PSU Nittany Lions

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Beneath the specter of an uncertain future, and a criminal act the community is all too aware of, Zayd Issah lingered on the field Saturday night -- and finally smiled.

With sweat running down his nose and his face, so that it was indistinguishable from what might have been tears, Issah smiled. It has been an emotionally taxing three months for the three-star athlete, who faces several charges for allegedly passing off counterfeit $20 bills at fast-food restaurants. He tried to enjoy an oasis of football on Saturday night.

Under the lights of Hersheypark Stadium, after Pennsylvania dominated Maryland 58-27 in the Big 33 Game, he quickly embraced four-star PSU signee Andrew Nelson. He sought out his family on the field, and he stopped every few seconds to sign autographs and pose for giggling girls who asked for group photos.

Issah obliged, but he kept walking, away from the crowds and the groups, without any destination in particular. It seemed as if he just wanted to soak in the moment and forget about his troubles for at least a little.

"They say football's a game of second chances," he said. "So I want to use mine to the best of my ability and make the most out of it."

Bill O'Brien has not severed ties with the talented linebacker out of Harrisburg (Pa.) Central Dauphin. The staff appeared to offer him an ultimatum: Head elsewhere or enroll in prep school, clean up your act and then maybe rejoin the PSU family in January.

That's still the plan for Issah, who is deciding between Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy and New Berlin (N.Y.) Milford Academy.

"Where do you stand with PSU?" asked one reporter.

"It's Linebacker U," he replied, harkening back to the same response he gave nearly 190 days ago. "Penn State's Linebacker U. That's all I got to say. I got my sights set on PSU right now, unless something changes."

Issah, still smiling and receiving pats on the back from passers-by, was pressed. What could that "something" be?

"I'll know when it happens, really," he said, nodding when asked if he's heading in with the mindset that he'll remain a Nittany Lion.

Individual defensive stats were not kept at the Big 33 Game, but Issah's name echoed over the PA system throughout the night. He started at outside linebacker, played defensive end during "speed packages," and seemed to leave all the emotion and bottled-up frustration of three months on the field.

On one early play, Issah drifted right but quickly reversed course and made a tackle near the opposite sideline. It was an effort not lost on Pennsylvania coach Art Walker, who focused on Issah's leadership this past week and didn't mention his less-recent hardship.

"He just had great work ethic," said Walker, who coaches Wexford (Pa.) North Allegheny. "He did a great job of anything we asked. He handled everything we threw at him. He responded well and had a great attitude.

"He's a good teammate, and he led by example. He's everything you want out of a player."

Issah isn't completely sure what comes next. He'll enroll in one of those two prep schools by August, but he's not yet sure which one. It'll likely come down to finances, he said.

The 6-foot-3 prospect already knows he'll be receiving scholarship assistance from FUMA. Milford hasn't yet responded with a number.

"I'm a little closer with Fork Union right now," he said, "so I'm still waiting to get a relationship with Milford."

Issah simply responded with, "Yeah," when asked if he felt like he received a fair shake. But, with his shoulder pads still on and that smile still fixed to his face, he thought for a moment when asked one final question, whether he wanted to get anything off his chest.

"I love to play football. I don't want to stop; that's it," he said. "And I'm glad they didn't take that chance away from me."

Three-star linebacker Zayd Issah will not football at Penn State this fall, but "eventually he could end up at Penn State down the road," Bill O'Brien told The Associated Press on Wednesday evening.

Issah, a standout athlete at Harrisburg (Pa.) Central Dauphin, was charged March 10 with trying to pass off counterfeit $20 bills at a local McDonald's. According to the criminal complaint, Issah and two teenage friends tried to pass off the fake bills while paying at the drive-thru window. They fled, but employees identified the vehicle, and police later found them.

Issah faces felony charges for conspiracy and forgery and also misdemeanors for theft by deception. The Harrisburg-Patriot News first reported the story last week.

"We want what's best for Zayd. We don't think Zayd is a bad kid at all. We think he's a young guy that's made a couple questionable decisions," O'Brien told the AP. "His next move will be determined by him ... He will not be here next year to play football at Penn State, but eventually he could end up at Penn State down the road."

According to the AP, O'Brien met with Issah and his parents over the weekend. A decision has still not been reached on his next step.

Issah decommitted after the sanctions and contemplated choosing Oregon, Arizona State or another school. Eventually, more than three months later on Dec. 9, he re-committed to the Nittany Lions.

"It's Linebacker U," Issah told ESPN before signing day. "That did it for me."

The linebacker's departure -- short-term or otherwise -- is a blow to the Nittany Lions this season. O'Brien lamented the linebacker depth this spring, and there will now just be a half-dozen scholarship players at the position over the summer.

One of those players, Ben Kline, is still recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. And another, Brandon Bell, is an incoming freshman.

NittanyNation takes a look at this week’s Penn State football news and what you might have missed:

• Defensive end Deion Barnes hates missing sacks. He can still recall each of the four he missed last season, and the humble redshirt sophomore is intent on improving upon that this season. His mother, father, high school coach and teammates talk about what makes him tick in this in-depth feature.
  
