PSU Nittany Lions

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Beneath the specter of an uncertain future, and a criminal act the community is all too aware of, Zayd Issah lingered on the field Saturday night -- and finally smiled.

With sweat running down his nose and his face, so that it was indistinguishable from what might have been tears, Issah smiled. It has been an emotionally taxing three months for the three-star athlete, who faces several charges for allegedly passing off counterfeit $20 bills at fast-food restaurants. He tried to enjoy an oasis of football on Saturday night.

Under the lights of Hersheypark Stadium, after Pennsylvania dominated Maryland 58-27 in the Big 33 Game, he quickly embraced four-star PSU signee Andrew Nelson. He sought out his family on the field, and he stopped every few seconds to sign autographs and pose for giggling girls who asked for group photos.

Issah obliged, but he kept walking, away from the crowds and the groups, without any destination in particular. It seemed as if he just wanted to soak in the moment and forget about his troubles for at least a little.

"They say football's a game of second chances," he said. "So I want to use mine to the best of my ability and make the most out of it."

Bill O'Brien has not severed ties with the talented linebacker out of Harrisburg (Pa.) Central Dauphin. The staff appeared to offer him an ultimatum: Head elsewhere or enroll in prep school, clean up your act and then maybe rejoin the PSU family in January.

That's still the plan for Issah, who is deciding between Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy and New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy.

"Where do you stand with PSU?" asked one reporter.

"It's Linebacker U," he replied, harkening back to the same response he gave nearly 190 days ago. "Penn State's Linebacker U. That's all I got to say. I got my sights set on PSU right now, unless something changes."

Issah, still smiling and receiving pats on the back from passers-by, was pressed. What could that "something" be?

"I'll know when it happens, really," he said, nodding when asked if he's heading in with the mindset that he'll remain a Nittany Lion.

Individual defensive stats were not kept at the Big 33 Game, but Issah's name echoed over the PA system throughout the night. He started at outside linebacker, played defensive end during "speed packages," and seemed to leave all the emotion and bottled-up frustration of three months on the field.

On one early play, Issah drifted right but quickly reversed course and made a tackle near the opposite sideline. It was an effort not lost on Pennsylvania coach Art Walker, who focused on Issah's leadership this past week and didn't mention his less-recent hardship.

"He just had great work ethic," said Walker, who coaches Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny. "He did a great job of anything we asked. He handled everything we threw at him. He responded well and had a great attitude.

"He's a good teammate, and he led by example. He's everything you want out of a player."

Issah isn't completely sure what comes next. He'll enroll in one of those two prep schools by August, but he's not yet sure which one. It'll likely come down to finances, he said.

The 6-foot-3 prospect already knows he'll be receiving scholarship assistance from FUMA. Milford hasn't yet responded with a number.

"I'm a little closer with Fork Union right now," he said, "so I'm still waiting to get a relationship with Milford."

Issah simply responded with, "Yeah," when asked if he felt like he received a fair shake. But, with his shoulder pads still on and that smile still fixed to his face, he thought for a moment when asked one final question, whether he wanted to get anything off his chest.

"I love to play football. I don't want to stop; that's it," he said. "And I'm glad they didn't take that chance away from me."

NittanyNation takes a look at this week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:

• PSU released an updated depth chart late last week, and there were a few surprises.
• Minkah Fitzpatrick is primed to be one of the top DBs in his 2015 class, and it's difficult to find someone more dedicated to his craft. From the 75-minute drives to school to not resting on his days off, Fitzpatrick already means business.
• In this video clip, "College Football Live" discussed the Penn State quarterback situation in 2013 and how Bill O'Brien has been able to lure top QBs to Happy Valley. Earlier in the week, in another video, ESPN also addressed the importance of adding ESPN 150 Michael O'Connor.
• Former Heisman winner Chris Weinke talked about O'Connor and just what Penn State's getting in this in-depth Q&A.
• 2015 DE Darius Fullwood said PSU is going to be one of his top choices after receiving an offer at a recent camp.
• Incoming run-on QB Jack Seymour turned down several MAC offers for a spot on PSU's roster. He talked about that and his career goals in a Q&A.
• 2015 WR Irvin Charles didn't initially expect PSU to wind up in his top two this quickly, but he also didn't expect to enjoy the Happy Valley atmosphere so much, either.
• We talked underrated recruits, Christian Hackenberg's odds to start and more in this past week's SportsNation chat.
• What nonconference opponent would most fans like to see Penn State play? Brian Bennett polled some PSU fans to find out.
• Juco DL Cory Johnson said, if he had to commit somewhere tomorrow, he'd pick Penn State . His scholarship offer is pending a transcript.
• 2016 QB Jarrett Guarantano caught a lot of eyes at a recent PSU camp and he said his visit to Happy Valley definitely exceeded his expectations.
• 2015 OL Matt Burrell already has 17 offers, but he offered up his early opinion on the Nittany Lions .
• Adam Rittenberg took a look at some of the B1G's top first-year players to watch. And, of course, a PSU player happened to find his way on the list.
• 2015 WR/DB David Dowell already has PSU in his top three and he talked about that and more in the most recent edition of "5 Questions."
• We shared a notebook on PSU's June 8 camp , from who came away with an offer to the top performers.

