Recruiting holds up through sanctions 
December, 5, 2012
12/05/12
11:00
AM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Bill O'Brien, the coach with the near-permanent scowl, softens up when he greets recruits and talks about what Penn State has to offer.
He can't yet discuss bowls or conference titles because of the sanctions, so he takes a different tack. Look at Beaver Stadium, he tells them. Look at those 100,000 fans and that weekly exposure on national television. Look at the staff's experience and pay careful attention to the academics.
Through unprecedented sanctions, that pitch has held up well. It helped retain the nation's top quarterback in Christian Hackenberg and top tight end in Adam Breneman. It also prompted three other recruits -- Richy Anderson, Tanner Hartman and Parker Cothren -- to decommit from Maryland and Purdue after the sanctions and pledge there instead.
He can't yet discuss bowls or conference titles because of the sanctions, so he takes a different tack. Look at Beaver Stadium, he tells them. Look at those 100,000 fans and that weekly exposure on national television. Look at the staff's experience and pay careful attention to the academics.
Through unprecedented sanctions, that pitch has held up well. It helped retain the nation's top quarterback in Christian Hackenberg and top tight end in Adam Breneman. It also prompted three other recruits -- Richy Anderson, Tanner Hartman and Parker Cothren -- to decommit from Maryland and Purdue after the sanctions and pledge there instead.
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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.