By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

June 11, 2009

The Nittany Lions would love to land West Chester (Ohio) Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks, the Buckeye State’s No. 1 prospect.  Penn State offered Hicks a scholarship long ago, but their odds of landing him are not great.

However, they may stand a better chance of landing Hicks’ teammate, tight end Alex Smith.  The 6-foot-5 and 225-pound Smith committed to Cincinnati during the winter, but it is not a done deal he will be a Bearcat.

“I haven’t de-committed,” Smith said.  “But I’m going to visit some of the 20 other schools that offered.  I committed to Cincinnati early and I haven’t really seen any other schools.”

Smith is also concerned about a change in the Bearcats’ program.  Tight ends coach Mike Elston will coach the defensive line next season.

“I developed a good relationship with Coach Elston,” Smith said.  “With him coaching the defensive line they are not sure they are going to have a tight ends coach.  They might just have the tight ends go back and forth with the wide receivers and the offensive linemen.”

Smith played wide receiver his sophomore season.  He moved to tight end his junior year and caught 33 passes with six touchdowns.

Smith’s list of scholarship offers includes Penn State, LSU, Michigan, Miami (Fla.), North Carolina, North Carolina State, Illinois, Indiana and Purdue.  He attended Michigan’s barbeque in the Big House last weekend.

“You have to be impressed with Michigan,” Smith said.  “I’ve never seen a stadium like that.  Coach Rod pulled me aside and gave me my own private tour.”

Smith will soon take more trips, and one of them will likely be to State College.

“I definitely want to visit LSU and probably Penn State,” Smith said.  “I want to see Miami of Florida and I would like to see North Carolina and North Carolina State.”

One of Smith’s most recent offers came from Penn State.

“They came and watched me work out,” Smith said.  “They said they loved my film.  Then they offered.  I want to try and get up there.  I hear good things about them.  They definitely have a good program.”