Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1276571
ship with the sta; in the following weeks, and those talks intensi:ed in July when he made it clear that he was thinking about committing. Even though he never visited State College, Cross said he still felt com- fortable deciding this summer. "It just feels like a perfect :t for me," he said. "It feels like home, and I know they'll use me right and get the most out of my ability. They really develop guys, so I know they'll help me get to the next level. I just feel like between the school and the coaches, it o;ers me the best of both sides." A week before his announcement, Cross and his family participated in a two-hour Zoom call with Penn State. In addition to the normal conversations that take place with the coaching sta;, he said he met with people in the sports science, nutrition and strength and conditioning departments. Those discussions helped answer any questions Cross and family may have had ahead of his decision. However, Cross has also done plenty of research on his own since he hasn't been able to visit Penn State. "I want to major in business, and that's a big major at their school. That's one of the best majors there," he said. "Also, I just feel like their program can put me in a great position. They've produced a lot of guys [at tight end]. Really, just their pro- gram overall. It has a ton of history. It's real legendary and prestigious. There's a lot to like about both the college and the team." Cross chose the Nittany Lions over Wisconsin, and he also visited Iowa, Iowa State and Notre Dame. Michigan, Michi- gan State and Purdue were a few other notable schools that o;ered. In the end, relationships proved to be the di;erence. "I feel like Coach [Tyler] Bowen is just a real cool guy," Cross said. "He's been straightforward with me this entire time. Every talk we had, I knew that what he was telling me was the truth. But I also feel like we're the same in some ways. We have the same goals and the same visions for where myself and the team are going." Cross added, "Me and Coach Franklin, we laugh a lot when we get on Zoom. He's fun and likes to keep it casual. He's really done a good job explaining their program and showing me what I need to see, but also keeping it loose and sharing some jokes, too." The Nittany Lions were also expected to add one more player on Aug. 3, as quar- terback Beau Pribula of York, Pa., was nearing a decision as BWI went to press. A member of the Class of 2022, Pribula earned a dozen scholarship o;ers. Ne- braska, Northwestern, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and West Virginia were among the more notable schools that pursued the Central York prospect. "I've been talking to Coach [Kirk] Ciar- rocca and Coach Bowen a good bit. Obvi- ously, I talk to Coach Franklin, too," Pribula said a few days before his an- nouncement. "Penn State does a great job recruiting. They've been getting me on Zoom at least once a month. I've been meeting with the whole o;ensive sta; every time we do that. I also talk to Coach Ciarrocca once a week, and it's the same with Coach Bowen. All of that has been very good." The 6-2, 195-pound Pribula grew up a Penn State fan, as he and his family at- tended games each season. The coaching sta; originally o;ered him as a safety, which is where he primarily played his freshman season, but once they were able to see more :lm of Pribula throwing, Franklin and Ciarrocca decided that they liked him even more at quarterback. Last summer, he attended multiple camps at Penn State, running a 4.6-sec- ond 40-yard dash and a 4.1-second 20- yard shuttle. Those numbers, combined with his sophomore season stats – he to- taled 1,600 yards of o;ense and scored 18 touchdowns in eight games – made Pribula a very important prospect for the Nittany Lions. ■ JOE KRENTZMAN & SON, INC. • Buyers and Brokers of Steel, Iron and Nonferrous Metals • Industrial Scrap Buyers • Container Service Available • Large Service Territory Since 1903 Lewistown, PA • Hollidaysburg, PA • DuBois, PA (800) 543-2000 • www.krentzman.net F irst i n S cra p