Nitt Picks is Dumping Links

No frills today. Just a ton of articles worth pointing out to you.

The Big 33 game is coming up meaning there are a plethora of articles on soon to be Penn State freshmen. Check them out.

Mark Wedderburn really like football.

“What I love really is the passion,” said Wedderburn, one of six Penn State commitments set to play in Saturday’s Big 33 Football Classic in Hershey. “I love to hit people. I love everything about football because it’s not a soft sport at all. You have to be a tough person inside and out.”

When it comes to Mike Zordich, like father like son.

"I think Penn State is getting a great one," Ohio head coach Jim Ryan said of Zordich.

"Physically, he is just put-together, he has fine size for an inside linebacker and he has that football savvy. You can tell he's been well-tutored by his father."

And if any hardcore Penn State (or Philadelphia) fans get close enough to the Hersheypark Stadium surface Saturday night, the younger Zordich will be easy to spot.

Actually, the question isn't whether you can spot any similarities between the two Michael Zordiches.

No, the real question is, can you spot any differences?

Mike Yancich injured his elbow in practice and will be out for 6-8 weeks. But it doesn't sound too serious.

Yancich was injured Monday during a practice session. He tore his left bicep, and a fragment of his upper arm bone pulled away from the main bone mass.

Yancich will not need surgery and said he will be sidelined for 6-8 weeks.

"They said as of now, it's not so serious that they have to go in and put a screw in and surgically repair it,'' Yancich said Wednesday afternoon after the Pennsylvania team finished a practice at Hershey High School.

"It's minor, but it's still a fracture and they have to treat it as a fracture. The [doctors] told me the torn bicep will heal on its own.''

This just in: A.J. Price is friggin' fast.

Several boys were particularly key to the Seahawks’ vast success this past spring season, including newcomer to the program, A.J. Price.

The talented Price had excelled throughout his high school career in both football and basketball. He recently earned a scholarship to play collegiate football at Penn State University. Over the past two years, Price, currently completing his senior year, has been one of the region’s top football wide receivers.

In outdoor track, he was an outstanding addition to the Seahawks’ team.

"A.J. was the backbone of the team," said Buckley. "He was the one that pulled the guys together. He gave us a spark that got everybody excited. He has been kind of the glue."

Following a dominating performance at regionals in which he finished first in three events – the 200 dash, the 400 dash and the long jump, and third in the high jump – Price was geared to have another top competition at the state meet. But at states he injured a hamstring during the 4x100- relay event. With the nagging injury, Price tried to compete in the 400 finals and was leading the race for a while before ultimately falling back and finishing eighth as a result of his hamstring.

Shipley Taking Charge

Interesting article in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette today about A.Q. Shipley and the offensive line.

To say the leadership of Shipley transcends the offense isn't hyperbole. After all, it was during his redshirt freshman season of 2005 when this 6-foot-1, 297-pound former Moon standout played some on both sides of the line for a Lions team that finished 11-1 and ranked No. 3 in the country.

Two 9-4 campaigns followed, but Shipley is determined to help the Lions allow him to go out on top of the Big Ten.

"I'm real excited for this year," Shipley said. "It's my last year, and we have a big senior class, a great leader class. There are some great leaders in this senior class.

"We're all excited and are going for big things, going about our business of doing the things we've been doing."

The offensive line is the biggest reason I'm optimistic about this season. Morelli took a lot of heat in 2006, but the disappointments from that season came from the line's failure to protect the quarterback and create running lanes for Tony Hunt. In 2007 the line was greatly improved. With two solid running backs and three veteran wide receivers and this line we should have all the offense we need this year as long as Joe cuts them loose and lets them play.

Etcetera

Philly.com talks to several recruits and sheds light on what they are being told about the future of Joe Paterno and the Penn State program.

Schiano to Penn State Still a Longshot? We'll see about that. 

Lake the Posts gathered the Big Ten Bloggers together and assembled a forecast for the Big Ten standings based on our collective predictions. The general consensus of the Big Ten Bloggers is that Penn State will finish second.

Oh, and Off The Tracks  asked me to do an interview thingy.