Two quick QB recruiting notes:

Robert Bolden will hold a press conference on Friday morning ($) to announce his decision.  His final three is narrowed down to Penn State, Louisville, and Oregon.  After 15 minutes of Googling, I can't even find evidence of him even visiting Louisville or Oregon.

Paul Jones recently broke a bone in his ankle playing basketball, but now says he'll be ready for his senior season at Sto-Rox.

So, yeah.  Good deal. 

Paul Jones highlights, because I have a pretty good feeling you'll see a Bolden highlight reel here on Friday morning:

Junior Year (via Jenand5sons)

Gimme a team full of Norwoods and a wooo!

A little late-night news, as wide receiver Levi Norwood has officially committed to Penn State:

After spending last weekend at Penn State's senior-only camp and receiving an offer, Norwood called Lion receivers' coach Mike McQueary Wednesday to inform him that he was committing.

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Norwood, the younger brother of former PSU standout receiver Jordan Norwood and the son of former Lion assistant Brian Norwood, said there was really never any question about where he would play his college ball.

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"Pretty much growing up there and having my brother go there and always being around Penn State, I always wanted to go there," Levi said. "It was easy for me."

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Norwood did not play football at Midway High last fall after transferring from State College High. But he has been working out with the football team at Midway this off-season and reportedly turned in a strong performance at PSU's senior camp. Norwood said no decision has been made on whether he will grayshirt.

 

Levi is already 6'2", so he's a bigger target than his brother Jordan, and apparently caught everything thrown in his area during the recent camp.  And hell, he's a Norwood.  Great bloodlines, coach's son, knows what it takes to succeed in a major collegiate program.  People will complain and write things like, "zOMG HE'S ONLY A NEGATIVE THREE STAR PLAYER!11ONE!"  These people are morons, because (1) there's the strong possibility that Levi will grayshirt, and won't even count against the limited available scholarship count for the current recruiting class, and (2) after what Jordan accomplished here, Levi clearly deserves a lot of slack.

Jordan Norwood - Cleveland Browns - Draft Video Profile (via Draftguysdotcom)

Yes, recruiting appears to be going very well.  But when recruits become registered college students and the stars assigned by Scout and Rivals disintegrate into dust, always remember that potential is a fickle, fickle bitch.  

Even if you can run through class Quad-A competition like Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson.

Austin Scott Highlights (via mdjm98)

Hard to keep up with all of this, because we may not be done yet.  Binghamton, New York area offensive lineman DaQuan Jones (6'4", 300 lb., Scout four-star, Rivals three-star) has also chosen Penn State.  ESPN says:

Jones plays on both sides of the ball; at OLB and OT. He has the size for both positions at the major level of competition. Flashes upper body explosion and good hand shiver; able to defeat the one on one block but lacks agility in space; displays sure tackling ability. We feel he is a better prospect at offensive guard where he can use his size and playing strength as a run blocker. Displays a little lower body stiffness in space but comes off the ball with quickness and explosion. Plays with a flat back and good leg drive; gets movement in single blocking situations, can move to the 2nd level and play on his feet vs. linebackers. Can pull and trap; good out of his stance, turns up field and finds defenders in the open field with power and explosion at the point of attack. This is an aggressive tough run blocker who looks for 2nd defenders downfield and finishes blocks with authority. Have yet to see him in pass protection; will need work but displays enough balance, agility and flexibility to make us feel he can succeed in this area. Jones is a solid strong football player who will not be an immediate starter or impact player. Time and a red shirt year will give him the opportunity to develop both his athletic and physical skills. Eventually he should become a solid starter at the BCS level of competition.

A good day to be a Nittany Lion fan, and a caution to the foot-draggers among the currently recruited -- this class is filling up quickly.

