PSU Nittany Lions: Week in review
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 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 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 .
NittanyNation takes a look at this week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- Sophomore quarterback Steven Bench said it wasn't an easy decision, but he's set to transfer from Penn State. Brian Bennett offered instant analysis on the move, while Josh Moyer wrote that PSU shouldn't panic quite yet .
- Coverage of the quarterback situation continued elsewhere. ESPN 150 quarterback Michael O'Connor said in this week's edition of "5 Questions" that Bench's transfer piques his interest in PSU . And, in this week's mailbag, we took three questions on the QB situation -- regarding walk-ons, extra scholarships and Christian Hackenberg.
- Now that Tyler Ferguson is the lone scholarship QB on the roster -- at least until Hackenberg arrives -- it's definitely worth taking a look at this: Earlier this year, NittanyNation retraced Ferguson's junior college season and polled half of the coaches who squared off against him about his pros and cons.
- Four-star wideout Chris Godwin committed to PSU. And it's no surprise ESPN's scouts think the Nittany Lions have greatly improved their receivers.
- WR De'Andre Thompkins said in an in-depth Q&A that the addition of another wideout isn't making him shy away from his commitment.
- Troy Apke's coach talked about what makes his receiver special and said that Apke is just getting started. Thompkins' coach said his player belongs on the same level as Mario Williams , a former No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft.
- Our 2014 PSU spotlight series continued by taking a closer look at DT Ricky Walker.
- Video: Nick Scott talked about his time at the Blue-White Game and his commitment to PSU. Scott also impressed the scouts during the Nike Football Training Camp in Washington, D.C.
- DB Anthony Davis likes PSU a lot , but his recruiting process has become a little harder since his head coach left.
- 2015 RB Jerome Baker had a huge week and picked up several offers, including one from Penn State.
- PSU target Qadree Ollison is a fan of the Big Ten and talks about his recent trip to Happy Valley.
- Athlete Dareian Watkins updates his recruitment and says he hopes to visit PSU.
NittanyNation takes a look at this week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- Christian Hackenberg said he's doing all he can to make sure he competes for the starting quarterback job once he gets on campus in June. Bill O'Brien said on the first day of spring practice that he's definitely "in the mix."
- This in-depth feature on safety Marcus Allen , who holds nearly 20 scholarship offers, takes a closer look at just how Allen found success. Toward the end of his freshman year, playing JV linebacker another year was on his mind -- not scholarship offers.
- The coach of 2014 commit Nick Scott talked about the type of player PSU is getting and tossed around names like Gayle Sayers and Eric Dickerson.
- Bill O'Brien spoke with Adam Rittenberg for a Q&A about spring ball and what's new with the Nittany Lions.
- Safety Marcus Allen and cornerback Joe Shelton said their trip to Penn State exceeded their expectations . But they still didn't seem to enjoy it as much as DT Jeremiah Clarke, who called his trip "perfect."
- 2013 signee Kasey Gaines talked about his expectations and adjustments in this in-depth Q&A.
- The offense battled the defense in a best 3-out-of-5 competition, and there were also plenty of other news and notes on the first day of spring practice.
- ESPN Watch List prospect Dravon Henry recently named his top four , and Penn State made the short list.
- Mitch Sherman writes about the NCAA's plans for deregulation being paused -- at least for now.
- As part of a series, we're taking an overall look at rising seniors with Penn State offers. Up this past week were wideout Troy Apke and offensive tackle Noah Beh .
- NBC will air excerpts of a filmmaker's jailhouse interviews with Jerry Sandusky on Monday's "Today" show.
- Josh Moyer talked Penn State football and recruiting in this week's chat.
NittanyNation takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- Coaches who squared off against Brandon Bell sounded off on the Penn State commit and appeared most impressed by his speed and range.
- Andrew Nelson wrote a column for NittanyNation on why he chose Penn State. He listed academics, coaching staff and relationships as his three main reasons.
- Penn State hired former Georgia State defensive coordinator Anthony Midget as the safeties coach.
- Video: NCAA president Mark Emmert discussed the penalties imposed against Penn State on "Outside the Lines."
- Tight end-turned-offensive tackle Garry Gilliam received an extra year of eligibility.
- Parker Cothren's coach talked about his player and said Cothren stood his ground against ESPN's top-rated OT -- despite weighing in more than 40 pounds lighter than him.
- Listen: Jay Paterno joined "Mike and Mike" to discuss the family's report on the Jerry Sandusky scandal.
- We took an overview at all the run-ons on defense/special teams along with the run-ons on offense.
- Penn State's first commit of the 2014 class, Mark Allen, said he felt called to be a leader and wants to help the staff reel in other commits in the class.