NittanyNation reporter Josh Moyer stopped by SportsNation on Friday to chat about the state of Penn State football and answer your questions.

Penn State released an updated depth chart today and, although quarterback remains a question mark, some positions certainly became clearer.

Here's a closer look at some of the notable changes:

1. Lots of movement in the secondary.

Adrian Amos is the top DB for the Nittany Lions, and he shined at cornerback last season. The versatile player practiced a lot at safety this offseason, though, and the depth chart now lists him as a starting safety alongside ... well, apparently, the other starter still isn't a lock.

Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, who started last season, is listed as Amos' backup. The other starter isn't yet decided, as Bill O'Brien put the "OR" next to Malcolm Willis' name, meaning a competition is still under way between him and walk-on-turned-scholarship athlete Ryan Keiser.

At cornerback, which saw Amos and the graduated Stephon Morris as the 2012 starters, there are two new names to watch. Sophomore Jordan Lucas grabbed one starting spot, while wideout-turned-corner Trevor Williams is listed at the other. Da'Quan Davis is Lucas' backup.

2. TE-turned-OT Garry Gilliam is now up to 305 pounds.

That's a huge turnaround in less than a year. He played the role of blocking TE last year and started the season at 262 pounds. So, in about 10 months, he's gained 43 pounds. That says quite a bit about PSU's strength and conditioning program. He's currently listed as Dononvan Smith's backup at left tackle.

3. Kyle Baublitz will start alongside DaQuan Jones at DT.

Redshirt freshman Austin Johnson received a lot of praise over the spring, and he seemed poised to grab the starting spot. But the more-experienced Baublitz is instead part of the first-string lineup.

Baublitz played in six games last year, and the most recent roster puts him at 286 pounds -- 32 pounds lighter than Jones and 11 pounds lighter than Johnson. He had two tackles and one sack last year.

4. The long-snapper is ... MLB Glenn Carson?

At least for now, it is. Sean Corcoran is an incoming run-on who's expected to compete for the starting snapping jobs, so Carson's name there could be short-lived.

5. Bill Belton remains the No. 2 RB, while Brandon Moseby-Felder will still start opposite WR Allen Robinson.

Neither was a big surprise, but there were questions surrounding both players. Akeel Lynch is the no. 3 RB, while Eugene Lewis-Matt Zanellato are the receiving backups. (Lewis should still see a considerable amount of time on the field, obviously.)

Moseby-Felder nursed a leg injury last season, which slowed him down in the early going, and he could be a nice surprise this season. Early enrollee Richy Anderson might have garnered his share of pats on the back, too, but he's listed as a fourth-stringer. A redshirt could be in his future.

6. Charles Idemudia is the non-scholarship LB to watch.

Yes, the starting lineup is still Mike Hull-Carson-Nyeem Wartman ... but that was never really in doubt. With just five scholarship linebackers on the roster -- six once Brandon Bell gets on campus -- a walk-on was poised to see some time.

PSU's players threw around a couple names, such as Adam Cole and Matthew Baney, but Idemudia is the only non-scholarship LB listed on the depth chart.

7. Kick/punt returners listed.

PSU tried a few different players on special teams last season. But as of now Belton and Alex Kenney are listed as the top-two kick returners, with Jesse Della Valle as the top punt returner. Those three had the most kick/punt returns last season, so it's not a huge shock to see those names again. One interesting change, though? Anderson is the No. 2 PR.

NittanyNation takes a look at this past week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:

• ESPN 150 QB Michael O'Connor became Penn State's No. 11 commit over the weekend. His pledge is critical for PSU now for several reasons.
• Class of 2015 OL Richie Petitbon said receiving a PSU offer was like "winning the lottery" and also compared it to "coming down on Christmas." He's obviously pretty high on the Nittany Lions right now.
• PSU commit Daquan Worley is a fiery, team-first player. And that was showcased during this video interview
• Four-star athlete Troy Vincent is nearing a decision but is also scheduling three personal visits later this month. "I just don't want to rush into anything," he said.
• Bill O'Brien said he's more organized and comfortable nowadays, so the head coach is ready for more in Year 2. PSU's athletic director also said he expects O'Brien to be the coach for a long time.
• ESPN 150 DT Thomas Holley doesn't mind PSU's sanctions . Actually, he almost looks upon them -- or at least how PSU is making it through them -- as a positive.
• Noah Beh's head coach talked in-depth during a Q&A about the type of player Penn State is getting. We also took a closer look at what Behs' commitment means for PSU.
• PSU is hosting four summer camps for high schoolers, and those camps are just as important to PSU as they are the recruits . PSU recruiting coordinator Charles London and several prospects sound off on the camps.
• Teams are still pursuing safety Marcus Allen, but he said he's "100 percent Penn State" in this past week's edition of "5 Questions."
• During last week's "B1G Official visit" video, we talked about the importance of Noah Beh's commitment and PSU's remaining scholarships.
• Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett's lawsuit against the NCAA was dismissed, and a judge called the argument a "Hail Mary pass." Penn State's trustees are also still working on altering the sanctions.
• We took a look at PSU's priorities in the 2014 recruiting class and the scholarship breakdown in Friday's mailbag.
• The Dowell twins -- Andrew and David -- talked about their visit to PSU , and one said the trip moved the Lions up to his top three.
• Here's a notebook on PSU's first camp of the summer on June 1 and the players who stood out there.
• Adam Rittenberg takes a closer look at Phil Steele's All-America team and notes that PSU WR Allen Robinson made the third team.

