SB Nation Philly - Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: Nittany Lions One Of Four Schools With Offers To LB Freddie Stevensonhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48987/philly-fave.png2012-07-24T17:02:54-04:00http://philly.sbnation.com/rss/stream/23812462012-07-24T17:02:54-04:002012-07-24T17:02:54-04:00Penn State Recruiting 2013: TE Adam Breneman Reaffirms Commitment
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<p>A key recruit in the 2013 Penn State class, tight end Adam Breneman has <a href="http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/blog/college-football-rapidreports/19647273/penn-state-recruits-adam-breneman-and-christian-hackenberg-pledge-support" target="_blank">decided to remain committed to the Nittany Lions</a>. Breneman is the top tight end recruit in the country, according to Rivals. Without Breneman, other members of the 2013 class could have departed.</p>
<p>In addition to Breneman, Christian Hackenberg, a 4-star quarterback recruit and Elite 11 invitee from Virginia announced that he was still committed this past weekend. For the moment, the Nittany Lions have also retained 5-star offensive tackle Dorian Johnson (<a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/blog/ncfrecruiting/east/post?id=3537&action=login&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fblog%2fncfrecruiting%2feast%2fpost%3fid%3d3537" target="_blank">via ESPN Insider $</a>).</p>
<p>Penn State's recruits and current players are theoretically up for grabs after the sanctions which the NCAA and Big Ten Conference recently levied against Penn State in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Current Penn State players will be allowed to transfer without sitting out a season. Penn State's Class of 2013 players won't be able to compete for the Big Ten title or be able to participate in a bowl game until their senior years.</p>
<p><i>For more news on Penn State recruiting, check back to to this <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/7/12/3154898/freeh-report-penn-state-football-scandal-joe-paterno-jerry-sandusky#">SB Nation Philly StoryStream</a>. Meanwhile, all discussion and commentary on Penn State can be found at the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/">Black Shoes Diaries</a>.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/7/24/3184568/penn-state-scandal-recruiting-2013-adam-breneman-christian-hackenberg-remain-committedPat Johnston2012-06-24T22:46:55-04:002012-06-24T22:46:55-04:00Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: Belle Vernon OT Dorian Johnson Commits To Nittany Lions
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<p>Belle Vernon, PA, offensive tackle Dorian Johnson committed to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn State Nittany Lions</a> on Sunday, <a target="_blank" href="http://blog.pennlive.com/pennstatefootball/2012/06/belle_vernon_offensive_tackle.html">pennlive.com reports</a>. The 6'6, 280-pound offensive lineman is considered one of the top prospects in the state, if not the country. He is the Nittany Lions' fifth in-state pledge for the Class of 2013, joining Adam Breneman, Will Fuller, Andrew Nelson and Curtis Cothran. </p>
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<p>Belle Vernon offensive tackle Dorian Johnson commits to Penn State <a title="http://bit.ly/PYuuwl" href="http://t.co/g04zxumZ">bit.ly/PYuuwl</a></p>
— Penn State football (@psufootball) <a data-datetime="2012-06-25T01:21:56+00:00" href="https://twitter.com/psufootball/status/217065052795174913">June 25, 2012</a>
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<p>Johnson has received high marks across the major recruiting services. Rivals and Scout both rated him as the No. 13 and 23 offensive tackle prospect in the country, respectively, making him four-star on both sites. 247Sports was even more bullish, tabbing Johnson as the 12th best player in the country and No. 2 OT prospect.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="_blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal" target="_blank">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/6/24/3115374/penn-state-football-recruiting-2012-dorian-johnson-offensive-tackleLouis Bien2012-06-19T11:31:58-04:002012-06-19T11:31:58-04:00Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: Nittany Lions One Of Four Schools With Offers To LB Freddie Stevenson
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<p>Penn State is one of four schools on the list for Florida high school linebacker Freddie Stevenson. According to SB Nation's national recruiting editor, Bud Elliot, Penn State is <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/6/19/3095173/freddie-stevenson-recruit-bartow-florida-state-texas-penn-linebacker">one of three schools that has an offer out</a> to Stevenson. </p>
<p>The other schools on Stevenson's list are Florida, Florida State and Texas A&M. All of those schools are courting the young linebacker, but Florida is the only one that has yet to make an offer.</p>
<p>In an interview with Elliot, Stevenson explained what appealed to him about the Nittany Lions. </p>