- We started up our "Meet the run-on" series by offering a glance at the following walk-ons: Sean Corcoran, Brandon Smith, Cole Chiappialle and Tom Pancoast.
- OT Juwann Bushell-Beatty will visit PSU soon, and Anthony Davis will also likely make another visit. The staff has also been in the ear of athlete Patrick Amara.
- Mailbag: From breakout players to quarterbacks, NittanyNation answered several questions in-depth as part of the bi-weekly mailbag.
- We listed five Penn State commits who are rated three-stars that fans should keep an eye on.
- Linebacker Carter Henderson talked in a Q&A about why he turned down offers from several FCS and Div. II schools to walk-on at PSU.
- ESPN Watch List prospect D'Andre Payne named his top schools ... and Penn State has some catching up to do.
- Video: Brian Bennett talks about the B1G's decision to stop scheduling games against FCS opponents.
- Harrisburg (Pa.) RB Rob Martin received his first few offers earlier in the week and said he plans to attend Penn State's junior day.
NittanyNation takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- No commit faced more temptations to leave PSU than Parker Cothren. But, in the end, Cothren couldn't say no to Happy Valley.
- Penn State filled out its staff with an assistant coach from Marshall in Anthony Midget.
- We asked the commits why they chose PSU and listed their answers. We also asked how they think -- or hope -- their class will be remembered in four years.
- An overview of PSU's class and a look at sleepers, misses and candidates for immediate playing time. Also, we posted an overview of signing day and what transpired.
- WATCH: Bill O'Brien talked about his 2013 recruiting class and how he overcame the sanctions. O'Brien also talked with Adam Rittenberg in a Q&A about the class.
- Bill O'Brien had some interesting things to say about specific commits. He also recalled the difficult summer and how his team got past it.
- We finished off our "Lions spotlight" series looking at every Penn State commit. We closed with Jordan Smith and Neiko Robinson. You can see the rest of the series here.
- Trinity athlete Adam Geiger talked in a Q&A about taking the opportunity to run-on at Penn State. Fellow run-on Brian Tomasetti also checked in with NittanyNation, answering five questions.
- Tyler Ferguson's coach talked about what separates his quarterback from others at his position, when he first knew Ferguson was something special and when he really showcased his ability.
- Big Ten blogger Brian Bennett ranked the quarterbacks in the conference, and PSU made a big leap from where they were ranked in the preseason.
- While most people slept on Friday morning, PSU's football players were eexercising in 31-degree weather and lifting weights.
- We talked about the future of the team, Adam Breneman, 2014 recruits and more in the bi-weekly chat.
- WATCH: Christian Hackenberg appeared on "College Football Live" to talk about his commitment to PSU. Josh Moyer and Tom Luginbill also discussed Hackenberg and PSU's surprising recruiting class on "Outside the Lines."
- Larry Johnson Sr. played a critical role in piecing together this recruiting class.
- With the 2013 class wrapped up, we looked ahead to some 2014 prospects to watch.
- Georgia tailback Nick Chubb received a scholarship offer from Penn State, although he admitted he didn't know much about the Nittany Lions.
- We took 10 of your questions on Twitter and then posed them to Christian Hackenberg.
- Penn State's returning starters weren't weren't all elite players back in their high school days. Here's a look at where the defensive players were ranked as recruits, and where the offensive players found themselves.
NittanyNation takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- DE Jordan Kerner is trying not to look back after suffering a career-ending injury.
- Adam Breneman's high school coach talked about just what makes the tight end special and what PSU fans can look forward to from him.
- A look back at the top PSU sleepers since 2006. And the biggest misses since 2006.
- Video: The top recruits in the nation -- including Christian Hackenberg -- talked about some of their craziest recruiting pitches.
- In our bi-weekly chat, we talked about Penn State football and recruiting for more than an hour. We also talked Penn State recruiting on the Big Ten podcast.
- Rashaun Smith may just be a high school freshman, but he already has quite a few scholarship offers -- including one from Penn State. He was the subject for this week's "5 Questions."
- As part of an ongoing series, we took a closer look at five Penn State commitments this week -- including Richy Anderson, Curtis Cothran, DaeSean Hamilton, Parker Cothren and Brendan Mahon.
- Adam Rittenberg wrote that the Big Ten's bowl lineup will change next year and could have a dramatically different look.
- Jack Seymour had scholarship offers from Ball State and Western Michigan, but turned those down to become a preferred walk-on at Penn State.
- We took a look back at the Class of 2009 to see just how good it really was. Overall, it fell short of expectations -- but it still wasn't a bust.
