Our First Commit

by Mike on Mar 25, 2008 9:27 AM EDT in Recruiting

Penn State landed their first commitment for the class of 2009 when Bunn, NC offensive lineman Ty Howle committed to Joe Paterno during an unofficial visit this past weekend.

The 6'3" 295 pounder is projected to play center for the Nittany Lions after playing center his entire high school career. While playing for his head coach and father, Howle led his team to a 9-3 record and earned All-State Honors in North Carolina.

Though is offer list wasn't very impressive (East Carolina and Navy), most people agree this is a good pickup for Penn State. From looking at film it looks like this kid has that nasty streak that I love to see in an offensive lineman. If he gets his hands on you you're blocked. And when he blocks you he isn't happy unless you're eating grass and mud. We need a pure center to replace A.Q. Shipley. If Howle turns out to be that guy it will give us flexibility to move Wisniewski or Stankiewitch over to guard. Personally, I'm just glad we took a lineman with a name easier to spell than Wisniewski and Stankiewitch.

What really impressed me is that Ty just sounds like a really good kid.

"This was a big family decision," Howle said. "We sat down this morning, my whole family, and we really felt there was no place I could go to get a better education. And we love the tradition of Penn State football. State College is just beautiful; it has a small-town feel but has everything you could look for in a city."

...

Howle currently carries a 3.9 GPA in his core courses and overall GPA of 4.2 thanks to several honors classes he has completed. He intends to begin his college academic career in a general science major so he has options when he finally settles on a post-football profession. Right now his thoughts are ranging from chemical engineering to pre-med.

Welcome to the family, Ty. We are Penn State.

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Comments

Sounds like a solid player

Almost everyone who seems to know these things has said good things about Howle. Definitely seems that center is his certain destination...here's to a great senior HS season for Ty and a great PSU career.

by immikefazz on Mar 25, 2008 10:07 AM EDT 0 recs

Someone, Guido or otherwise...

needs to pick up on Howle's comments on State College and market that a little bit.

It feels good to hear positive comments come out about the area, after Pryor basically trashed State College.

by carolinaeasy on Mar 25, 2008 11:05 AM EDT 0 recs

smarty-pants

4.2 gpa with honors? praise the lord, it looks as if he's smart enough to not get arrested. welcome to the lions

For the glory

by lionalum05 on Mar 25, 2008 12:23 PM EDT 0 recs

It's nice to see . . .

a fellow Tobacco Road native convert to a more masculine shade of blue. Thankfully, he probably won't contribute to the team's Fulmer Cup standing.

caroLIONa

by caroLIONa on Mar 25, 2008 2:17 PM EDT 0 recs

It all starts on the line

In order for a team to move from good to great they need to be able to dominate the line on both sides of the ball. It looks like PSU is stacked on both the offensive and defensive lines for '08.

Landing Howle and any other big-time linemen could help insure that PSU has enough talent to open holes for the RBs and keep the QB's jersey clean.

I'm Fired UP!

GO STATE!

by GLORYOFOLDSTATE on Mar 25, 2008 2:18 PM EDT 0 recs

It's nice to see

That there are still good guys out there that just happen to play football and be good students too. Thanks for the update!

by Jen on Mar 25, 2008 2:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Now this is a Penn State Kid!

Great grades, thoughtful, good family and has that special quality about him that only Penn State kids have. As noted above he can see what a wonderful, magical place State College, PA is (unlike that punk Tyrelle Pryor). Great start for 2009.

by Umberto on Mar 25, 2008 2:27 PM EDT 0 recs

Perspectives

When you read Pryor's comments versus Howle's, it's really a breath of fresh air. Talk about a contrast in perspectives! THIS IS WHO WE NEED TO BE RECRUITING! They are still out there - the Paul Posluszny's, the Sean Lee's, the AQ Shipely's. Those comments alone have instantly made him one of my favorite Nits! Damn! That is good to read!

by Spats on Mar 25, 2008 3:30 PM EDT 0 recs