Blue White Illustrated

junior seasons. He was also named to the All-State first team by the Delaware high school football coaches this past season. The three-star linebacker, according to Rivals.com, is also an elite lacrosse prospect. He verbally committed to North Carolina two years ago as a freshman. However, once he knew he could play football at the Football Bowl Subdivision level, Reeder decided that he'd concentrate on the gridiron during his collegiate career. Since committing to Penn State, Reeder is especially focused on the Nittany Lions. When considering the scholarship reductions and bowl sanctions, Reeder said he completely understands how vital his tenure will be for the future of the program. "I think it's really important to recognize how important my years at Penn State will be," he said. "It's a new era here and I'm really proud to be a part of it. The years that I'm here will be really important when it comes to dictating the program's future. "I want to do everything I can to make sure we get Penn State through the tough times. Then down the road – when Penn State is back on top – I'll look back knowing I helped get the team through one of its toughest times." Reeder comes from solid football bloodlines. He's the son of Dan Reeder, who played fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1986-87. And despite growing up in Delaware, he also has ties to Penn State and other parts of the commonwealth. "Penn State has always been very important to my family," he said. "I have family in Shamokin. They love Penn State. My great-grandfather graduated from Penn State in 1918. If I graduate in 2018 or 2019, it'll be either exactly 100 years after my grandfather [graduated] or right around there. I thought that was pretty interesting how that worked out. I have a lot of cousins and other family members that have gone to Penn State between my great grandfather and me now. "My family has a lot of history with Penn State. It's something that I'm very proud to continue." Reeder isn't the only new Nittany Lion who grew up paying attention to the Penn State football program. Athlete Nick Scott, who verbally committed to Penn State on Feb. 23, is also well aware of the program's history. Born in Lancaster, Pa., the 5-11, 180pound athlete has since moved to Massachusetts and and then to Fairfax, Va., where he currently lives. Throughout his travel, Scott said he's maintained his allegiance to the program that he grew up following. "Honestly, Penn State has just been part M A R C H PENN STATE COMMITMENTS* NAME POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Mark Allen RB 5-7 185 Hyattsville, Md. DeMatha Troy Reeder LB 6-3 232 Wilmington, Del. Salesianum School Nick Scott Ath. 5-11 180 Fairfax, Va. Fairfax HT WT HOME SCHOOL THE HOT LIST* NAME POS Marcus Allen Saf. 6-3 190 Upper Marlboro, Md. Wise Troy Apke WR 6-2 175 Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Mt. Lebanon Alex Bars OT 6-6 290 Nashville, Tenn. Montgomery Bell Noah Beh OL 6-5 245 Scranton, Pa. Scranton Prep Andrew Brown DE 6-4 292 Chesapeake, Va. Oscar Smith Jeremiah Clarke DE 6-5 270 Alexandria, Va. T.C. Williams Anthony Davis DB 6-1 175 Monroeville, Pa. Gateway Jermaine Eluemunor** OL 6-6 300 Scranton, Pa. Lackawanna College Chris Godwin WR 6-2 192 Middletown, Del. Middletown Da'Shawn Hand DE 6-4 245 Woodbridge, Va. Woodbridge Senior Dravon Henry Saf. 6-0 185 Aliquippa, Pa. Aliquippa Thomas Holley DT 6-5 290 Brooklyn, N.Y. Abraham Lincoln Shai McKenzie RB 6-0 212 Washington, Pa. Washington Quenton Nelson OL 6-5 282 Red Bank, N.J. Red Bank Catholic Montae Nicholson DB 6-2 200 Monroeville, Pa. Gateway Jabrill Peppers DB 6-1 210 Paramus, N.J. Paramus Catholic Sharieff Rhaheed DE 6-4 215 Fort Pierce, Fla. Fort Pierce Central DeAndre Thompkins Ath. 6-1 170 Swansboro, N.C. Swansboro Clayton Thorson QB 6-4 197 Wheaton, Ill. Wheaton North Troy Vincent Jr. DB 5-10 181 Baltimore, Md. Gilman Ricky Walker DT 6-2 270 Hampton, Va. Bethel Darius West DB 5-11 197 Lima, Ohio Lima Central Catholic * As of March 6 **Junior college prospect of who I am since I was young," Scott said. "For me and my brother, we grew up playing with Penn State on NCAA [video game] on Xbox. We would create ourselves, make a guy that plays on Penn State. It really was kind of a dream of mine growing up. These guys are recent, but Darryl Clark, Evan Royster, Derrick Williams, a bunch of other guys, those were the guys I grew up watching. I always wanted to be in their position. To play at that level, to rep Penn State, a school I loved growing up, and still love. That's as good as it's going to get." Scott is being recruited by Penn State to play running back, but like the majority of prospects the Nittany Lions are recruiting this year, he could play a variety of positions throughout his career. While he was on campus for junior day, he was able to meet redshirt freshman 6 , 2 0 1 3 2 running back Akeel Lynch, which was something Scott noted that he really enjoyed. "I talked to him about a couple things," Scott said. "By that time, I think the coaches and some of the players had a pretty good idea that I wanted to commit. So he was just telling me that he'll take care of me when I come up for my official visit, that he'll be my personal chaperone when I come up here. "He was a real nice guy. He was saying that he's excited to get to know me and that he'll be helping me out with anything I need." Scott is expected to attend the BlueWhite Game on April 20. This past season, he rushed 80 times for 953 yards and 10 touchdowns. He added two receiving touchdowns and two special teams touchdowns. B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

• Cover