By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

March 23, 2009

One of the top prospects New Jersey is set to visit Penn State on Saturday and the Nittany Lions would certainly love to land a commitment from Kevin Haplea at some point.

The 6-foot-4 and 235-pound Haplea has been a varsity starter at Annandale (N.J.) North Hunterdon since his freshman season, when he played wide receiver.  The past two seasons he has started at both tight end and defensive end.

“I’m being recruited as a tight end, but a few schools are talking about defense,” Haplea said.

Haplea caught 17 passes for 223 yards during his junior season.  He averaged 13 yards per catch and scored twice.  Haplea made 58 tackles including nine sacks.

Haplea is looking at 10 schools right now, and Penn State is one of them.

“Right now I have six written (scholarship) offers,” Haplea said.  “Pitt, Penn State, Syracuse, Miami, Rutgers and West Virginia have offered.  I’m definitely looking at all six.  Those six schools have been interested since the recruiting started.”

Haplea’s offer list could soon grow.

“Florida, Virginia, Clemson and Duke are schools I’m looking at,” he said.  “I think those four are close to offering.  Those are schools farther away that I haven’t seen in person.”

Haplea has visited Penn State and is looking forward to another trip to State College.

“I’m visiting Penn State and Pitt next weekend,” he said.  “Then on Monday I visit Rutgers.  I’ll be at Penn State on Saturday.  I won’t be able to go to their spring game because of baseball.”

Haplea’s first Penn State visit went very well.

“I visited there about a month ago,” he said.  “I got to see the whole campus, the facilities, everything.  Coach (Dick) Anderson showed me, my dad and my twin sister around.  I talked to the tight ends coach, coach (Bill) Kenney, for about 15 minutes.  I loved it there.”

However, Haplea would not go as far as to say Penn State is his leader.

“It’s hard to say who my favorite is,” he said.  “I haven’t seen all the schools yet.”