ESPN.com presents PSU Nittany Lions http://espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/ 60 en-us Fri, 24 May 2013 15:14:32 webmaster@espn.go.com http://assets.espn.go.com/i/espn/teamlogos/lrg/trans/espn_dotcom_black.gif 110 110 WARREN, Ohio -- James Daniels (Warren, Ohio/Harding) is familiar with the drill. The 2015 defensive tackle prospect's father played offensive guard for Ohio State and had a brief stint in the NFL. His brother recently went through the recruiting cycle. “My dad tells me the tips,” said Daniels, whose father, LeShun Daniels, lettered at Ohio State from 1994-96. “He tells me what to look for. He lets me know what the most important thing is.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9405 Fri, 24 May 2013 12:06:33 EDT 9405 Every week, NittanyNation will pose five questions to a recruit, player, alum or coach about all things Penn State. This week's subject is Todd LaRocca, a 2016 quarterback out of Henrietta (N.Y.) Rush Henrietta who plans to attend Penn State's camp June 8. RecruitingNation named him as one of the top underclassmen at New Level Athletics' 7-on-7 Midwest Regional in March. NittanyNation: How did you first start hearing from Penn State? Todd LaRocca: Penn State was the first one to contact me because my coach contacted them, sent them my film, and they liked it.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9390 Fri, 24 May 2013 10:00:48 EDT 9390 It’s Rankings Week at NittanyNation. Until today, we’ve ranked some aspect touching on PSU heading into the 2013 season. On this final day of Rankings Week, we've released PSU player power rankings for the spring. Spring PSU player power rankings 1. WR Allen Robinson. He needed just one year as a starter to break PSU's single-season record for receptions and become the top wideout in the conference. Now, cue Daft Punk, because he's better, faster, stronger.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9351 Thu, 23 May 2013 11:30:08 EDT 9351 Former Penn State quarterback Steven Bench is heading back to the South. South Florida, that is. Bench announced Thursday that he's transferring to South Florida, selecting the Bulls ahead of Mississippi State. He will be eligible to play immediately because of the loosened transfer policies the NCAA gave Penn State players after imposing major sanctions against the program last summer. After backing up Matt McGloin in 2012, Bench competed in spring practice with junior-college transfer Tyler Ferguson.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post/_/id/9384/former-lions-qb-heading-to-south-florida Thu, 23 May 2013 11:00:04 EDT 9384 It’s Rankings Week at NittanyNation. Until today, we’ve ranked some aspect touching on PSU heading into the 2013 season. On this final day of Rankings Week, we're ranking the top defensive players Penn State will face this season. Ranking the opposing defensive players 1. LB Ryan Shazier (Ohio State): Linebacker U remembers this player. He wound up with two sacks and an interception against Penn State last year, and he returns as arguably the best defensive player in the conference.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9330 Thu, 23 May 2013 10:00:59 EDT 9330 An offer from an SEC school often makes recruits take a step back and re-evaluate a top group or a commitment. That's not the case with Jared Wangler (Warren, Mich./De La Salle). LSU offered the 6-foot-2, 218-pound outside linebacker Wednesday, but he remains committed to Penn State. "It's really humbling," Wangler said, "but nothing's changed." Wangler committed to the Nittany Lions on an unofficial visit May 10. Wangler was making his second trip to State College, and he knew going into his visit he would be pledging to PSU coach Bill O'Brien.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9382 Wed, 22 May 2013 18:13:21 EDT 9382 Every Big Ten team will rely on a handful of freshmen (sometimes more than a handful) to fill key roles when the 2013 season rolls around. Which newcomers will make the biggest impact in the league? Tom Luginbill, RecruitingNation's senior national recruiting analyst, has identified five names to remember among incoming freshmen who will enroll this summer. Luginbill already singled out Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple as an early enrollee who could make a difference this fall.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post/_/id/9381/green-wilson-make-impact-freshmen-list Wed, 22 May 2013 17:00:26 EDT 9381 STATE COLLEGE, Pa. -- Penn State's 2013 recruiting class will report to campus in less than a month, and several players could play a huge role on the team this season. This is Bill O'Brien's first real class, and fans should catch an early glimpse of what it's capable of this season. Here are three incoming prospects -- not early enrollees -- who could contribute immediately: 1. QB Christian Hackenberg, four stars, No. 1 at position If this selection shocks you, then you need to read more often.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9307 Wed, 22 May 2013 09:00:47 EDT 9307 It’s Rankings Week at NittanyNation. Through Thursday, we’ll rank some aspect touching on PSU heading into the 2013 season. Today we're ranking each opponent on Penn State's schedule, from the most difficult test to the easiest. Ranking the schedule 1. At Ohio State (Oct. 26). The Buckeyes last suffered a loss when Bill O'Brien was still coaching the New England Patriots. Plus, Braxton Miller returns. Does there really have to be another reason?]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post?id=9319 Tue, 21 May 2013 10:00:32 EDT 9319 Good news: We are just 100 days away from the start of college football. To mark the occasion, we're pulling out a checklist today of things that Big Ten teams need to accomplish between now and the start of the season. It's not quite "The Final Countdown" (cue GOB Bluth), but we are inching ever so close to kickoff. Here's what needs to happen in the next 100 days: 1. Identify a starting quarterback at Iowa, Indiana, Michigan State, Penn State, Purdue and Wisconsin: It seems as if there are an unusually high number of Big Ten teams who don't know for sure who their starting quarterbacks will be in the fall.]]> http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/colleges/psu/post/_/id/9365/100-days-checklist-big-ten Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:09 EDT 9365