TodayPenn State Recruiting: Lions aim for strong finish
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Article RatingPenn State’s recruiting incoming recruiting class received a boost earlier this week with the commitments of Virginia wide receiver A.J. Price and Pittsburgh lineman Mike Farrell.
But it’s over the next couple of weeks where the Nittany Lions are looking to close out the recruiting season on a strong note.
Washington D.C. wide receiver Kenny Tate is also high on the list of Penn State and could choose the Nittany Lions later this week.
Tate and Price are interesting recruits in that they are both 6’3, and 6’4 respectively, signaling a shift in the size of receiver Penn State is looking for.
Derrick Williams, Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler will all leave the program after the 2008 season giving Penn State unseasoned players like Chris Bell, Brett Brackett and Derek Moye as their options for 2009.
According to one recruiting service, all of the receivers offered for the upcoming class were either 6’2 or taller.
It’s possible that Penn State may get some help along the defensive front with possible commitments coming from Maryland lineman Zach Kerr and also East Stroudsburg South lineman Corey Lewis.
Lewis initially gave a verbal commitment to Virginia but re-opened his recruitment. He will visit Penn State in the near future.
Harrisburg’s Brandon Ware told FightOnState Magazine earlier this week that he expects to receive an offer from Penn State this weekend when he visits State College.
Defensive line coach Larry Johnson has visited Ware three times this year already and informed him upon arrive in town that he could receive an offer this weekend.
Ware is also considering Temple, but would likely choose the Nittany Lions if given an offer.
Late last week Penn State offered Tampa Jesuit offensive lineman Phil Smith as well.
Smith took an official visit to Georgia Tech but told the Tampa Tribune that he will consider the offer from the Nittany Lions.
“I’m very happy,” Smith told the paper. “This offer means a lot to me and now I have a lot to consider.”
The unknown in the whole recruiting season still appears to be Jeanette quarterback Terrelle Pryor.
Pryor visited Michigan last week and exchanged text messages with an Associated Press reporter telling the reporter his choices were down to Ohio State, Michigan, LSU and Oregon.
Then more recently reiterated that Penn State was still in his top five.
Pryor, who has visited Penn State several times, including this past season for their victory over Notre Dame, decided against taking an official visit to State College last week.
It’s expected that his choice will come down to either Michigan or Ohio State.
Pryor is waiting until National Letter of Intent day on Feb. 6 to make his official choice.
Penn State has already landed 14 verbal commitments for the incoming class, including linebackers Mike Yancich, Mike Zordich and Mike Mauti.
The Nittany Lions also have commitments from two running backs from Ohio in Brandon Beachum and Michael Shaw. The duo was among 10 running backs Penn State extended offers to.
Shaw, though a verbal to the Nittany Lions still accompanied a teammate on a visit to Michigan earlier this week.
One small area of concern is safety D’Antonn Lynn, who verbaled to Penn State late in 2007 but is thought to be exploring other options right now.
Lynn was recruiting by former Penn State safeties coach Brian Norwood, who left for Baylor just before the Alamo Bowl.
Lynn and Norwood maintained a close relationship through the process and Baylor is one of the schools now rumored to be after him. Oklahoma is also in the mix and Lynn will take a visit to Texas Tech.
NOTES: Altoona wide receiver A.J. Alexander, who verbaled to Pittsburgh late last week has reneged on his commitment to the Panthers. Alexander was thought to be high on Penn State’s list, but told Scout.com last week that he apparently “isn’t good enough to play for them.” He is expected to choose between North Carolina, Florida State or Tennessee…..of Pitt’s current crop of 17 incoming recruits, 13 are from Pennsylvania.
