RECRUITING | James Franklin offers underdog an opportunity

If you’re a fan of major college football recruiting — even a die-hard — chances are you have not heard the name Rukeem Stroud come up yet. Stroud is an unranked 2025 corner from Tampa Bay Tech in Tampa, FL, he stands at 6 feet tall and weighs in around 145 pounds. On Thursday, Penn State head football coach James Franklin offered him a massive opportunity: his first Division 1 football offer.

Blessed to receive my first D1 offer from the University of Penn State ??@CoachTerryPSU @tech813coach @KevinHobbs_DC @TBTFootball pic.twitter.com/0rTekDRADH

— Stroud22 (@rstroud06) March 9, 2023

James Franklin offers Rukeem Stroud

If you take a look at Stroud’s On3 profile, it is pretty bare. His height, weight, and high school are all listed, but that is about it. Additionally, his one offer (Penn State) is just about the only other detail you can find. Still, James Franklin knows talent when he sees it, so Nittany Lion fans should trust that Stroud is a star in the making.

We did a little digging on Stroud’s Twitter and found a few plays that Penn State football fans should see — James Franklin and his staff may have found a diamond in the rough.

1st spring game pick ?! pic.twitter.com/nvaWNcd8WX

— Stroud22 (@rstroud06) May 20, 2022

Nobody scores ? @KevinHobbs_DC pic.twitter.com/Iwz5H3J4wH

— Stroud22 (@rstroud06) October 15, 2022

On top of having some solid tape on the football field, Stroud is a standout track athlete:

100m finalist winner ? ? pic.twitter.com/f1ntVe9vka

— Stroud22 (@rstroud06) March 4, 2023

Rukeem Stroud may not be a name that many are thinking of right now, but don’t count this 2025 prospect out just yet. There’s a reason James Franklin wants him in State College, and as  Stroud develops into a senior prospect, he could start gaining more national attention.

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