• The coach of 2014 PSU commit Mark Allen talks about what makes his player special and how he knew from Allen's Pop Warner days that he'd find success.
  
• Three-star LB Zayd Issah faces felony charges after police say he tried to pass off counterfeit $20 bills at a McDonald's.
  
• Who's impressed or surprised the most so far this spring? NittanyNation polled the players to find out.
  
• PSU signee DaeSean Hamilton talks about taking up yoga and preparing for life at PSU in this week's edition of "5 Questions."
  
• ESPN Watch List QB Michael O'Connor didn't come away from PSU with a scholarship offer , but he did hear other really good news during his unofficial visit.
  
• News, notes and observations from parts of Thursday's open practice.
  
• As part of an ongoing series, NittanyNation takes a closer look at 2014 prospects with PSU offers -- including best highlights, stats, other offers and more. Up this past week: WR De'Andre Thompkins and CB Jabrill Peppers .
  
• Adam Rittenberg writes that linebacker Mike Hull is set up for a breakout season.
  
• OL Quenton Nelson is aiming to trim his list after more visits and will see PSU for the Blue-White Game.
  
• 2015 CB Jordan Whitehead talks about the Nittany Lions and his recruitment in this in-depth Q&A.
  
• Interest is picking up for linebacker Tyler Burke, but PSU seems to have backed off .
  
• NCAA president Mark Emmert said on "Mike & Mike" that Penn State's sanctions will likely remain.
  
• David Njoku, a 6-foot-4 wideout, said his interest in PSU 'skyrocketed' after his unofficial visit.

Three-star Penn State signee Zayd Issah is facing felony charges after police say he tried to pass counterfeit $20 bills at a McDonald's. His status with the Nittany Lions remains unknown.

According to the criminal complaint and Susquehanna Township Police Chief Rob Martin, police were called to a McDonald's in Harrisburg, Pa., on March 9 after Issah and two teenage friends tried to pass off the fake bills while paying at the drive-thru window. They fled, but employees identified the vehicle, and police later found them.

The incoming freshman linebacker from Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg was identified by one of the suspects, and Facebook messages also were intercepted between Issah and another suspect that showed he "both knew the money was forged and solicited a plan to 'clean it,' " according to the complaint.

Martin said the local forgeries have been part of an ongoing investigation, and Issah is believed to have played a minor role.

"We've been duly investigating this with the U.S. Secret Service," Martin told ESPN.

Issah was released on $1,000 unsecured bail and will take part in a preliminary hearing on May 9. He is charged with two felony counts each of conspiracy and forgery, and he also faces misdemeanors for theft by deception.

According to the complaint, Issah used the counterfeit money at two separate locations and was involved with transactions at two other fast-food restaurants.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News was the first to report the story.

Penn State spokesman Jeff Nelson did not return a message seeking comment.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- While Bill O'Brien's voice carried over the field Monday afternoon, quarterbacks coach Charlie Fisher directed his players in a calmer manner.

During position drills at Penn State's first spring practice, Fisher stood about five yards in front of his four quarterbacks as they took turns taking three- and five-step drops. The quartet of red jerseys would look at Fisher, quickly scan the field and then throw to a stationary receiver.

"Eyes here," Fisher told sophomore Steven Bench in a conversational tone, pointing to his his right. "Work through it, work through it."

Bench or Tyler Ferguson could wind up as the starting quarterback come Aug. 31, and Monday offered a glimpse of the two signal-callers. Media were invited to attend 20 minutes of open practice, and O'Brien began by calling together a competition: A defensive back would line up against a wideout or tight end in press coverage, while Bench and Ferguson would alternate snaps.

The first team -- offense or defense -- to win three battles would be declared the winner. The losers would be forced to perform five hit-its. It was more for honor than anything and only four passes were thrown while the quarterbacks tried to shake off the rust.

Bench began by just overthrowing Allen Robinson on a roughly 35-yard pass, and Ferguson then hit Jesse James in stride downfield on an over-the-shoulder grab. Bench followed that up by throwing behind his target on cross route, and Ferguson barely overthrew Matt Lehman for two straight incompletions.

The offense, along with Ferguson and Bench, then hit the turf for their hit-its while the defense cheered.

"They're both athletic, they both can throw the football," O'Brien said during a Monday news conference. "Now it's going to depend on how well they make decisions and how accurately they throw the ball.

"They sit in the front row, they pay attention, they take a lot of notes. It's a fun group to be around."

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Penn State has signed larger and more decorated recruiting classes than the 2013 version, and brought in more big names. But the program has never faced NCAA sanctions, including scholarship reductions and postseason probation. Under the circumstances, the 17-member recruiting class PSU signed Wednesday might be one of the most impressive in team history. Penn State brought in star power like quarterback Christian Hackenberg and tight end Adam Breneman, retained most of its top recruits and addressed several needs. Head coach Bill O'Brien and his assistants have received a lot of praise for their first recruiting class of the sanction era, and deservedly so.

ESPN.com caught up with O'Brien on Wednesday to discuss the class.

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Signing day has gone smoothly in Happy Valley.

Here's a recap of how the letters of intent came in and how the class came together in Penn State's Class of 2013.

Follow the live blog after the jump.

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