Welcome to NittanyNation's mailbag! We asked you to tweet or email your questions, and we've selected three to answer in-depth this week.
Jim Murphy (@JimMurphy13) writes: Jabrill Peppers could have left PSU off his list and only made a top three. That leads me to believe we have a real shot with him. I know Michigan is the front-runner but, with a visit coming up and a decision soon, don't you think PSU can land him?
Josh Moyer: I don't. He's kind of like the reverse of Daquan Worley. Worley was a heavy PSU lean, had PSU and RU as his top two, but figured he might as well check out Georgia Tech since his decision was approaching. The Yellow Jackets had a chance to really impress him but still didn't make an impact in the end, just two weeks before his commitment.
Jim Murphy (@JimMurphy13) writes: Jabrill Peppers could have left PSU off his list and only made a top three. That leads me to believe we have a real shot with him. I know Michigan is the front-runner but, with a visit coming up and a decision soon, don't you think PSU can land him?
Josh Moyer: I don't. He's kind of like the reverse of Daquan Worley. Worley was a heavy PSU lean, had PSU and RU as his top two, but figured he might as well check out Georgia Tech since his decision was approaching. The Yellow Jackets had a chance to really impress him but still didn't make an impact in the end, just two weeks before his commitment.
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Incoming preferred walk-on Chris Gulla (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) will compete for the starting job at kicker once he gets on campus over the summer.
He has a strong chance to start sometime during his career. So NittanyNation recently spoke to him about his chances this season, his thoughts on PSU and what fans can expect from him.
NittanyNation: You'll arrive at Penn State on June 22, and the first game is about two months later. I know you want to start, but that's still a quick turnaround. How do you like your chances, and how disappointed would you be if you were relegated to backup?
He has a strong chance to start sometime during his career. So NittanyNation recently spoke to him about his chances this season, his thoughts on PSU and what fans can expect from him.
NittanyNation: You'll arrive at Penn State on June 22, and the first game is about two months later. I know you want to start, but that's still a quick turnaround. How do you like your chances, and how disappointed would you be if you were relegated to backup?
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The secondary is a focus with this class, so the recruits here will play a big role in whether this 2014 class will be considered a success.
As a result, NittanyNation decided to produce a top-five list that attempts to mirror the Lions' big board. Daquan Worley already committed, but there's at least two more open spots here.
1. CB Jabrill Peppers, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds
Five stars; No. 2 in ESPN 150
As a result, NittanyNation decided to produce a top-five list that attempts to mirror the Lions' big board. Daquan Worley already committed, but there's at least two more open spots here.
1. CB Jabrill Peppers, Paramus (N.J.) Catholic, 6-foot-1, 205 pounds
Five stars; No. 2 in ESPN 150
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Jabrill Peppers' coach at Paramus (N.J.) Catholic said his star player is inching closer to a decision and it's fair to say he's now down to just four schools: Michigan, Stanford, Penn State and LSU.
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What kind of player is Penn State getting in Daquan Worley? And what can fans expect?
NittanyNation turned to one of the people who knows most what Worley is capable of on the field -- Matt Ortega, his high school coach at Coatesville (Pa.) High School -- and asked what separates the tailback/cornerback as a player, how he first noticed Worley's ability and when the player especially showcased his potential.
NittanyNation turned to one of the people who knows most what Worley is capable of on the field -- Matt Ortega, his high school coach at Coatesville (Pa.) High School -- and asked what separates the tailback/cornerback as a player, how he first noticed Worley's ability and when the player especially showcased his potential.
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John Reid (Philadelphia, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep) still can't drive without the supervision of an adult -- he just earned his learner's permit last month -- but the rising junior already needs to keep track of his scholarship offers with his cell phone.
Those 10 offers are there on his notepad app in case friends or reporters ask. But he doesn't like to open that list. He knows he's still young -- and a verbal offer is a lot different from a written one.
Those 10 offers are there on his notepad app in case friends or reporters ask. But he doesn't like to open that list. He knows he's still young -- and a verbal offer is a lot different from a written one.
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Heading into summer, NittanyNation will look closer at the 2014 recruits who claim offers from Penn State. Today we examine safety Marcus Allen, who was on campus last month for the Blue-White Game.
Vitals: Safety Marcus Allen, Upper Marlboro (Md.) Wise, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Offers: He now holds more than 20, with his most recent coming from UConn and Purdue. Some of the top schools to offer him include Clemson, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
Vitals: Safety Marcus Allen, Upper Marlboro (Md.) Wise, 6-foot-2, 190 pounds
Offers: He now holds more than 20, with his most recent coming from UConn and Purdue. Some of the top schools to offer him include Clemson, Georgia Tech, Nebraska, Northwestern, Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Vanderbilt.
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Defensive tackle Jeremiah Clarke (Alexandria, Va./T.C. Williams) took the next step in the recruiting process Tuesday night by announcing his top six on Twitter.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound lineman said the schools on his short list now include Penn State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia, Miami (Fla.) and Tennessee. Clarke said in a text he's not yet sure whether he'll visit any of those schools again.
The Virginia product is currently hoping to commit somewhere by the end of the month, so his top-six announcement was expected. He holds 17 offers, and some of the bigger schools left off his top six included Maryland, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
He finished his junior season with 11.5 sacks despite playing six games with a broken left hand. He also had 38 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick and seven quarterback hurries through 10 games.
According to Clarke, Penn State's staff told him that his playing style was similar to third-round NFL draft pick Jordan Hill.
