PSU Nittany Lions: Penn State
What kind of player is Penn State getting here in Adam Breneman? And what can fans expect?
NittanyNation turned to one of the people who knows most what Breneman is capable of on the field -- his high school coach at Camp Hill (Pa.) Cedar Cliff -- and asked what separates him as a player, how he first noticed Breneman's ability and when he especially showcased his FBS potential.
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Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton, Stafford, Va./Mountain View, 6-foot, 185 pounds
Vitals: Wide receiver DaeSean Hamilton, Stafford, Va./Mountain View, 6-foot, 185 pounds
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With two weeks left until signing day, NittanyNation takes a closer look at what fans should know about the state of the class and this Penn State team.
Team needs: Defensive coordinator John Butler made it clear he wasn't happy with the secondary's depth last season. At cornerback, untested true freshman Da'Quan Davis was the backup, and the safeties opened the year as the team's weakness.
That's not the only concern. With Matt McGloin's departure, Steven Bench is now the most experienced quarterback on the team. And he threw just eight passes last season. Linebacker is also a position that could use a few extra bodies, especially with Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges making a run at the NFL.
Team needs: Defensive coordinator John Butler made it clear he wasn't happy with the secondary's depth last season. At cornerback, untested true freshman Da'Quan Davis was the backup, and the safeties opened the year as the team's weakness.
That's not the only concern. With Matt McGloin's departure, Steven Bench is now the most experienced quarterback on the team. And he threw just eight passes last season. Linebacker is also a position that could use a few extra bodies, especially with Michael Mauti and Gerald Hodges making a run at the NFL.
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Von Walker (Mill Hall, Pa./Central Mountain) accepted a preferred walk-on offer from Penn State about a month ago, and he recently spoke with NittanyNation at length about his future with the Nittany Lions.
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Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Defensive tackle Parker Cothren, Hazel Green, Ala./Hazel Green, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
Committed: Nov. 20, 2012
ESPN.com grade: 69. Two-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: No. 121 at position. No. 643 in region, No. 45 in state.
Picked Penn State over: North Carolina, Purdue, Tennessee and others.
Vitals: Defensive tackle Parker Cothren, Hazel Green, Ala./Hazel Green, 6-foot-4, 250 pounds
Committed: Nov. 20, 2012
ESPN.com grade: 69. Two-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: No. 121 at position. No. 643 in region, No. 45 in state.
Picked Penn State over: North Carolina, Purdue, Tennessee and others.
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Penn State's been able to find its fair share of starters from unheralded recruits, so NittanyNation decided to take a closer look its top-five sleepers since 2006.
These scholarship players came in with little fanfare but have since established themselves with conference honors, broken records and solid performances. Here they are:
1. WR Allen Robinson, Class of 2011, Two stars (Grade: 72)
These scholarship players came in with little fanfare but have since established themselves with conference honors, broken records and solid performances. Here they are:
1. WR Allen Robinson, Class of 2011, Two stars (Grade: 72)
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Obviously, coaches hope every elite recruit they reel in becomes a star player and household name. But recruiting doesn't work like that.
For every hit, there's a miss. So, NittanyNation decided to take a look at five big-name recruits -- from the 2006 class and on -- that never were. Here they are:
For every hit, there's a miss. So, NittanyNation decided to take a look at five big-name recruits -- from the 2006 class and on -- that never were. Here they are:
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Every weekday until signing day, NittanyNation will break down a commitment from Penn State’s 2013 recruiting class.
Vitals: Offensive guard Brendan Mahon, Randolph, N.J./Randolph, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds
Committed: March 17, 2012
ESPN.com grade: 83. Four-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: No. 208 in ESPN 300, No. 12 at position, No. 29 in region, No. 8 in state.
Picked Penn State over: Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, West Virginia and others.
Vitals: Offensive guard Brendan Mahon, Randolph, N.J./Randolph, 6-foot-5, 300 pounds
Committed: March 17, 2012
ESPN.com grade: 83. Four-star prospect.
ESPN.com rankings: No. 208 in ESPN 300, No. 12 at position, No. 29 in region, No. 8 in state.
Picked Penn State over: Florida, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, West Virginia and others.
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Potential PSU walk-ons enjoy 'Run-On Day' 
January, 20, 2013
Jan 20
6:42
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Tom Devenney, a senior interested in a preferred walk-on spot, was walking briskly to the auditorium Sunday morning when he heard a voice call out his name: "Tom! Hey, Tom!"
A hand tapped him on his shoulder, and he swiveled around to see Bill Kavanaugh, the director of football operations, standing behind him.
"I was surprised. I can't believe he could recognize me from behind," said Devenney, an offensive guard out of Lititz (Pa.) Warwick.
A hand tapped him on his shoulder, and he swiveled around to see Bill Kavanaugh, the director of football operations, standing behind him.
"I was surprised. I can't believe he could recognize me from behind," said Devenney, an offensive guard out of Lititz (Pa.) Warwick.
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Neiko Robinson stared outside his window on the plane ride to Happy Valley, trying his best to envision what Beaver Stadium might look like up close.
When the three-star safety's plane glided over town, his eyes immediately targeted that giant erector set of a structure. He felt a sense of excitement, a surge of adrenaline, and his eyes followed until it went out of view.
"When the stadium was coming up, you couldn't help but see it," the PSU commit said with a laugh. "I just got chill bumps. When I saw it, I was like, 'Oh gosh.' I was just at a loss for words."
