By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

June 30, 2009

Ever wonder what it’s like to be a standout high school football prospect? Ever wonder what it’s like to have the college football teams you watched on T.V. growing up offer you a chance to play for them? Wonder no more.  From now until National Signing Day on Feb. 3, 2010, Nittany Network will routinely check in with State College High wide receiver and Nittany Lions target Alex Kenney to get a feel for the recruiting process through the eyes of a top prospect.

State College High wide receiver Alex Kenney is as close to a “must get” as anyone the Nittany Lions are currently recruiting.  He is one of the top receivers in Big Ten country, was one of the first prospects to land a scholarship offer from Penn State, has grown up in the shadows of Beaver Stadium, and his father is a Penn State professor.

Enough said.

Kenney’s scholarship offer list includes Penn State, Pitt, Michigan State, Northwestern, Purdue, Illinois, Virginia, North Carolina State, Boston College, Temple and Kentucky, among others.

Kenney has agreed to do a weekly recruiting diary with Nittany Network. As usual, we begin with what has happened on the recruiting front for Kenney over the past week.

On the recruiting front over the past week or so ...

It’s really calmed down.  There haven’t been any new offers.  I have 20.

On Penn State’s camp this past weekend ...

It went really well.  Coach (Mike) McQueary was my position coach throughout the camp.  I learned a lot.  I liked how you focused on one position at the camp.  You didn’t jump around.  You could learn a lot about your position.

On talking to the Penn State coaches at the camp ...

Coach McQueary reiterated the point he wants me on the team.  I was happy to hear that.  Joe Paterno wasn’t there, but Jay Paterno was.  I talked to him a little bit. 

On who were the best players he went against at Penn State’s camp ...

No disrespect to anyone, but I honestly didn’t go against any stud defensive backs.

On who impressed him most at the camp ...

I was mostly impressed with the quarterbacks.  Paul Jones and Robert Bolden, both of those guys were really impressive.  They both have cannons.

On what else he has planned for the rest of the summer ...

I’ll be working on my speed and strength.  I’ll work on becoming a better football player.

On any negatives of growing up in State College just minutes away from Penn State ...

I’ve seen everything there before.  A lot of kids at camp were amazed, but it was really nothing new to me.

On whether growing up so close to Penn State is more a positive in favor of the Nittany Lions or a negative ...

I feel the positives outweigh the negatives.  It will be a factor in my decision.

On when he will make his decision ...

I’ll commit before the season starts.  I would like to do it pretty soon, but you never know.