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<p>"I love how Penn State develops linebackers, and I like coach [Stan] Hixon," Stevenson said. Hixon has been instrumental in Penn State's renewed recruiting efforts in the Sunshine State.</p>
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<p>Listed at 6'1" 230 pounds, Stevenson plays at Bartow High School in Florida. recruiting analysts put him in the range of three to four stars. He broke his fibula last November, and had surgery to repair it in January. He has since been cleared, but is still in the process of getting back to full health. </p>
<p>Stevenson has plans to pay an official visit to Penn State in the near future. </p>
<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="_blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal" target="_blank">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/6/19/3096993/penn-state-football-recruiting-2012-freddie-stevensonRyan Van Bibber2012-04-17T13:46:58-04:002012-04-17T13:46:58-04:00Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: Three Nittany Lions Commits In ESPN U Top 50
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<p>Three Penn State commits were named among the <a href="http://espn.go.com/college-sports//football/recruiting/playerrankings/_/view/espnu150/sort/rank/class/2013">ESPN U Top 150</a> high school football recruits of 2013, on a list that was released Tuesday.</p>
<p>Quarterback Christian Hackenberg (Fork Union Military Academy, Richmond, VA) is rated the No. 11 prospect in the nation, and the second-best quarterback behind Texas commit Tyrone Swoopes (No. 8 overall). The other two future Nittany Lions to make the list were tight end Adam Breneman (Cedar Cliff High School, Camp Hill, PA) and defensive tackle Greg Webb (Timber Creek Regional High School, Erial, NJ).</p>
<p>Hackenberg got <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Bill O'Brien's</a> 2013 recruiting class off to a good start when he committed in February. The signal-caller turned down offered from Florida, Rutgers, Alabama, Miami, Tennessee, Virginia and Connecticut to take his talents to Penn State.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="_blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal" target="_blank">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/4/17/2954956/penn-state-football-recruiting-2012-espn-u-top-50-christian-hackenberg-bill-obrienJay King2012-03-18T20:36:27-04:002012-03-18T20:36:27-04:00Penn State Recruiting 2013: Four-Star OL Brendan Mahon Pledges Commitment To Penn State, According To Report
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<p>Four-star offensive lineman Brendan Mahon has pledged his commitment to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a>, <a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/colleges/20120318_Penn_State_football_adds_another_4-star_recruit.html" target="_blank">according to reports</a>. The 6-5, 302-pound high school senior-to-be hails from Randolph, N.J., and is ranked as the 190th best overall prospect in the Class of 2013 according to Rivals.com.</p>
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<p>"Penn State was always a school I was real interested in," Mahon told Rivals.com, "and after spending some time with [Penn State sophomore lineman] <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/142590/angelo-mangiro">Angelo Mangiro</a>, he was just telling me that I have to do what's good for me, and I just think Penn State is the best choice."</p>
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<p>Mahon becomes the fifth member of the Nittany Lions' class, all of whom have earned four-star ratings. He also considered offers from Tennessee, South Carolina, Michigan, Miami and Florida before giving <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Bill O'Brien</a> his commitment. He has apparently become close friends New Jersey defensive end Garrett Sickels, another Penn State pledge.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/3/18/2883202/penn-state-recruiting-2013-brendan-mahon-commitmentLouis Bien2012-02-29T15:26:59-05:002012-02-29T15:26:59-05:00Penn State Recruiting 2013: QB Christian Hackenberg Commits To Penn State, According To Reports
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<p>The Penn State Nittany Lions got off to a good start on 2013 recruiting Wednesday, <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/college-football-recruiting/2012/2/29/2833694/christian-hackenberg-recruit-commits-penn-state-virginia">reportedly receiving a commitment from four-star quarterback Christian Hackenberg</a> out of Fork Union Military Academy in Virginia.</p>
<p>Hackenberg, a 6-foot-4, 215-pound pocket passer with a strong arm, becomes the first prospect to commit to <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="#">Bill O'Brien's</a> 2013 recruiting class. Rated the No. 153 junior recruit in the nation by Rivals.com, Hackenberg turned down offers from Florida, Rutgers, Alabama, Miami, Tennessee, Virginia and Connecticut to commit to Penn State.</p>
