PSU Nittany Lions

What kind of player is Penn State getting here in Tanner Hartman? And what can fans expect?

NittanyNation turned to one of the people who knows most what Hartman is capable of on the field -- Frank Rocco, his high school coach at Lynchburg (Va.) Liberty Christian Academy -- and asked what separates him as a player, how he first noticed Hartman's ability and when he especially showcased his potential.

OG Tanner Hartman, Lynchburg (Va.) Liberty Christian, 2 stars, No. 113 at position
6-foot-4, 265 pounds

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Now that Penn State's Class of 2013 is officially in the books, we decided to ask the commits about their future with the Nittany Lions.

NittanyNation posed the same question to everyone: How do you think -- or hope -- your class will be remembered in four or five years?

Here's what they had to say:

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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- He rarely addresses the media. He doesn't opine for the spotlight. Heck, Bill O'Brien didn't mention his name once during Wednesday's 33-minute national signing day press conference.

But don't be fooled here. Defensive line coach Larry Johnson Sr. has played one of the most important roles in piecing together this 2013 recruiting class.

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Penn State's Class of 2013 ranks among the top 25 in the nation, and it's been one of the more surprising stories of the recruiting season. These prospects could've gone elsewhere -- some could've attended anywhere -- but they stuck with the Nittany Lions.

They'll officially become part of Penn State today. So, we asked them, why did you want to commit Penn State? Here's what they had to say this week:

• QB Christian Hackenberg, Fork Union, Va./Fork Union, four stars, No. 15 in ESPN 150: "You know, I just got this gut feeling that it was home for me. Everything fell in line for me moreso than the other schools. I liked a lot of other schools, but I loved Penn State."

• OT Andrew Nelson, Hershey, Pa./Hershey, four stars:"Well, first off, I've been a Penn State fan my entire life. My dad went to Penn State, his whole family went to Penn State, my sister went to Penn State -- so I've been watching Penn State my whole life. So, since like fifth grade, I wanted to play for Penn State. It also came down to, most importantly, the education. That should be first on everyone's list, and it was on mine. Penn State offered a great education, and it offered the major I'm looking for.

"And, secondly, it would have to be the coaching staff and how they can develop me -- not just as a player but as a man of character. I think this coaching staff will do the best job of that. And, then, location comes into it. I have to admit I'm a momma's boy, and I love being around my family. And I want them to come and watch me play. So, in a nutshell, that's why."

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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 Tanner Hartman, Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian, 6-foot-4, 255 pounds

Committed: Sept. 25, 2012

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Penn State commit Jordan Smith (Washington, D.C./H.D. Woodson) relaxed on his couch, his eyes fixed to the TV screen during Tuesday's Capital One Bowl, when a few words on ESPN's ticker caught his eye -- something to do with NCAA sanctions and a lawsuit.

The three-star cornerback stopped watching the Georgia-Nebraska game and focused on that scrolling bar at the bottom. His eyes remained on that spot for what felt like 5 or 10 minutes until he spotted the news again and fully grasped what was happening:

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett was going to file a lawsuit against the NCAA in an attempt to force the organization to overturn the Nittany Lions' sanctions.

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More than a dozen recruits and commits will converge on Happy Valley for their official visits this weekend, and Penn State's coaching staff is hoping it might earn at least one more commitment.

A majority of Penn State's 13 commits will drive or fly to campus Friday and then leave Sunday. The staff is hoping their loyalty rubs off on a quartet of uncommitted prospects, as this weekend is undoubtedly one of the most important -- recruiting-wise -- of the season.

Here's the visitors' list:

UNCOMMITTED PROSPECTS

DaeSean Hamilton, WR
Stafford, Va./Mountain View
Four stars, No. 51 at position
Synopsis: He's already gone on official visits to Wake Forest and Virginia, and he might also see Virginia Tech. He wants to make a decision before the New Year, so this visit could likely go a long way in helping him decide. He's never before been to Happy Valley.

Zayd Issah, LB
Harrisburg, Pa./Central Dauphin
Three stars, No. 118 at position (ATH)
Synopsis: He's been to Penn State multiple times, but he figured it was worth attending an official visit to see if it offered a different perspective or deeper look. He'll take an Oregon official after this -- and possibly another to Arizona State. But, at this point, it's probably a race between the Ducks and Lions.

Deondre Singleton, Cornerback
Unrated
Lawrenceville, Ga./Archer
Synopsis: Penn State is clearly Singleton's best offer. When asked last month why he hasn't yet committed, he said he just wants to a visit a school first before he makes a decision. It would be a surprise to see him land elsewhere; a commitment could be coming soon from Singleton.

Jonathan Walton, LB
Unrated
Daphne, Ala./Bayside
Synopsis: He went on an official visit to Minnesota last week, but it's clear PSU has a very good chance to land the linebacker. He took on a part-time job over the summer so he could afford to fly himself to Penn State for a camp, and he said he wanted to see the campus and get a feeling for what student life would actually be like -- since Penn State was deserted when he came up before.

COMMITTED PROSPECTS

• Adam Breneman

• Christian Hackenberg

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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.

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Linebacker Zach Bradshaw woke up every morning for two weeks and weighed Penn State's sanctions.

The 2013 recruit out of Damascus, Md., spoke with his father, reflected on his commitment and wondered just how competitive his Nittany Lions would remain -- before finishing breakfast on a Tuesday morning and calling Bill O'Brien to decommit. On Aug. 7, Bradshaw hopped into a car with his mother, drove to Charlottesville, Va., and pledged to the Cavaliers.

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Every week, NittanyNation will pose five questions to a recruit, player, alum or coach about all things Penn State.

This week's subject is Tanner Hartman (Lynchburg, Va./Liberty Christian), a two-star offensive lineman who decommitted from Maryland in September to pledge his loyalty to Penn State.

NittanyNation: Tonight, you'll be squaring off against a future teammate of yours in Christian Hackenberg for the state championship. What are your feelings about that, and have you and Christian kind of stopped talking just this week?

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More high school tailbacks will be on the sideline Saturday night than Penn State will have on the field.

More than 40 recruits are expected to be in Happy Valley for this season's biggest game, and there will be no shortage of running backs. About half-a-dozen scholarship or scholarship-worthy backs will be in the crowd, and NittanyNation gives you a rundown of those backs -- as well as other players who have committed to attend:

Scholarship backs

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