Commentary
Nittany Lions taking charge
Penn State lays claim to three of top six players in Pennsylvania, including No. 1
Originally Published: November 2, 2009
By
Bill Conley | Scouts Inc.
The Keystone State doesn't have any five-star athletes in the 2010 class, but there are still plenty of outstanding players, including 11 four-star athletes. Defensive linemen reign on the list of elite players in this year's group of top talent. Defensive end and future Nittany Lion Dakota Royer (Manheim, Pa./Central) is the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania, followed by 309-pound defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (Philadelphia/George Washington), who is still undecided.
The top offensive player in the state is another future Nittany Lion, center Miles Dieffenbach (Pittsburgh/Fox Chapel). He is quick with his hands as he fires them into the frame of the defender. He has good feet for an offensive lineman and could line up anywhere along the offensive front at the next level. Dieffenbach is an ESPNU 150 player and the No. 1 center in the nation.
For a look at the top player in Pennsylvania, a name to remember who might not be the highest-rated prospect and the programs doing the best job of recruiting this year, become an ESPN Insider. ![]()
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States Of Recruiting

States Of Recruiting Index
• Alabama: Loaded with defenders
• Arkansas: Dyer the big prize
• Arizona/New Mexico: Carrington shines
• California offense: James, Bray lead the way
• California defense: Look out for Powell, Uko
• Colorado: Top talent heading out of state
• Florida offense: Dunkley leads deep WR group
• Florida defense: Plenty of premier prospects
• Georgia: Plenty of prospects to choose from
• Hawaii/Alaska: Fehoko is the island king
• Iowa: Derby gaining national attention
• Illinois: Prater leads Prairie State prospects
• Indiana: OSU-bound back Smith leads the way
• Kansas: QB Bell is among the elite
• Kentucky: Football takes a backseat to hoops
• Louisiana: Top talent staying close to home
• Maryland/D.C.: WR Coxson leading the way
• Michigan: Gholston, Baker lead the way
• Minnesota: Highlighted by No. 1 OT Henderson
• Mississippi: Don't miss out on Dickson or Eulls
• Missouri: Demien, Lucas leading the way
• New England: Top talent leaving the area
(Conn., Del., Mass., Maine, Vt., N.H., R.I.)
• North Carolina: Wolfpack taking charge
• Nevada: USC hits jackpot by landing Grimble
• N.Y./N.J.: Penn State cherry-picking Big Apple
• South Carolina: America's emerging hotbed
• Pacific Northwest: Trend of edge rushers
(Oregon, Idaho, Montana, N.D., S.D., Wyoming)
• Tennessee: WR Malone continues tradition
• Texas offense: WR White among top threats
• Texas defense: No. 1 Jeffcoat leads the way
• Pennsylvania: Royer, JoePa leading the way
• Ohio: Buckeyes dominance continues
• Oklahoma: Don't sleep on the Sooner State
• Nebraska: Rodriguez is lone ESPNU 150 player
• Utah: Quickly becoming a must-stop
• Virginia/West Virginia: Rich on skill talent
• Washington: Heap of talent on both sides
• Wisconsin: Recruiters getting a kick out of it
