By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

July 29, 2009

Under Armour All-American defensive end/linebacker Dakota Royer from Manheim (Pa.) Central announced his college choice at a press conference at his high school.  As expected, it was great news for the Nittany Lions.

Royer has become Penn State commitment No. 15 in what is shaping up to be one of Joe Paterno’s best recruiting classes in a number of years.

"Every time I went to Penn State, I just felt at home," Royer said. "I've been up there a lot and I can go up there and even if football was taken out of the picture, I would be happy."

Royer had narrowed his list of over two dozen scholarship offers down to five schools: Penn State, Pitt, Notre Dame, North Carolina and Oregon.  He visited all of those schools at least once - with the exception of Oregon - before announcing a commitment to the Nittany Lions.

The 6-foot-3 and 220-pound Royer made 86 tackles including 11 sacks during his junior season.  Paterno has now landed eight commitments from the state of Pennsylvania and has not missed out on anyone in-state he has offered so far.

Royer plans to graduate early. His last day of high school is Jan. 9 and he will start at Penn State on Jan. 11. The questions that now remain are how the Nittany Lions will use Royer and is a redshirt year in his future.

"They are going to use me like Aaron Maybin - a defensive end-outside linebacker type," Royer said. "If I come in at 240 pounds, I'll play more like a defensive end. If I come in at 220, which I am now, more like a linebacker.

"[Redshirting] kind of comes down to my weight. They need more defensive ends right now. But at 220 pounds, they have more linebackers lined up. It's kind of up to me. I'm going to try to gain the weight so I can play next season."

Royer visited Penn State a number of times, including an early May trip for the NIKE Football Training Camp at Penn State.  At that point, he spent time with two outstanding prospects from the state of Connecticut, running back Silas Redd and linebacker Khairi Fortt.

Redd subsequently committed to Penn State and Fortt has said Penn State will definitely be one of his official visits.  It was obvious at the time the three were developing a bond.  With Royer in the fold, Fortt becomes the final target of the threesome.

Kurelic’s Comment:  Landing Royer was certainly expected.  Nittany Network has been predicting this commitment.  However, it is always good to hear the official announcement.  As far as in-state targets, the next most likely Pennsylvanian for Paterno to land is defensive lineman Sharrif Floyd from George Washington High in Philadelphia.