The Nittany Lions reached their highest preseason ranking since 1999 on Monday when the AP released its first Top 25 of the 2017 season.
Saquon Barkley, Grant Haley, Marcus Allen, DaeSean Hamilton, and Tyler Davis join the previously announced trio of Trace McSorley, Jason Cabinda, and Nick Scott.
In 2019, Franklin's contract surges to $5,350,000 in guaranteed compensation ($2,650,000 paid by the school in base salary). He receives an additional $300,000 in base salary in each of the years for the remainder of the contract, which will max out at $6,250,000 (before potential bonuses) in 2022.
At a reported $5.8 million a year, James Franklin will have the fourth-highest salary of college football coaches in the country.
Ohio State's sixth-year head coach told ESPN's Chris Low Thursday he thought the Nittany Lions "absolutely belonged" in last year's four-team playoff field.
The Nittany Lions currently count two coaches and two players from the WPIAL power, with intentions of adding more in the future.