<p>The highly-touted signal-caller recently visited State College, <a href="http://www.statecollege.com/news/local-news/penn-state-football-recruiting-quarterback-christian-hackenberg-wont-make-snap-decision-1006180/">telling StateCollege.com</a> he likes that O'Brien worked with Tom Brady during his time with the New England Patriots.</p>
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<p>"What Coach O'Brien did with Tom Brady, it's definitely a great opportunity for me," Hackenberg said. "It's a great school. I like their system. And I am originally from PA." </p>
<p>"I want to be comfortable with the coaching staff and I want to be able to fit in with the team," Hackenberg said. "A family feeling is one thing that's important to me." </p>
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<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/" target="_blank">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal" target="_blank">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/2/29/2833754/penn-state-football-recruiting-2013-christian-hackenbergJay King2012-02-02T16:38:17-05:002012-02-02T16:38:17-05:002012 Penn State Football Recruiting Ranking: Nittany Lions Finish In Middle Of Big Ten
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<p>The Penn State Nittany Lions picked up 19 recruits in their incoming 2012 class but how did they stack up nationally and within the Big Ten?</p>
<p>Bill O'Brien's first class was nationally ranked <a href="http://247sports.com/Team/Ranking" target="_blank">as high as 39th by 247 Sports.com</a> and <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/teamrank/2012/all/all" target="_blank">as low as 50th by Rivals</a>. Scout had the incoming Penn State class<a href="http://recruiting.scout.com/a.z?s=73&p=9&c=14&yr=2012" target="_blank"> ranked as 49th</a>.</p>
<p>In the Big Ten, Scout ranked Ohio State (3), Michigan (4), Michigan State (t35), Iowa (39) and Northwestern (48) higher than Penn State.</p>
<p>Rivals had Ohio State (4), Michigan (6), Nebraska (25), Purdue (35), Michigan State (39) and Iowa (41) ahead of the Nittany Lions.</p>
<p>247 Sports had Ohio State (5), Michigan (8), Nebraska (29), Iowa (37) and Michigan State (38) in front of Penn State.</p>
<p><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates.</i></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/2/2/2767167/penn-state-football-recruiting-ranking-2012-big-tenPat Johnston2012-02-02T08:30:19-05:002012-02-02T08:30:19-05:00Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: National Signing Day Recap
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<p>The finishing touches have been placed on Bill O'Brien's inaugural recruiting class as the head coach at Penn State, and Nittany Lions fans have something to look forward to.</p>
<p>Despite the recent turmoil surrounding the program, O'Brien and his newly assembled staff hauled in 19 recruits, led by WR Eugene Lewis and DT Jamil Pollard, both <a href="http://rivals.yahoo.com/footballrecruiting/football/recruiting/commitments/2012/pennstate-34;_ylt=AjonvEHUAwkrjDPb.rmWCm5JPZB4">Rivals four star recruits</a>.</p>
<p>In a near even split, 10 offensive players and nine defensive players signed their letters of intent to play for Penn State. As O'Brien plans to continue to do, Penn State targeted players within close proximity of State College, and 16 of the 19 recruits attended high school less than 350 miles away from where they will matriculate this fall.</p>
<p>O'Brien, who remains on the staff of the New England Patriots as they prepare for Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, credited his assistant coaches for their diligence in the recruiting process, and lauded the work of defensive line coach Larry Johnson. <a href="http://www.gopsusports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020112aai.html#lynch">He said Wednesday</a>, "I've got to give a lot of credit to the assistant coaches, especially (defensive line coach) Larry Johnson, who I asked to oversee the (recruiting) transition period here. As evidenced by today, he did a great job of keeping it rolling. The other guys came in there and hit the ground running."</p>
<p>Penn State's 19 recruits come from nine different states as well as one player, RB Akeel Lynch, from Canada. </p>
<p>The class breakdown by position is as follows: one quarterback, one running back, two tight ends, four wide receivers, two offensive linemen, five defensive linemen, one linebacker, and three defensive backs.</p>
<p>Rivals weighed in on Penn State's class, and ranked it 50th overall, and eighth amongst Big Ten schools.</p>
<p><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><i>For more on the Penn State Nittany Lions, be sure to head over to the SB Nation blog <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackshoediaries.com/">Black Shoe Diaries</a>. Stay tuned to this <a target="_blank" href="http://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2011/12/6/2617205/penn-state-recruiting-nittany-lions-losing-recruits-in-wake-of-scandal">StoryStream</a> for more recruiting updates up to Signing Day.</i> </b></span></p>
https://philly.sbnation.com/penn-st-nittany-lions/2012/2/2/2766018/penn-state-football-recruiting-2012-national-signing-day-eugene-lewisField Yates