TREND
SETTER
In the early 1990s,
PSU helped accelerate
the recruiting process
with its expeditious
pursuit of Joe Nastasi
ong before the NCAA created the
new and revolutionary early signing
period for football recruits, Penn
State made history by accepting a verbal
commitment from a high school player in
the spring of his junior year.
Back in the early 1990s, recruits waited
until their senior seasons had
begun to announce their col-
lege plans. But Joe Nastasi, a
gifted multisport athlete
from Northern Bedford High
School, about 70 miles
southwest of Penn State,
went public with his com-
mitment on April 24, 1993,
during the Blue-White
Game. However, he actually
made his verbal commitment
to coach Joe Paterno about a
month earlier during a coffee break at the
Corner Room restaurant in State College.
Nastasi would go on to become a frequent
starter at wide receiver for three years and
a four-year holder for place kicks. As the
holder, he made more Nittany Lion history
in the famous 1995 "Snow Bowl" with a
late touchdown off a fake field goal that
helped beat Michigan, 27-17.
L
EARLY TO RISE
Nastasi made
Penn State his-
tory by becoming
the first player to
verbally commit
prior to his senior
season in high
school. Photo
courtesy of Penn
State Athletics
H I S T O R Y
