Blue White Illustrated

November 2013

Penn State Sports Magazine

Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/199173

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 19 of 67

verbally committed linebacker, "There's no other atmosphere like that in the country." Currently committed wide receiver De'Andre Thompkins called it "amazing. " "The game was just unreal, added Andre " Robinson, a junior running back from Bishop McDevitt High in Harrisburg, Pa. "The fans were crazy, and the game was awesome. [Penn State] winning the game was even better. I could definitely see myself being part of that program. " The environment also helped Penn State's effort with in-state run-on prospects. "It was the greatest game of football I've ever watched, and to be able to see the atmosphere inside of Beaver Stadium was unbelievable, said offensive lineman Travis " Krall of Milton, Pa. "Being at that game really opened my eyes to all that Penn State has to offer. " On the field, the Wolverines were playing for their undefeated record, their conference championship hopes and their bowl standing. The Nittany Lions were playing for none of that, but if Jenkins' view is representative of his fellow recruits, then Penn State's victory made a lasting impression. "They could have lost the game and I still would feel the same way," Jenkins said. "Seeing their atmosphere and how hard they play, that's all that mattered to me." I Penn State adds walk-on K/P prospect Penn State added an athletic kicker to its Class of 2014 when Troy Stivason verbally committed on Oct. 8. Stivason, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect from Athens, Pa., will join the roster next fall as a walk-on, bypassing a scholarship offer from Buffalo. Stivason attracted interest from Akron, Cincinnati, North Carolina State and Texas Tech, too, and with time, he might have garnered additional offers. But he STIVASON decided to commit to Penn State, the college football team that he grew up following. Due to the scholarship restrictions, Penn State is not offering a grant to a kicker in this cycle, but assistant coach Mac McWhorter recently informed Sti- vason that he still is the No. 1 kicker on the staff's recruiting board. If he were to become a Nittany Lion – which they certainly wanted – he'd have to leave a full-ride scholarship on the table. "It's something that me and my dad [Jim] talked about, Stivason said. "It's " hard to pass up a scholarship. Then again, it's even harder to pass up a childhood dream. " Penn State projects Stivason as a kicker and kickoff specialist, but he also has the ability to punt. Halfway through his senior season, he's averaging 35.7 yards per attempt, and as a junior he pinned 10 of his 25 punts inside the 20-yard line. But his ability to kick field goals is what caught Penn State's eye. As a junior, he connected on seven of his 12 field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder. Through six games in 2013, Stivason had only one field goal attempt, which he converted from 40 yards out without a tee. He's also averaging a touchback on 44 percent of his kickoffs. He impressed coaches at Penn State's Advanced Skills Camp last summer. In addition to kicking, Stivason also plays on both sides of the line of scrimmage. He's played wide receiver, quarterback, defensive back and he's returned a punt. – TIM OWEN PENN STATE CLASS OF 2014 COMMITMENTS* NAME POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Marcus Allen Mark Allen Troy Apke Noah Beh Mike Gesicki Chris Godwin Michael O'Connor Troy Reeder Nick Scott Johnathan Thomas De'Andre Thompkins Troy Vincent Jr. Antoine White Daquan Worley Saf. RB WR OL TE WR QB LB Ath. RB Ath. DB DT DB 6-1 5-7 6-2 6-5 6-6 6-2 6-5 6-3 5-11 5-11 6-1 5-10 6-2 5-10 187 185 175 250 215 192 223 232 180 215 170 181 267 175 Upper Marlboro, Md. Hyattsville, Md. Mt. Lebanon, Pa. Scranton, Pa. Manahawkin, N.J. Middletown, Del. Bradenton, Fla. Wilmington, Del. Fairfax, Va. Danvers, Mass. Swansboro, N.C. Baltimore, Md. Millville, N.J. Coatesville, Pa. Wise DeMatha Mt. Lebanon Scranton Prep Southern Regional Middletown IMG Academy Salesianum School Fairfax St. John's Prep Swansboro Gilman Millville Coatesville THE CLASS OF 2014 HOT LIST* NAME POS HT WT HOME SCHOOL Shawn Boone Jason Cabinda Thomas Holley Melvin Keihn Brandon Lee Montae Nicholson DB LB DT LB LB DB 5-10 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-2 6-2 174 220 290 220 203 200 West Palm Beach, Fla. Flemington, N.J. Brooklyn, N.Y. Baltimore, Md. Indianapolis, Ind. Monroeville, Pa. Dwyer Hunterdon Central Abraham Lincoln Gilman Lawrence Central Gateway * As of Oct. 20

Articles in this issue

Archives of this issue

view archives of Blue White Illustrated - November 2013