PSU Nittany Lions: Recruiting
Penn State assistant Larry Johnson usually doesn't usually travel to Michigan high schools to offer juniors. But then again, he doesn't often come across defensive ends like the recruit he saw Thursday either.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
NittanyNation mailbag: Sanctions, maybes 
February, 1, 2013
Feb 1
1:00
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Welcome to NittanyNation's bi-weekly mailbag! We asked you to tweet or email your questions this week, and we've selected three to answer in-depth.
William Amesbury (@WAmesbury16) writes: Where do you think the 2013 recruiting class would be without the sanctions?
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Every week, NittanyNation will pose five questions to a recruit, player, alum or coach about all things Penn State.
This week's subject is Austin Fiedler, an offensive tackle out of Turbotville (Pa.) Warrior Run who recently committed to PSU as a walk-on. He's a 6-foot-6, 296-pound prospect and received heavy interest from Bloomsburg.
This week's subject is Austin Fiedler, an offensive tackle out of Turbotville (Pa.) Warrior Run who recently committed to PSU as a walk-on. He's a 6-foot-6, 296-pound prospect and received heavy interest from Bloomsburg.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Linebacker Zayd Issah, Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
Committed: Dec.9, 2012.
Vitals: Linebacker Zayd Issah, Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds.
Committed: Dec.9, 2012.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
When Cole Chiappialle peeled off his yellow helmet after his final high school game, he figured he'd next step foot on a field at a Div. II school.
He figured he'd see scant crowds. He thought maybe he'd play at Cal (Pa.) University or Notre Dame College of Ohio. He wondered if he'd cradle that pigskin as an early starter.
But, more than anything, the tailback out of Beaver Falls (Pa.) Blackhawk thought -- and hoped -- for a bigger opportunity.
He figured he'd see scant crowds. He thought maybe he'd play at Cal (Pa.) University or Notre Dame College of Ohio. He wondered if he'd cradle that pigskin as an early starter.
But, more than anything, the tailback out of Beaver Falls (Pa.) Blackhawk thought -- and hoped -- for a bigger opportunity.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Quarterback Tyler Ferguson, Bakersfield (Calif.) College of the Sequoias, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds.
Committed: Dec. 14, 2012.
ESPN.com grade: 77. Three-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: N/A
Picked Penn State over: Akron, Florida Atlantic and Houston.
Vitals: Quarterback Tyler Ferguson, Bakersfield (Calif.) College of the Sequoias, 6-foot-4, 200 pounds.
Committed: Dec. 14, 2012.
ESPN.com grade: 77. Three-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: N/A
Picked Penn State over: Akron, Florida Atlantic and Houston.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
When college coaches gazed across the field at Bethlehem (Pa.) Catholic's quarterback, they saw visions of Joe Montana and Joe Namath.
When the ball rolled off high schooler Dan Kendra's fingertips, fans thought of Dan Marino. When he circled his team in the huddle, he seemed like Jim Kelly. In 1994, Pennsylvania's favorite son was just 18 years old -- but he was already counted on to be the next great signal-caller. A surefire Hall of Famer whose father joked that even Joe Paterno wouldn't be tempted to turn this stout athlete into a linebacker.
Before the digital age, back in the era of pogs and Saturday morning cartoons, Kendra might have been the most recognizable high school player in the world. He was USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year, ESPN's Player of the Year, Parade's Player of the Year and SuperPrep's Player of the Year. He was everybody's player of the year.
He was Tom Lemming and Max Emfinger's No. 1-rated quarterback. And National Recruiting Advisor also ranked the square-chinned kid -- who threw for 1,988 yards and 21 TDs and rushed for another 718 yards as a senior -- as the top QB in the country.
And, in December 1994, he was all Penn State's.
When the ball rolled off high schooler Dan Kendra's fingertips, fans thought of Dan Marino. When he circled his team in the huddle, he seemed like Jim Kelly. In 1994, Pennsylvania's favorite son was just 18 years old -- but he was already counted on to be the next great signal-caller. A surefire Hall of Famer whose father joked that even Joe Paterno wouldn't be tempted to turn this stout athlete into a linebacker.
Before the digital age, back in the era of pogs and Saturday morning cartoons, Kendra might have been the most recognizable high school player in the world. He was USA Today's Offensive Player of the Year, ESPN's Player of the Year, Parade's Player of the Year and SuperPrep's Player of the Year. He was everybody's player of the year.
He was Tom Lemming and Max Emfinger's No. 1-rated quarterback. And National Recruiting Advisor also ranked the square-chinned kid -- who threw for 1,988 yards and 21 TDs and rushed for another 718 yards as a senior -- as the top QB in the country.
And, in December 1994, he was all Penn State's.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
A look at Penn State's incoming QB recruits
January, 30, 2013
Jan 30
11:00
AM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Two months ago, Penn State had just one committed quarterback -- and that seemed like a pressing issue that might take a while to resolve. With just one QB officially on the roster in Steven Bench, depth was obviously a concern.
Well, it certainly isn't anymore. Bill O'Brien garnered commitments from five players who'll compete at quarterback. And he also convinced four other players -- who were the starting quarterbacks on their respective teams -- to play at other positions at Penn State.
