The 2017 College Football National Signing Day has come and gone with Penn State head coach James Franklin and his staff coming away with a nationally ranked top 20 class.

Thanks in large part to its success on the field during the 2016 season, Penn State picked up a few late commitments in four-star defensive prospects Ellis Brooks (ILB), Corey Bolds (DT), and Tariq Castro-Fields (CB), which helped to keep the Nittany Lions in the top 20 mix in the national rankings.In all, Penn State has signed 21 prospects in 2017 with 11 four-star prospects and 10 three-star prospects.Below you will find a breakdown of each recruit and where they stand nationally based on ESPN recruiting rankingsOFFENSEOffensive LineThe Nittany Lions' struggles in 2014 (7-6) and 2015 (7-6) can be mostly attributed to the offensive line. Franklin hasn't messed around over the past two seasons, bringing in a host of talent up front.This season's offensive line class is just as impressive as the 2016 haul at the position that could produce several starters this season. No. 5 ranked offensive guard C.J. Thorpe from Pittsburgh and the No. 21 ranked guard Michael Miranda from Ohio will solidify the interior of the Nittany Lions offensive front for years to come. Three-star prospects Desmond Holmes and Robert Martin are both big, lengthy guys, with each of them measuring at 6-6.- C.J. Thorpe, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, PA (No. 5 ranked OG, 6-4/290 ****) - 76th ESPN 300- Michael Miranda, Stow, OH (No. 21 ranked OG, 6-3/303 ****) - 277th ESPN 300- Desmond Holmes, Cardinal O'Hara, PA (No. 62 ranked OT, 6-6/327 ***)- Robert Martin, Montvale, NJ (No. 63 ranked OT, 6-6/270, ***)QuarterbackFranklin is starting to stockpile quarterback talent and he brought in one of the very best from the class of 2017. Four-star prospect and the No. 3 ranked pro-style quarterback, Sean Clifford will be in the blue and white for hopefully many years to come. Clifford comes from one of the best high school programs in the country in St. Xavier High School out of Cincinnati, Ohio.Clifford will join a talented crop of quarterbacks in starter Trace McSorley and back-ups Tommy Stevens and Jake Zembiec.- Sean Clifford, St. Xavier, OH (No. 3 ranked pro-style QB, 6-2/210 ****) - 80th ESPN 300Running BackWith Penn State being stacked at the running back position, heading into the 2017 season the pressure was off to sign a running back in this year's recruiting cycle. With Saquon Barkley, Andre Robinson, Miles Sanders, and Mark Allen all returning, Franklin could afford to take a gamble on Meadville High School product Journey Brown. Brown's name might seem familiar to Pennsylvanians because of his ridiculous 720 yard-performance against Dubois in his junior season. Brown is a risk that could certainly pay off down the road for the Nittany Lions.- Journey Brown, Meadville, PA (No. 85 ranked RB, 5-11/182 ***)Wide ReceiverPenn State will bring back one of the most talented wide receiver groups in the BIG 10 next season and this year's class of wide outs will only bolster that core. Franklin already has a lot of size with his current receivers, especially on the outside with Saeed Blacknall, Juwan Johnson, and Irvin Charles, so he opted to go with speed in the class of 2017. Four-star prospect K.J. Hamler has been dubbed as the "human joystick" by recruiting sites across the country and Mac Hippenhammer and Cam Sullivan-Brown also bring a ton of speed and quickness to the table.- K.J. Hamler, IMG Academy, FL (No. 59 ranked WR, 5-9/156 ****)- Mac Hippenhammer, R. Nelson Snider, IN (No. 141 ranked WR, 6-0/170 ***)- Cameron-Sullivan Brown, Laurel, MD (No. 119 ranked WR, 6-1/176 ***)DEFENSEDefensive LineThe "Wild Dogs" defensive front was one of the many surprises during the Penn State football season a year ago. The Nittany Lions front four was able to generate a good amount of pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2016.One weakness up front a year ago was against the run and James Franklin tried to address that in this year's class with four-star defensive tackle prospects Fred Hansard and Corey Bolds. Both have nice height and size, each measuring in at 6-3. Four-star prospect Yetur Matos is the 17th ranked defensive end in the country, measuring at 6-5 238 pounds.- Fred Hansard, Hun School, NJ (No. 12 ranked DT, 6-3/305 ****) 143rd ESPN 300- Yetur Matos, Fredericksburg, VA (No. 17 ranked DE, 6-5/238 ****) 247th ESPN 300- Corey Bolds, Paramus, NJ (No. 34 ranked DT, 6-3/286 ****)- Damion Barber, Harrisburg, PA (No. 43 ranked DE, 6-3/245 ***)LinebackerInside linebacker is a position of need for the Nittany Lions at the moment, as they seem to be thin there, entering the 2017 season. Late pick-up Ellis Brooks is the No. 8 ranked inside linebacker in the country and has a chance to see immediate playing time next season. Brailyn Franklin has nice size at 6-2 and will help add depth to the outside linebacker position. In 2018, it will be important for Franklin to add significant talent and depth at the linebacker position.- Ellis Brooks, Benedictine, VA (No. 8 ranked ILB, 6-2/230 ****) - 215th ESPN 300- Brailyn Franklin, Battlefield, VA (No. 67 ranked OLB, 6-2/196 ***)Defensive BackThis position group might just be James Franklin's masterpiece of the 2017 class. Lamont Wade is considered to be the best cornerback in the country and a five-star prospect by both Scout and Rivals. He will almost definitely see the field in some capacity next season. Four-star prospects Jonathan Sutherland and Tariq Castro-Fields were great gets and Brelin Faison-Walden could be a hybrid type that could play safety or linebacker. This is a secondary class that could set up Penn State for future championships.- Lamont Wade, Clairton, PA (No. 10 ranked CB, 5-10/187 ****) 112th ESPN 300- Jonathan Sutherland, Alexandria, VA (No. 23 ranked S, 6-0/188 ****)- Tariq Castro-Fields, Upper Marlboro, MD (No. 40 ranked CB, 6-2/173 ****)- D.J. Brown, Creekside, GA (No. 92 ranked CB, 5-11/172 ***)- Brelin Faison-Walden, Grimsley, NC (No. 38 ranked S, 6-0/195 ***)- Donovan Johnson, Detroit, MI (No. 78 ranked CB, 5-10/177 ***)