By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

Jan. 29, 2009

Penn State’s class of 2009 will be signed and sealed next Wednesday. But the quest for 2010 recruits in ongoing.

Who do the Nittany Lions want? Who are they competing against for prospects? Here is Nittany Network’s inaugural 2010 Hot List, which offers a look at the names that dominate recruiting headlines in these parts for the next year or so.

1.  Alex Kenney
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 190 lbs.
40 time: 4.35
High School: State College, Pa.
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Virginia, Stanford, Illinois and Boston College
Outlook:  Being right in the Nittany Lions backyard and one of the most talented prospects in the state, Kenney has to sit atop our PSU Hot List.

2.  Ken Wilkins
Position: Defensive End/Linebacker
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 235 lbs.
40 time: 4.6
High School: Washington (Pa.) Trinity
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Ohio State, Pitt and others
Outlook:  Joe Paterno landed Mike Yancich from Trinity last year.  He would like to add Wilkins in 2010.

3.  Seth Betancourt
Position: Offensive Lineman
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 290 lbs.
40 time: 5.15
High School: Philadelphia (Pa.) St. Joseph’s
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Rutgers, Temple, Duke and others
Outlook:  This recruiting season the Nittany Lions landed Mark Arcidiacono.  They have his teammate, Betancourt, in the sights for their next recruiting class.

4.  Ego Ferguson
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 265 lbs.
40 time: 4.7
High School: Frederick (Md.) St. John’s
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Illinois, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina and others.
Outlook:  The Nittany Lions dominated Maryland this recruiting season.  A great place to start for 2010 would be with Ferguson, who has offers from all of the above schools and more.

5.  Dakota Royer
Position: Defensive End
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 220 lbs.
40 time: 4.65
High School: Manheim (Pa.) Central
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Pitt, Illinois, Rutgers, Maryland, Stanford and others such as Notre Dame and LSU
Outlook:  The Nittany Lions seem to have as good a shot as anyone.  All of the above schools have offered - except Notre Dame and LSU.

6.  Brandon Ifill
Position: Wide Receiver/Defensive Back
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 185 lbs.
40 time: 4.5
High School: Pittsburgh (Pa.) Penn Hills
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Pitt, Michigan, Ohio State, Rutgers, Notre Dame, Michigan State, UCLA, Alabama and others
Outlook:  Penn State, Pitt, Michigan and Ohio State are Ifill’s top four choices and the first three have offered.  Ifill attended the Penn State-Michigan State game.

7.  Robby Havenstein
Position: Offensive Lineman
Height: 6-foot-7
Weight: 325 lbs.
40 time: 5.2
High School: Frederick (Md.) Linganore
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Maryland, West Virginia, Michigan, Virginia and others
Outlook:  Havenstein saw the Nittany Lions play in person this past season.  While he does not name any favorites, Penn State seems to be in as good a shape as anyone.

8.  Braylon Heard
Position: Defensive Back/Running Back
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 lbs.
40 time: 4.48
High School: Youngstown (Ohio) Cardinal Mooney
Schools Considering:  Penn State, USC, Iowa and Illinois are Heard’s favorites with Penn State and USC his top two.
Outlook:  Nittany Network broke the news of Heard’s offer when Jay Paterno visited him on Monday.  Being the first to offer could pay off in the end for the Nittany Lions.

9.  Corey Brown
Position: Running Back
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 175 lbs.
40 time: 4.4
High School: Springfield (Pa.) Cardinal O’Hara
Schools Considering:  Florida, Ohio State, Alabama, Colorado. Michigan State, Rutgers, West Virginia, Miami and Penn State
Outlook: The first eight schools are Brown’s top eight.  But Penn State has offered and Brown is a super prospect so he must be included on our Hot List.

10.  Kyle Prater
Position: Wide Receiver
Height: 6-foot-4
Weight: 200 lbs.
40 time: 4.5
High School: Hillside (Ill.) Proviso West
Schools Considering:  Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Wisconsin, Purdue, Penn State and others
Outlook:  Prater is one of the country’s top wide receiver prospects and has offers from everywhere.  He will be a tough one for the Nittany Lions to land.

11.  Zach Zwinak
Position: Athlete
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 225 lbs.
40 time: 4.6
High School: Frederick (Md.) Linganore
Schools Considering:  Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, West Virginia, Virginia and others
Outlook:  Zwinak has offers from Maryland and Rutgers.  A Penn State offer is possible and would catch his attention fast.