The 6-foot-4, 272-pound lineman said the schools on his short list now include Penn State, North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia, Miami (Fla.) and Tennessee. Clarke said in a text he's not yet sure whether he'll visit any of those schools again.
The Virginia product is currently hoping to commit somewhere by the end of the month, so his top-six announcement was expected. He holds 17 offers, and some of the bigger schools left off his top six included Maryland, Nebraska, Virginia Tech and West Virginia.
He finished his junior season with 11.5 sacks despite playing six games with a broken left hand. He also had 38 tackles, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one blocked kick and seven quarterback hurries through 10 games.
According to Clarke, Penn State's staff told him that his playing style was similar to third-round NFL draft pick Jordan Hill.
Regional recruiters are not the ones coming in to see a prospect the size of Sterling Jenkins (Pittsburgh/Baldwin). Colleges are sending offensive line coaches directly instead to size up the fastest-rising 2015 prospect in Pennsylvania.
There are not too many 16-year-old sophomores who stand 6-foot-8 and weigh 295 pounds, so coaches are the ones traveling to the Steel City to see Jenkins to properly gauge his stature. Baldwin coach Pete Wagner said colleges are surprised to see he is the real deal.
There are not too many 16-year-old sophomores who stand 6-foot-8 and weigh 295 pounds, so coaches are the ones traveling to the Steel City to see Jenkins to properly gauge his stature. Baldwin coach Pete Wagner said colleges are surprised to see he is the real deal.
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ESPN 150 athlete Dravon Henry (Aliquippa, Pa./Aliquippa) listed his top four schools about two months ago with the understanding it would slow down his recruitment.
With the mailbox now stuffed with 50 letters by the middle of the week, it's safe to say the four-star athlete understood incorrectly.
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Sweat dripped from Ryan Brand's forehead after Monday's 90-minute workout. The exhausted dual-threat quarterback could've taken a nap right then -- but his ears perked up when his coach called his name.
His coach at Detroit (Mich.) University of Detroit Jesuit High School handed him a letter, his first FBS letter, stamped with the Nittany Lion emblem in the upper left hand corner.
His coach at Detroit (Mich.) University of Detroit Jesuit High School handed him a letter, his first FBS letter, stamped with the Nittany Lion emblem in the upper left hand corner.
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Some days, when cornerback Daquan Worley awoke, he'd be a Penn State lean. Other times, Rutgers became the leader.
He felt in the week leading up to Friday's commitment, that pledging to PSU felt right "between 75 and 90 percent" of the time. But Worley needed that number to be at 100 percent -- so he postponed his announcement once on Monday and then again on Tuesday.
On Friday morning, that all changed for the two-way starter out of Coatesville (Pa.) High School.
He felt in the week leading up to Friday's commitment, that pledging to PSU felt right "between 75 and 90 percent" of the time. But Worley needed that number to be at 100 percent -- so he postponed his announcement once on Monday and then again on Tuesday.
On Friday morning, that all changed for the two-way starter out of Coatesville (Pa.) High School.
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Heading into summer, NittanyNation will look closer at the 2014 recruits who claim offers from Penn State. Today we examine linebacker Jared Wangler, who plans to visit PSU on Friday.
Vitals: LB Jared Wangler, Warren (Mich.) De La Salle, 6-foot-2, 218 pounds
Vitals: LB Jared Wangler, Warren (Mich.) De La Salle, 6-foot-2, 218 pounds
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NittanyNation takes a look at this week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- Cornerback Daquan Worley became the seventh PSU commit of the 2014 class.
- Ivan Maisel takes a closer look at the Nittany Lions and how they're embracing the future.
- Juco OT Jermaine Eluemunor changed his fate
from a no-name recruit no Div. II schools wanted into one of the most coveted juco prospects in the nation -- in just one short year. Also, a closer look at the school that's helping mold him , Lackawanna College. - Four-star wideout Chris Godwin said he welcomes the competition of two other 2014 receivers in this week's edition of "5 Questions." Godwin's coach also weighed in on his player, saying he hasn't coached "a finer football player in 25 years."
- An overview of where each Big Ten team stands when it comes to recruiting . And also an overview of PSU's spring on the field.
- Linebacker Jared Wangler talk about his upcoming visit to PSU and his interest in the Nittany Lions in this Q&A.
- USF and Mississippi State are among the schools that Steven Bench is considering, according to Joe Schad.
- DT Thomas Holley has had a whirlwind recruitment and talks about PSU and when he'll decide on his top schools.
- 2015 LB Jake Cooper grew up a PSU fan , and he's not shy about sharing his early favorite.
- Spreecast: The Big Ten bloggers take a look around the conference and chat with reporters from several team sites, including NittanyNation, about the top spring storylines.
- We talked about Worley, who might be the next commit, what Bench's transfer means and more football and recruiting in this week's chat.
- Tom Luginbill took a look at three ESPN 150 athletes and compared them to college standouts. PSU commit De'Andre Thompkins was among the players discussed.
- Brian Bennett asks if the Big Ten West is really the new Big 12 North.
- Our 2014 PSU spotlight series continued with ESPN 150 OT Alex Bars and CB Daquan Worley .
- ESPN/ABC announced their slate of B1G games, and two PSU games made the list.
Cornerback Marcus Whitfield (Massillon, Ohio/Washington) posted a 99.87 at the SPARQ Combine a few months ago at his school. His teammate, tight end Beau Huffman, landed a camp-best 119.58 the same day.
Since that February morning, their recruitments have taken off.
Since that February morning, their recruitments have taken off.
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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.