- Bill O'Brien was in Beaver County earlier this week and spoke with four juniors in Aliquippa (Pa.). 2014 RB Shai McKenzie, also from western Pennsylvania, received an offer from Penn State.
- We took a look at team needs, key commits and key targets as part of a signing day primer.
- Preferred walk-on Von Walker spoke about his goals and commitment to PSU at length in a Q&A.
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 takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- Ted Roof resigned from his defensive coordinator position at Penn State to coach at his alma mater. That move shocked PSU's defensive commits and "put some thoughts" in the head of Jonathan Walton.
- Roof's departure will be felt most with recruits in the South, especially Alabama and Georgia. His replacement, John Butler, emphasized recruiting and talked about his promotion and defensive philosophy in a conference call.
- Former Penn State OL Tim Freeman talked at length about the NCAA's lawsuit against Penn State and about the sanctions overall. He stood behind Gov. Tom Corbett during last week's news conference.
- NittanyNation gave the outlook of several PSU positions, including wide receiver, tight end, offensive line, running back and safety.
- Five Penn State recruits enrolled early Monday, and we gave a synopsis and predicted role for each player.
- Should college athletes be paid? ESPN asked several of the nation's top seniors, including Christian Hackenberg, that very question.
- College coaches are wary of the NCAA's potential rule changes, which would make recruiting rules looser than they already are.
- Bill O'Brien told the media his decision to return to Penn State was not financial, and he acknowledged some structural changes -- such as additional help on the recruiting end -- would take place.
- Curtis Dukes left the team, and he's still considering declaring early for the NFL draft or playing for another school. Reserve linebacker Brennan Franklin also left the school for a community college in his home state of Arizona.
- Adam Rittenberg offered his final Big Ten power rankings for 2012, and Penn State dropped one spot to fourth.
- The postgraduate coach of PSU walk-on Austin Whipple talked about what made him a special quarterback and when he really impressed in 2012.
- Penn State commit Curtis Cothran said he found PSU games much more enjoyable than NFL games in an extensive Q&A.
- Just one week after saying he was still thinking about an official visit, four-star LB Garret Dooley said he was no longer interested in Penn State. In other recruiting news, 2014 OL Sam Mustipher planned to take his first visit and 2014 ATH Omar Truitt still likes PSU and he's starting to hear from the likes of Stanford and Oregon.
- 2014 WR Thaddeus Snodgrass explained why he hasn't chosen a school yet and said PSU is still in the mix.
- High school freshman Rahshaun Smith is just 15 years old, but he added a PSU scholarship offer on Friday. He talked with NittanyNation about the honor.
- PSU commit Parker Cothren is starting to see more attention thrown his way, especially from SEC schools. Ditto for Walton.
- A transcript from our Friday chat, which addressed who might be the starting QB, Cothren/Walton and everything in between.
NittanyNation takes a look at this week's Penn State football news and what you might have missed:
- There are several class of 2012 players to watch next season, and we broke it down to No. 4, No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1.
- Tom Luginbill and Hakem Dermish previewed the Under Armour All-America Game, in which Christian Hackenberg will play. (Adam Breneman was also invited but still cannot compete due to the torn ACL.) A few days later, Luginbill and Craig Haubert discussed what the game and its practices teach fans about the recruits.
- Three-star athlete Zayd Issah talked about why he chose PSU and his goals for next season in a Q&A. Daesean Hamilton also chatted with NN in a Q&A.
- The high school coach of preferred walk-on Chris Gulla, a punter/kicker, discussed just what makes Gulla special and what PSU fans can expect from him.
- Penn State has fared pretty well when it's come to recruiting after the sanctions. They stack up well when compared to how teams in the Legends Division and Leaders Division recruited after July 23, when the sanctions were announced.
- PSU commit Jonathan Walton acknowledged he received a scholarship offer from South Carolina -- and he's probably going to make an official visit there.
- Former Virginia quarterback Michael Rocco looked into possibly transferring to Penn State and following in his father's footsteps, but future scholarship restrictions put a stop to that.
- Our weekly mailbag -- answering questions about Walton's new offer, next year's starting QB and what rising sophomores to look out for in 2013.
- 5 Questions with Felix Manus-Schell, a 2014 CB out of Erie (Pa.) Cathedral Prep. He currently counts Penn State as his favorite school and shares his opinions on Happy Valley.
- Chris Jones, ESPN's back-page columnist, writes about Hackenberg and his unwavering support for PSU despite the sanctions.
- Three Penn State alumni were selected to the Pro Bowl. Linebackers Navorro Bowman and Tamba Hali made the the team, along with defensive end Cameron Wake.
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.