Blue White Illustrated

RECRUITING 2016 OL earns PSU offer Nittany Lions host in-state prospects for home opener RYA N   S N Y D E R Penn State invited a handful of in-state prospects to Saturday's game against Eastern Michigan, the most notable of whom was Archbishop Wood offensive lineman Ryan Bates. The Class of 2015 member, who hails from Warminster, Pa., was joined by teammate Jake Cooper, a 6-foot-2, 226-pound middle linebacker prospect. "I don't plan on going anywhere else this season," Bates told Blue White Illustrated before the game. "Penn State is close enough that I can make it up here today. After this, it's all about my season." If Saturday's game does end up being Bates' only visit this season, it would suggest that the Nittany Lions are in an excellent position, considering this was his fourth visit to State College since the Blue-White Game in April. In that same time frame, he's only visited two other schools: Virginia and South Carolina. Each of those visits came in July. Bates is expected to make a decision in the spring or summer of 2014. As for Cooper, who's also part of the Class of 2015, it appears that the Nittany Lion coaching staff will be monitoring him closely over the next few weeks. Unlike Bates, he's yet to pick up a verbal offer from Bill O'Brien and his staff. But he could very well earn an offer if he continues to put up the kind of stats he posted in the first two weeks of the season. "I had 14 tackles and a sack in our first game this year, and that all came in the first half," said Cooper. "In our second game, I had eight solo tackles, 12 total, and one fumble recovery. I didn't play in the fourth quarter." Cooper added that he "talked to Coach [John] Butler before the game. They're looking to get my film after the next game or two and he said he's also going to try and make it to our game against [St. Joseph's]. " S e P t e m b e R | blue white illuStRated One additional name for PSU fans to remember is Michal Menet, a Class of 2016 offensive lineman from Exeter High School in Reading, Pa. Only a sophomore, he picked up a scholarship offer from Penn State this weekend after already having received offers from Rutgers and Temple. Other programs, such as Stanford, Notre Dame and Alabama, have all made it very clear that they'll be scouting him throughout the upcoming season. But the Nittany Lions might have a head start. "I've always enjoyed Penn State football growing up," Menet said before kickoff. "I'm excited to be here. " GAME GALLERY  Photos by Bill Anderson OUTSTRETCHED Allen Robinson made two spectacular catches vs. Eastern Michigan: a 43-yard diving reception (right) and a 45-yard TD (above). 7 , 2 0 1 3 6 b l u e w h i t e o n l i n e . c o m

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