NittanyNation takes a look at this past week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:

• Noah Beh became the Nittany Lions' 10th commit of the 2014 class, and his commitment is an important one for several big reasons . Beh also talked about what he liked about PSU about 36 hours before his comment.
• Montae Nicholson talked about his recruitment in this video and also acknowledged PSU still wants him, despite Marcus Allen's commitment. Nicholson's already up to 32 offers, and in this feature, he thanks track for helping him get this far .
• We talked about the next three commits, recruits' thoughts (or lack thereof) on the recent medical issue and also looked ahead to the upcoming season during Friday's Penn State chat.
• ESPN 150 athlete Dravon Henry talked about his interest in Penn State and where he might head on his official visits.
• 2015 OT Ryan Bates said he was grateful for his recent PSU offer , but the Nittany Lions aren't his favorite school right now.
• The Big Ten is producing fewer top NFL picks than ever before, and Adam Rittenberg took a closer look at the trend.
• 2015 OL Steven Gonzalez talked about where PSU ranks right now and other thoughts on his recruitment in this in-depth Q&A .
• George Mitchell, the independent monitor at PSU, said PSU "has continued to press forward in good faith in fulfilling its obligations ..." when it comes to the sanctions and the recommendations from the Freeh Report.
• In last week's "Tales from the Road," we took a look at prospect performances, the past week's targets and more.
• According to a source, the Big Ten and the Pinstripe Bowl agreed to a six-year partnership and will make a formal announcement later today. Starting in 2014, the B1G will annually play an ACC team.
• So, now that Jabrill Peppers committed to Michigan, what does that mean for other finalists like Penn State? Jared Shanker has the scoop.
• Joe Paterno's family -- along with former players, trustees and others -- filed a lawsuit against the NCAA that sought to overturn the sanctions. Legal analyst Lester Munson wrote that the most recent lawsuit seemed to be missing its mark and questioned why Penn State president Rodney Erickson isn't targeted more.
• 2015 LB Justin Hilliard already holds 20 offers -- including one from PSU -- and Jared Shanker writes that crushing hits are a routine part of the prospect's game.
• 2015 DT James Daniels is used to the recruiting game since his father and brother both went through it all. And, yes, he holds a PSU offer.

NittanyNation reporter Josh Moyer stopped by SportsNation on Friday to chat about the state of Penn State football and answer your questions.

Josh Moyer will be chatting at 1 p.m. ET today to discuss Penn State football and recruiting. You can submit questions and join the live chat here.

NittanyNation reporter Josh Moyer stopped by SportsNation on Friday to chat about the state of Penn State football and answer your questions.

NittanyNation takes a look at this past week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:

• PSU welcomed two new commits on Friday, landing safety Marcus Allen and then linebacker Jared Wangler later on. Allen has come a long way since playing JV linebacker, while Wangler's coach said his work ethic helps separate the linebacker. Wangler also later recounted his commitment day in depth.
• Five-star CB Jabrill Peppers is down to just four schools -- and it turns out PSU is one of the remaining choices. He'll visit Penn State on May 18.
• The coach of Penn State recruit Daquan Worley called his player fast, tough and physical . Worley also talked about his commitment and said he wasn't always a lock for PSU .
• 2015 CB John Reid already has double-digit scholarship offers , but he said he's nowhere close to naming any favorites.
• ESPN 150 CB Dravon Henry hasn't seen his recruitment get any easier since he named a top four about two months ago.
• Joe Schad reports that Steven Bench is considering a transfer to NC State in addition to Mississippi State and South Florida.
• Bill O'Brien said fans should not expect a "mass exodus" anytime soon. And Adam Rittenberg writes that O'Brien is also embracing his role in PSU's outreach.
• Jared Shanker took a lighthearted look at recruiting pitches in the Big Ten, including what each team is selling and what each team is missing.
• PSU is the first major program to start recruiting 2015 QB Ryan Brand , and the rising junior is thrilled.
• 2015 LB Jerome Baker may live in Ohio, but he said he actually grew up a Penn State fan in this past week's edition of "5 Questions."
• Incoming run-on kicker Chris Gulla addressed his chance at starting and what fans can expect from him at the position.
• DT Jeremiah Clarke named his top six schools and PSU made the cut.
• Like a lot of B1G teams, PSU is after a 2015 OT who is already 6-foot-8 and 295 pounds .
• We took a closer look at Penn State's big board when it comes to DBs .