Blue White Illustrated

top remaining prospects on Penn State's board. Nicholson, from Monroeville, Pa., visited University Park on Aug. 11. The four-star safety said he's looking to name his top five schools at some point during the upcoming season. Penn State appears to be on pace to make his cut, while Pitt, Michigan, Florida State, Oregon, Miami, Virginia Tech and Michigan State are a few additional programs that are looking to receive an official visit. As for Henry, the Aliquippa, Pa., native has been focused on his upcoming season. Pitt and West Virginia appear to be Penn State's top competition at this point. Look for him to make moves after his season. So who will replace Wangler at linebacker? That most likely won't be determined for a month or so. With the high school season about to get under way, look for the staff to scout a few prospects throughout September and early October. Additionally, Penn State is still pursuing three prospects who are simply too talented to pass up. Mike Gesicki, the 6-foot-6, 215-pound tight end/wide receiver from Manahawkin, N.J., is one to watch. He visited University Park on Aug. 9 and was told that Bill O'Brien believes he's a perfect fit to play the Hback spot, which is the "F" tight end position in O'Brien's offense. The staff is also pursuing another running back: Buffalo native Qadree Ollison. The 6-1, 226-pound bruiser would be an excellent replacement for Zach Zwinak, but many believe he's leaning toward Wisconsin. Finally, it appears that Penn State still has an outside chance to land offensive lineman Alex Bookser from Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Pitt and Ohio State appear to be leading, but Penn State is still in I the hunt. Penn State's long-term success could hinge on 2013 season A s Penn State gets set to begin its second season under NCAA sanctions, the expectations of both fans and media members appear to be much higher than most would have imagined at this point a year ago. Following an 8-4 season that led to Bill O'Brien's selection as national Coach of the Year by several organizations, the coaching staff did an excellent job of capitalizing on its momentum. It not only locked down a 2013 recruiting class that exceeded all expectations, but also kick-started what is developing into a very encouraging Class of 2014. Now, the Nittany Lions are looking to keep the momentum going, and there's no better way to do that than by producing results on the field. That's what's great about sports, but even better about college football. "Winning cures everything," Penn State recruiting coordinator Charles London said. "We have a lot to sell at Penn State. We have great facilities, a great education and a great coaching staff. Our current players are also quality young men, so any recruit who really gives us a look knows that this is a great place to play college football. "But like every school, results on the field are always at the top of the list. We believe that if we can continue our success on the field, then we can get through anything these next few years." With the Class of 2015 becoming a higher priority by the minute, you can make a reasonable argument that this season is the most important one for the Nittany Lions as they work their way through the four-year bowl ban. Alongside two talent-rich classes that preceded them, the 2015 prospects will be leading the charge for Penn State when it becomes eligible for postseason play in '16. So the Nittany Lions can't afford to take a step backward on the recruiting trail. London and his fellow coaches are in excellent shape with five potential four-star prospects in 2015, including offensive linemen Sterling Jenkins and Richie Petitbon, linebacker Ricky DeBerry and defensive backs John Reid and Kareem Ali. More important, all five of those players are off to a fast start when it comes to both scholarship offers and recruiting visits. And that means they could be on pace to make an early commitment next spring or summer. On the field, expectations are higher this year than they were in 2012. People are anticipating a winning season, but while there are plenty of reasons to be positive, there are a number of question marks surrounding the current Nittany Lion squad. Almost all of Penn State's top 2015 recruiting targets have received offers from programs that have won a conference championship in the past few years – Alabama, Clemson, Florida State, to name a few – so a 6-6 record, or even 7-5, isn't really what these prospects want to see. Can Christian Hackenberg or Tyler Ferguson lead the offense the way Matt McGloin did last season? Will Adrian Amos and DaQuan Jones join Glenn Carson as leaders of the defense? Those are just a few of the crucial questions that will help determine whether Penn State can go 8-4 or better this year. Remember, recruits don't look at the opponents a team defeats as much as its overall record. In this sport, every victory counts. Most years, wins dictate bowl placement, but Penn State is playing for much more than that in 2013. It needs wins in order to bolster the program's future. I No pressure.

• Cover