NittanyNation takes a closer look at all these signal-callers:
QUARTERBACKS WHO WILL STAY QBs
Christian Hackenberg, Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy
Stats: Passing -- 156-of-291; 2,144 yards, 24 TDs, 9 INTs. Rushing -- 89 carries, 436 yards, 3 TDs.
Status: Committed (scholarship)
Synopsis: He's the top-rated high school quarterback in the nation. He can make all the throws, has a great arm, and his potential is endless. He just needs to familiarize himself with the playbook and better learn to read defenses. Opposing coaches said he had difficulty picking up disguised coverages and blitzes. He's obviously Penn State's quarterback of the future.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Linebacker Brandon Bell, Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest, 6-foot, 222 pounds
Committed: June 13, 2012
Vitals: Linebacker Brandon Bell, Mays Landing, N.J./Oakcrest, 6-foot, 222 pounds
Committed: June 13, 2012
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
On Friday, RecruitingNation took you behind the scenes on recruiting trips and polled various prospects about their favorite memories on the recruiting trail.
NittanyNation asked two Penn State commits about their favorite-everythings. So, we decided to list wideout DaeSean Hamilton's answers for every category right here.
NittanyNation asked two Penn State commits about their favorite-everythings. So, we decided to list wideout DaeSean Hamilton's answers for every category right here.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
'Run-on' program more important than ever
January, 29, 2013
Jan 29
12:46
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Bill O'Brien knew he wanted to focus on Penn State's run-on program months before the sanctions even hit.
He spent winters in New England watching Danny Woodhead and Wes Welker -- two unheralded players out of high school -- and saw them improve and contribute more as the season wore on. Forget recruiting rankings. Forget the pack mentality. O'Brien thought he could find some diamonds in the rough as run-ons, relative unknowns who could help this team win.
When those sanctions did finally hit, leading to fewer scholarships, O'Brien knew the run-on program would be more important than ever. His staff hit the recruiting trail hard and followed every lead it could.
This staff's effort helped uncover prospects such as prep quarterback D.J. Crook, who emailed the staff without any expectation he'd get a response. And, with the help of recruits like Crook, O'Brien is hoping to ensure this program remains one of the country's best.
Click here to read the story
He spent winters in New England watching Danny Woodhead and Wes Welker -- two unheralded players out of high school -- and saw them improve and contribute more as the season wore on. Forget recruiting rankings. Forget the pack mentality. O'Brien thought he could find some diamonds in the rough as run-ons, relative unknowns who could help this team win.
When those sanctions did finally hit, leading to fewer scholarships, O'Brien knew the run-on program would be more important than ever. His staff hit the recruiting trail hard and followed every lead it could.
This staff's effort helped uncover prospects such as prep quarterback D.J. Crook, who emailed the staff without any expectation he'd get a response. And, with the help of recruits like Crook, O'Brien is hoping to ensure this program remains one of the country's best.
Click here to read the story
What kind of player is Penn State getting here in Curtis Cothran? And what can fans expect?
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Safety Kasey Gaines, Loganville, Ga./Grayson, 5-foot-9, 165 pounds.
Committed: Sept. 19, 2012.
Vitals: Safety Kasey Gaines, Loganville, Ga./Grayson, 5-foot-9, 165 pounds.
Committed: Sept. 19, 2012.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
Chris Geiss remembers milling around the Nittany Lion Inn back when he was in grade school, standing near his parents' side when a familiar face in Coke-bottled frames strolled past.
He wasn't yet old enough to watch a PG-13 movie, but he instantly knew who that man was. Joe Paterno. He extended his little arm, while Paterno smiled and told the fresh-faced youngster something that stuck with him all these years later: "He said one day I'll be playing football up there," Geiss remembered.
On Monday, Geiss finally realized his dream -- and discovered Paterno was right all those years ago -- when he accepted a preferred walk-on offer to play at Penn State.
He wasn't yet old enough to watch a PG-13 movie, but he instantly knew who that man was. Joe Paterno. He extended his little arm, while Paterno smiled and told the fresh-faced youngster something that stuck with him all these years later: "He said one day I'll be playing football up there," Geiss remembered.
On Monday, Geiss finally realized his dream -- and discovered Paterno was right all those years ago -- when he accepted a preferred walk-on offer to play at Penn State.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
On Friday, RecruitingNation took you behind the scenes on recruiting trips and polled various prospects about their favorite memories on the recruiting trail.
NittanyNation asked two Penn State commits about their favorite-everythings. So, we decided to list offensive tackle Andrew Nelson's answers for every category right here. We'll have the second player tomorrow.
NittanyNation asked two Penn State commits about their favorite-everythings. So, we decided to list offensive tackle Andrew Nelson's answers for every category right here. We'll have the second player tomorrow.
To continue reading this article you must be an Insider
ABOUT NITTANY NATION
Josh Moyer
Josh Moyer joined ESPN.com in 2012 after covering Penn State football for recruiting website Nittany Network and City Hall for The Citizens' Voice in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Moyer graduated from Penn State and earned his graduate degree at Columbia. Email him at espnjoshmoyer@gmail.com.