BWI Daily: Penn State commit Anthony Speca is a born leader | Interview

The Blue-White Podcast: A Penn State Athletics Podcast

Just over a week ago, Penn State football picked up its second member in the Class of 2024. Four-star linebacker out of Central Catholic in Pittsburgh, Anthony Speca, chose the Nittany Lions over Michigan and Notre Dame. Today, you meet Speca as he sits down for an exclusive interview with host Thomas Frank Carr on the BWI Daily Edition.

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T-Frank begins his discussion with Speca by digging into why the rising junior decided to commit early in the process. While it may seem early, Speca has taken steps that most recruits don't in order to evaluate his potential schools. T-Frank asks what that process was like and how taxing that is for a high school player.

They also discuss Speca's relationship with former Penn State legend Dan Connor. Conner is an analyst for the Nittany Lions, but he made a strong bond with Speca during the recruiting process. He discusses how the two connected and what they bonded over during their relationship. Part of the recruiting process was also getting to know defensive coordinator and linebacker coach Manny Diaz. Between head coach James Franklin, Conner and Diaz, there was a common thread that Speca respected and bonded over. Check out the interview to see what sealed the deal for the Pittsburgh native.

Throughout the recruiting process, the 6-1 linebacker reveals his personality. He discusses his disinterest in the pageantry of the recruiting process, his desire to be great, and his upfront honesty. All of those characteristics paint the picture of a strong leader who joined the program at this point in order to be a leader in recruiting. One of the key recruits that Penn State wants to add to the class is athlete Quinton Martin. Speca describes his relationship with "Q" and how close the duo is.

Next, they dive into Speca's skills on the football field. T-Frank asks Speca to scout himself and tell the audience where he thinks his strengths lie and where he wants to improve. Finally, they wrap up the conversation by getting to know Speca outside of football.

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