When the three-star safety's plane glided over town, his eyes immediately targeted that giant erector set of a structure. He felt a sense of excitement, a surge of adrenaline, and his eyes followed until it went out of view.
"When the stadium was coming up, you couldn't help but see it," the PSU commit said with a laugh. "I just got chill bumps. When I saw it, I was like, 'Oh gosh.' I was just at a loss for words."
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NittanyNation takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- What kind of quarterback is Tyler Ferguson? Half of the opposing coaches he faced last season were asked that very question.
- Three-star LB Jonathan Walton explained why he decommitted and said PSU hadn't been in contact with him all that much since his official visit.
- Several commits were highlighted along with their scouting reports, rankings and projected impact. Those players included Andrew Nelson, Tanner Hartman, Adam Breneman, Anthony Smith and Christian Hackenberg.
- Former PSU wideout Shawney Kersey, who left PSU after Week 2, transferred to Marshall.
- In the bi-weekly mailbag, we answered questions about O'Brien's biggest challenge, 2014 recruits and John Butler.
- 2014 RB Robert Martin (Harrisburg, Pa./Harrisburg) took part in NittanyNation's weekly "5 Questions" and said he liked PSU in large part because O'Brien can get players to the next level.
- Bill O'Brien earned his third national coaching honor by receiving the Bear Bryant Award.
- Preferred walk-on Evan Galimberti said in a Q&A that PSU wants to try him out at all center, guard and tackle to see where he fits best.
- The high school coach of preferred walk-on Von Walker explained what makes the senior stick out and what his strengths are.
- 2014 WR Saeed Blacknall earned a visit from O'Brien -- but he wasn't the only one. OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty also saw PSU's head coach, and class of 2015 ATH Kai Locksley has been garnering some early interest from PSU.
- Heading into this weekend, Neiko Robinson couldn't wait to see Happy Valley and wanted to see the stadium the most.
- 2014 LB Kyle Berger received a Penn State offer. Then, in a Q&A, he addressed fans' concerns that he'll end up being an OSU commit.
- Looking ahead to the 2014 class and breaking down each position.
- 2014 OT Mike Grimm dominated at a recent combine and talked about his interest in PSU. 2014 LB Troy Reeder is also getting some serious interest from PSU and was invited to the campus in the near future.
NittanyNation mailbag: Replacing McGloin
January, 18, 2013
Jan 18
1:00
PM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Welcome to NittanyNation's bi-weekly mailbag! We asked you to tweet your questions this week, and we've selected three to answer in-depth -- starting with the question we received most.
Scott Reading (@7reading7) writes: What will be the biggest challenge for O'Brien this upcoming season? I feel it'll be the secondary.
Josh Moyer: Well, the secondary certainly isn't a bad choice. But with both safeties returning and another year under Adrian Amos' belt, I think we can all agree they should be improved overall from last season. But it's definitely far from a strength.
Scott Reading (@7reading7) writes: What will be the biggest challenge for O'Brien this upcoming season? I feel it'll be the secondary.
Josh Moyer: Well, the secondary certainly isn't a bad choice. But with both safeties returning and another year under Adrian Amos' belt, I think we can all agree they should be improved overall from last season. But it's definitely far from a strength.
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Every week, NittanyNation will pose five questions to a recruit, player, alum or coach about Penn State and other news.
This week's subject is Robert Martin, a 2014 tailback out of Harrisburg (Pa.) who's being recruited by the Nittany Lions. Martin has recently seen his recruitment pick up after rushing for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season. He averaged more than 12 yards a carry.
This week's subject is Robert Martin, a 2014 tailback out of Harrisburg (Pa.) who's being recruited by the Nittany Lions. Martin has recently seen his recruitment pick up after rushing for 1,812 yards and 18 touchdowns this past season. He averaged more than 12 yards a carry.
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O'Brien earns 3rd national coaching honor
January, 18, 2013
Jan 18
8:50
AM ET
By
Josh Moyer | ESPN.com
Bill O'Brien added yet another national coaching honor to his resume Thursday night, becoming the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year.
Joe Paterno won the first-ever Bear Bryant Award after leading the Nittany Lions to the 1986 national championship. Penn State and Auburn are now the only schools with multiple recipients of the award.
"This is a huge honor for the Penn State program, for a great group of players and a great coaching staff," O'Brien said in a news release. "The other coaches here are phenomenal coaches who have done this for a long time. I've only done this for a year.
"It shows what type of coaching staff and the type of players we had this year. It is a program award."
Joe Paterno won the first-ever Bear Bryant Award after leading the Nittany Lions to the 1986 national championship. Penn State and Auburn are now the only schools with multiple recipients of the award.
"This is a huge honor for the Penn State program, for a great group of players and a great coaching staff," O'Brien said in a news release. "The other coaches here are phenomenal coaches who have done this for a long time. I've only done this for a year.
"It shows what type of coaching staff and the type of players we had this year. It is a program award."
Tyler Ferguson accepted his Penn State offer a little more than a month ago, and he's already set to compete for the Nittany Lions' starting quarterback job.
The three-star juco QB is a bit of a wild card and not much is known about the man who could potentially lead this team. So, NittanyNation decided to speak with five of the 10 coaches he faced in the 2012 season to find out their impressions and ask about Ferguson's strengths and weaknesses.
Click here to read the story.
The three-star juco QB is a bit of a wild card and not much is known about the man who could potentially lead this team. So, NittanyNation decided to speak with five of the 10 coaches he faced in the 2012 season to find out their impressions and ask about Ferguson's strengths and weaknesses.
Click here to read the story.
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.