It's Dat Woo Woooooo

Fight On State reports that Virginia DT Evan Hailes (6'2", 310 lbs, four star on both Rivals and Scout) has joined the recruiting class of 2009-10.  Here's what you've won, according to ESPN:

Hailes is one big dude. He lacks ideal height on paper, but on film he looks like a massive kid with a bunch of bulk packed on his frame. For the most part he is a space eater that can plant himself in a gap and gobble up action that comes his way, but you can't be too fast to judge this big boy. He is not consistent, but flashes good quickness off the ball and will shock you how quickly he can get moving at times. When he can get to the shoulder of a blocker he can plow his way into the backfield. He does a good job of being able to get into gap and stay square. He moves well laterally between the tackles and can be disruptive player. When he brings his hands he can deliver a pop and knock a blocker on his heels. He tends to play high and can let blockers get into his chest, but even still he is tough to move backwards. Tries to engulf ball carries around the neck, but overall a serviceable tackler. Hustles around, but this kid is built to just do damage between the tackles. Can provide pressure as a pass rusher. He can bull rush and collapse pocket. When he gets to half-a-man he will try and work a move and he can be troublesome when he can get to the hip of the blocker. Hailes is a big kid who at the root of it all is a two-gap run stuffer, but there is some more to his game and if he watches his weight he can give you solid reps with some disruption and big plays peppered in.

Something tells me that Larry Johnson, Sr. can do wonders with a kid like this.  Just a hunch.  He's another guy who will have to watch his diet and work hard in the weight room -- he's not exactly a physical specimen right now (maybe that's an old picture, who knows) -- but the potential is certainly there.  

He's definitely quicker than you'd think:

Evan Hailes 2009 US Army All American National Combine (via nbkuk15)

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

Joe Paterno laughs at Pitt's misfortune. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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What a great recruiting season it has been for Penn State. What has made it even sweeter has been watching our little brother to the southwest strikeout on their top targets time and time again.

So this week I was disappointed to see a little life breathed into Pitt fans when they got a verbal commitment from T.J. Clemmings. Of course the message boards spun it around to sound like they stole one from Penn State, but I can't find any evidence that the kid even had an offer from us. But it was cute to see the sPitters rejoicing in their own greatness again.

Which makes it all the more sweeter to see today that no, sorry, T.J. Clemmings is not quite a Panther yet.

Paterson Catholic defensive lineman Trevor "T.J." Clemmings is not committed to Pitt, according to PC head coach Benjie Wimberly.

"He went out there and made a hasty decision [to commit] without any input from his parents or me," Wimberly said Monday night. "He’s going to rethink it and continue the recruiting process."

Pitt message board meltdown in 3...2...1...

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Give me a defensive end and a siren WOOOOOO!!!

Good news this weekend as York, PA defensive end Kyle Baublitz gave his verbal commitment to Joe Paterno over the phone earlier today.

Baublitz was a highly sought after recruit that held offers from Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Clemson, Florida State, Boston College, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Rutgers, and of course, Pitt among others.

 
mmmmm...leftovers

Baublitz is listed as a four star prospect on Rivals and a three star on Scout. There's a pretty large discrepancy between the two as Rivals lists him as the No. 5 defensive end in the country while Scout says he's No. 43. As a junior he had 166 tackles and 1.5 sacks as an outside linebacker. He also blocked three punts.

Baublitz is the eighth verbal commit in this class, but just the second on defense. With Maybin and Evans going pro last season, defensive end was a major need for this class, and Baublitz helps meet that need. There's still room for one more in this class.

Welcome to Penn State, Kyle.

The other day we went through an update on Penn State's recruiting efforts on the offensive side of the ball, so today we'll go through the defense.

Defensive Tackles

Projected Need: 2

Verbal Commits: None

In the last two recruiting classes Penn State has brought in two defensive tackles: Brandon Ware and Jordan Hill. Jared Odrick runs out of eligibility this year, and Tom McEowen, Abe Koroma, and Ollie Ogbu aren't far behind. So Penn State really needs to bring in two defensive tackles in this class.

So far there is nothing in the basket, but signs are looking good with Sharrif Floyd from Philadelphia, PA. Floyd is a five-star prospect and the #3 rated tackle in the country as rated by Scout. They also just got in the game with DaQuan Jones of Johnson City, NY and gave him a scholarship offer.

Personally I feel really good about our chances with both of these guys. Floyd is slow playing things, but I think we're the leader there. He has said he doesn't have a top five, but if he did, Penn State would be in it. Jones just got his offer and plans to visit at the end of this month. I wouldn't be surprised if he commits during his visit or within a week after it.

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