Blue White Illustrated

Penn State nabs wide receiver prospect Three-star Troy Apke chooses Nittany Lions over his father's alma mater, Pitt RYA N   S N Y D E R Penn State's Class of 2014 grew to four members when Mt. Lebanon (Pa.) wide receiver Troy Apke verbally committed to the Nittany Lions. Apke made his third visit to University Park on April 13 and personally informed Bill O'Brien of his decision. "I've been thinking about it for a few weeks now, at least three or four weeks," said the 6-foot-2, 175-pound receiver, a three-star prospect according to Rivals.com. "Penn State has been my favorite school for a while now, so I was just trying to think of what other schools could potentially offer and if I would like them more than Penn State. "When I really thought about it, Penn State just had the entire package. It was the right fit, so I figured why not just get this over with. I couldn't see myself anywhere else." After an impressive junior season in which he amassed 1,048 yards on 54 receptions for the Blue Devils, the three-star prospect began garnering serious Division I interest. He earned offers from Bowling Green, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Toledo before deciding to end his recruitment. While he stayed fairly quiet to the media about his recruitment, many recruiting analysts believed that he was leaning toward Pitt, since his father played linebacker for the Panthers and his former high school coach is now part of Paul Chryst's coaching staff. But that obviously wasn't the case. "My parents don't care where I go," he said in a previous interview. "This is my decision. They're definitely not forcing me to go anywhere." Apke also had met with O'Brien for a one-on-one at junior day in February. During the meeting, the Nittany Lion head coach emphasized how Apke's speed, agility and route running would fit into Penn State's offensive system. The conversation, along with his most recent visit, helped Apke deA P R I L | BLUE WHITE ILLUsTRATEd BLUE-WHITE WEEKEND VISITORS* NAME Marcus Allen Alex Bars Ryan Bates (2015) Jawhaun Bentley Jake Cooper (2015) Tommy Garlick (2016) Mike Gesicki Thomas Holley John Lovett Felix Manus-Schell Michael McGrath Quenton Nelson Qadree Ollison Cameron Phillips John Reid (2015) DeAndre Thompkins Josh Tripp Omar Truitt Ryan Wetzel POS Saf. OT OL LB LB QB TE DT QB DB OT OT Ath. WR CB Ath. OL DB OL HT 6-3 6-6 6-6 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-5 6-5 6-1 6-1 5-10 6-1 6-4 5-10 6-4 WT 190 290 280 245 230 175 215 290 212 180 294 282 210 170 175 170 269 180 290 HOME Upper Marlboro, Md. Nashville, Tenn. Warminster, Pa. Hyattsville, Md. Warminster, Pa. Warminster, Pa. Manahawkin, N.J. Brooklyn, N.Y. Hyattsville, Md. Erie, Pa. Richland, N.J. Red Bank, N.J. Buffalo, N.Y. Hyattsville, Md. Philadelphia, Pa. Swansboro, N.C. Catawissa, Pa. Washington, D.C. Colts Neck, N.J. SCHOOL Wise Montgomery Bell Archbishop Wood Catholic DeMatha Archbishop Wood Catholic Archbishop Wood Catholic Southern Regional Abraham Lincoln DeMatha Cathedral Prep St. Augustine Red Bank Catholic Canisius DeMatha St. Joseph's Swansboro Southern Columbia St. John's College High Colts Neck PENN STATE COMMITMENTS* NAME Mark Allen Troy Apke Troy Reeder Nick Scott POS RB WR LB Ath. HT 5-7 6-2 6-3 5-11 WT 185 175 232 180 HOME Hyattsville, Md. Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Wilmington, Del. Fairfax, Va. SCHOOL DeMatha Mt. Lebanon Salesianum School Fairfax * As of April 17 cide to verbally commit to the Nittany Lions. "I talked to to Coach O'Brien; he's the one that I told I wanted to commit," Apke said. "He was real excited. He got up and shook my hand. He was saying that he'll be here for me, [and] that I'm a great fit for the program." Apke made the trip with close friend and high school teammate Alex Bookser. A three-star offensive lineman, Bookser has more than 20 offers, including a recent offer from Penn State. "He said he liked it. I know he was happy about the offer," Apke said. "We're close friends. I know he still has 1 7 , 2 0 1 3 4 a lot to think about. We honestly don't talk about football all that much because we're both bugged about it all the time. I know he has a lot to think about before he makes any kind of decision when it comes to a top school and stuff like that." Apke now joins linebacker Troy Reeder of Wilmington, Del.; running back Mark Allen of Hyattsville, Md.; and athlete Nick Scott of Fairfax, Va., as members of Penn State's Class of 2014. It is believed that the coaching staff will still take one more wide receiver. Allen and Scott are expected to be in attendance at this weekend's Blue-White Game. B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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