Blue White Illustrated

FOOTBALL RECRUITING PSU pursues juco prospects Nittany Lions looking for immediate help on offensive, defensive lines | ow that high school football playoffs are hitting their peak across the Mid-Atlantic region, Bill O'Brien's assistant coaches are putting the final touches on an extremely busy scouting period. Given only a few months to fill the five extra scholarships the NCAA awarded Penn State at the end of September, the staff knows it must chase down every lead as it looks to round out its Class of 2014. Considering how recruiting works these days, with prospects making commitments months earlier than was the case even five years ago, that won't be an easy task. The quick pace puts O'Brien and his assistants in a tough position when it comes to earning a real shot at signing some of the nation's elite players. Seeing the prospects who remain uncommitted go against the best players in their respective state playoffs should prove to be a key when it comes to making that final decision on whether to extend an offer. This wait-and-see approach will likely prompt Penn State to hand out a number of offers around Thanksgiving and in the weeks leading up to the holiday season. However, the same cannot be said about the junior college ranks, as the majority of top juco programs have wrapped up their seasons. Penn State recruiting coordinator Charles London and others on the staff have been monitoring juco prospects all across the nation during the past few months. In recent weeks, they have been looking at the film that has made its way to the Lasch Building, and that has afforded the staff the opportunity N to begin contacting multiple junior college prospects who could make an impact for the Nittany Lions next season. Blue White Illustrated had confirmed as of this writing that the Penn State staff was targeting five offensive and defensive linemen, three of whom hold written scholarship offers. One player whom fans should recognize is Jermaine Eluemunor. A four-star offensive tackle prospect from Lackawanna College, Eluemunor first attracted Penn State's attention in the spring. Anyone who followed his subsequent recruitment knows it's been one for the record books, as the 6-foot-6, 300-pound prospect has now verbally committed to three different programs. His first commitment was to UCLA in June, and about six weeks later he switched to Arkansas. The commitment to the Razorbacks lasted a few months, but eventually he changed his mind, flipping to Texas A&M in late October. So where do the Nittany Lions stand in all this? Eluemunor hasn't said much to the media since making his most recent switch, but sources at Lackawanna have noted that the Nittany Lions have been in steady contact with the nation's top junior college offensive lineman ever since they gained their additional scholarships. BWI had been told earlier this fall that Eluemunor was planning to visit Penn State for the Nebraska game Nov. 23, but that trip is likely on hold in the wake of his switch to Texas A&M. There's still a solid chance that he will make it to University Park in early December. But like all of the junior college prospects Penn State has targeted, Eluemunor will sign his letter of intent on Dec. 18 after graduating, and he will enroll at the school of his choice in January. So O'Brien and offensive line coach Mac McWhorter may get one last shot at signing him. The staff has also extended an offer to offensive lineman Kareem Are, who attends Fort Scott Community College in Kansas. Penn State's top competitors are South Carolina and Florida State. Are took an official visit to Tallahassee on the weekend of Nov. 15-17 and was expected to follow up with official visits to Penn State (Nov. 22-24) and South Carolina (Nov. 29-Dec. 1). He could potentially take one or two additional visits depending on whether he receives more offers. But both Penn State and South Carolina have work to do, as they are both months behind Florida State in terms of contact, making the Seminoles the favorites. On the defensive side, Penn State has extended an offer to one tackle prospect and is keeping an eye on two others. Tarow Barney of Northwest Mississippi Community College is the staff's top target. Having picked up an offer from Penn State in early November, Barney may be the most likely juco prospect to actually sign with Penn State. He currently holds offers from Illinois, Iowa State and a few midlevel Division I programs but has also been in contact with Alabama, his dream school, FOLLOW RECRUITING ONLINE Visit bwi.rivals.com for updated news on PSU's scholarship offers and commitments.

• Cover