Blue White Illustrated

bal commitments in the first two months of recruiting season, they are not assured of a top-10 recruit- ing class or even one of the top three recruiting classes in the Big Ten. As of this writing, 43 members of the Class of 2013 had verbally com- mitted to Big Ten schools. Michigan was leading the way with 16 verbal commitments, and while the Wolver- ines' total was the most of any school in the six power conferences, plenty of other programs have been moving full speed ahead. By early April, 235 prospects had already verbally com- mitted to the pool of high-profile football schools that includes those in the major conferences as well as Notre Dame. So, in reality, it's not just a pleas- ant surprise when a handful of blue- chip prospects announce for your school. Lining up early verbal com- mitments is mandatory anymore for any program that aspires to compete at an elite level. Penn State's new coaching staff knows that quite well. To date, it has issued more than 60 ver- bal offers to upcoming seniors. Since Feb. 1, which was signing day for the Class of 2012, more than 60 prospects have made unofficial visits to Penn State's campus. What follows is a list of the players BWI believes are the top 10 from the Class of 2013. These are the players O'Brien and his staff need to recruit the hardest in order to meet the recruiting needs on Penn State's roster. 1. DAVID WILLIAMS Consid- P E N N S T A T E ' S H O T L I S T RK NAME 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. David Williams Alex Anzalone Anthony Averett Robert Foster Dorian Johnson Tyler Boyd Buddy Brown Shane Jones Darian Hicks 10. Paul Harris POS RB LB Ath. WR OL Ath. LB LB CB WR HT 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-4 2. ALEX ANZALONE Pennsyl vania' s top-rated linebacker and the 16th-best linebacker in the THERE'S MORE! Penn State's recruit- ing board doesn't stop at 10. Who are the next 10 prospects on the Nittany Lions' wish list? Find out at ered the top running back in the Northeast this coming season after rushing for 1,950 yards and 20 touch- downs in 2011. … Has 4.4-second 40- yard speed and is rated by Rivals.com as the 196th-best prospect in the Class of 2013. … Is the No. 1 running back on Penn State's recruiting board. … Wisconsin, South Carolina, Ohio State and Notre Dame are also com- peting for his signature. 12 A P R I L 3 0 , 2 0 1 2 Recruiting Central at www.bluewhiteonline.com. It's free with your subscription to BWI. country according to Rivals.com. ... Lists more than 30 offers, including offers from Florida, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Oklaho- ma, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Alabama and Florida State. … Plays a position that will be a high priority for Penn State this year, with Michael Mauti, Gerald Hodges and Mike Yancich all set to graduate. 3. ANTHONY AVERETT One of the best pure athletes in the Class of 2013. … Can play wide receiver or cornerback at the college level. ... Has 4.4 speed, ran a 6.46 55-meter time in February, and has track and football All-America potential at the college level. ... Totaled 73 tackles, 12 pass breakups and four interceptions in 2011. ... Has 3.2 GPA. ... Penn State, Alabama, South Car- olina, Rutgers and Miami might lead. WT 195 220 185 180 285 175 215 220 175 185 7. BUDDY BROWN Rated by some as the HOME Philadelphia Wyomissing, Pa. Woodbury, N.J. Monaca, Pa. Belle Vernon, Pa. Clairton, Pa. Williamstown, N.J. Cincinnati, Ohio Solon, Ohio Upper Marlboro, Md. SCHOOL Imhotep Charter Wyomissing Woodbury Central Valley Belle Vernon Clairton Williamstown Moeller Solon Frederick Douglass 4. ROBERT FOSTER Rated by Rivals.com as the fourth-best wide receiver in the country and the 26th-best over- all prospect in the Class of 2013. … Had an outstanding performance at the U.S. Army High School All-Amer- ican Junior Combine in San Antonio on Jan. 5. … Lists more than 30 offers but isn't planning to make his decision until January. 5. DORIAN JOHNSON Rated along with Patrick Kugler from North Allegheny High as the top offensive lineman in the WPIAL for the Class of 2013. … Has received a four-star rating from Rivals.com and is listed as the 33rd- best offensive tackle in the country. … Lists 20-plus offers, with Pitt, Penn State and West Virginia appearing to be the leaders. 6. TYLER BOYD Rated by the G&W Recruiting Report as one of the top three prospects in the WPIAL for the Class of 2013. … Led Clairton to its third consecutive PIAA Class A title last fall. … Rushed for more than 2,400 yards and 48 touchdowns in 2011. … Has the ability to be a run- ning back, wide receiver or defensive back at the college level. … Solid stu- dent with a 3.2 GPA. … Lists a dozen offers, with Penn State, Pitt, Notre Dame, West Virginia and Wisconsin most notable on his list. top linebacker in South Jersey for the Class of 2013. … Lists more than a dozen scholarship offers. … Took an unofficial visit to Penn State on April 4. … Boston College, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Pitt, Rutgers, Virginia and Wisconsin have all offered in addition to Penn State. … Rated one of the top 10 prospects in South Jersey. 8. SHANE JONES Rated the 14th-best overall outside linebacker in the country by Rivals.com. … Listed as one of the top three linebackers in Ohio for the Class of 2013. … Totaled 89 tackles, nine tackles for loss and two sacks in 2011. … Lists more than 20 scholarship offers, including offers from Oklahoma, Texas A&M, West Virginia, Wiscon- sin, Nebraska, Arizona, Illinois and Michigan in addition to Penn State. 9. DARIAN HICKS Penn State is looking to sign two cornerbacks in its Class of 2013, and Hicks definitely fits the bill. … Lists 11 scholarship offers, with Michigan State, Penn State and West Virginia at the top of his list. … Will be a three-year starter. … Was named All-Conference as a sopho- more and is rated one of the top five cornerback prospects in Ohio's Class of 2013. 10. PAUL HARRIS One of the fastest-ris- ing players in ACC country. ... Lists close to a dozen scholarship offers including offers from USC, North Carolina, Virginia and North Caroli- na State in addition to Penn State. USC, Auburn and Penn State appear to be his favorites. ... Stands 6-4, 185 and is reported to have 4.5 40- yard speed. ... Took an unofficial vis- it to Penn State on April 4. ch eck us out at gmanstatecollege.co m NEW & IMPROVED MEN U NEW SPECIALS, NEW LOOK 130 Hiester | 237.036 1 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M

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