Sports

Penn State football

By Derek Levarse dlevarse@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter
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For once, there may not be any signing day drama for Penn State.

While Penn State is a finalist for a pair of high-profile prospects who will make their college decisions this morning, the Nittany Lions have more than likely wrapped up their 2010 recruiting class, which is projected as the best in the Big Ten and in the top 10 in the country.

Barring any unexpected surprises – and in the world of major college football recruiting, there are – 13 recruits are expected to sign letters of intent to play at Penn State today, joining seven others who graduated early and have already enrolled in Happy Valley.

Georgia defensive lineman Mike Thornton and North Carolina athlete Keenan Allen – one of the top high school players in the nation – are the two big names linked to Penn State, though the odds of either signing with the Lions are slim.

Certainly neither scenario matches some of the recent February intrigue involving Penn State. The Lions broke a string of signing day disappointments in 2009 when they landed receiver Justin Brown.

There were plenty of conflicting reports about the destinations of receiver Vidal Hazleton and running back Broderick Green in 2006 and 2007, respectively. Both signed with USC over the Lions before ultimately transferring out of the program.

And little can compare to the Terrelle Pryor saga in 2008, in which the ultra-hyped quarterback held a press conference on signing day – to say that he wasn’t going to be signing anywhere yet.

So the Lions are expected to have a quiet time of it today by comparison. Penn State filled its class very early on, receiving two 2010 commitments before signing day in 2009, and collecting 15 verbals before the start of football season.

Seven of the 20 players – Central York defensive lineman Kyle Baublitz, Connecticut linebacker Khairi Fortt, Virginia defensive lineman Evan Hailes, New Jersey tight end Kevin Haplea, Sto-Rox quarterback Paul Jones, Connecticut tailback Silas Redd and Manheim Central linebacker Dakota Royer – are already on campus and will participate in spring practice.

Jones teams up with Michigan’s Robert Bolden to give Penn State one of the highest-rated quarterback classes in the nation. Both were attracted to the Lions’ starting quarterback vacancy.

They’re joined in the backfield by elusive tailback Redd and hard-running Zach Zwinak – rated as the consensus top fullback in the country.

State College speedster Alex Kenney joins Levi Norwood – brother of former Penn State wideout Jordan and son of former Penn State assistant coach Brian Norwood – at receiver. Haplea is rated as one of the better pass-catching tight ends in the class of 2010.

The Lions raided western Pennsylvania to bring in most of their offensive line recruits, nabbing a pair of Pitt legacies in Miles Dieffenbach and Thomas Ricketts to join fellow WPIAL product Luke Graham.

Virginia lineman Khamrone Kolb was one of the final additions to the class.

On the other side of the line, Penn State is looking to restock, adding ends Baublitz and C.J. Olaniyan to join tackles Hailes and DaQuan Jones. A well off the radar recruit from Tennessee named Brad Bars committed just last week immediately after receiving an offer from Penn State and projects as an end.

Royer could ultimately play rush end or linebacker for the Lions. Two locks for linebacker are Fortt and Canon-McMillan’s Mike Hull, rated by Scout.com as the nation’s top middle linebacker.

Erie’s Shyquawn Pullium rounds out the class as the lone defensive back recruit.