, Riley Heck and Ashely Sessa as her most influential sports figures … chose to attend UMass Lowell because the coaching staff left a profound impression on her, in addition to the program’s excellence and close location.
 
Name: Abby Wortmann
Hometown/High School: Nazareth, Pa./Nazareth Area
Class: Freshman
Position: Midfielder
Height: 5-6
Club Team: PPA Lehigh Valley
Major: Civil Engineering
 
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year varsity starter … team captain as a senior … named to the All-State First Team and EPC First Team as a senior … nominated for Morning Call Athlete of the Week and Senior Cup … finished her career with 118 total points, including 13 goals and 15 assists as a senior … EPC Second Team and Morning Call All-Area Honorable Mention as a junior after helping her team to the EPC semifinals and the District XI quarterfinals … also played lacrosse … graduated with high honors.
 
PERSONAL: Daughter of Steve and Melissa … has a brother (Matt) and two sisters (Brittani and Alycia) … spends her time kayaking, paddle boarding and hiking with family … lists The Mandalorian, The Bear and From as her favorite TV shows … her favorite sports team is the Steelers … chose to attend UMass Lowell because she loves the atmosphere of the team and the academic programs it offered.

Class of 2026 offensive lineman Marlen Bright went public with his Penn State commitment on Saturday. The DePaul Catholic (Wayne, N.J.) High School senior spent significant time on campus this summer, including “Big Man Challenge” participation with Nittany Lions coaches directing him.

Penn State is set to add a DePaul Catholic offensive lineman for the second straight cycle, as center/guard Michael Troutman enrolled last January and has impressed position coach Phil Trautwein so far. Bright is considered the No. 43 offensive tackle in 247Sports’ 2026 recruit rankings.

Upon making Penn State his pick, Bright noted Trautwein’s presence as a primary motivation during a detailed discussion with 247Sports’ Brian Dohn.

“It’s amazing to be able to play for him,” Bright said. “It’s a development process with him. He develops young tackles. He doesn’t really take transfers. They want to develop their own players.”

The 6-foot-6, 260-pound Bright took plenty of tips from Trautwein last month throughout the aforementioned Big Man Challenge. For a significant span, Penn State head coach James Franklin and offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki walked over for a closer look at drills. Lions247’s Mark Brennan kept his camera on the action and put together a highlights package.

Watch Bright’s Big Man Challenge Highlights above!

So what does Bright bring to Penn State’s next recruiting class?