By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

July 2, 2009

The Nittany Lions held a junior day in April and Frederick (Md.) Linganore offensive lineman Robby Havenstein headed north and was in the house.  It was not Havenstein’s first trip to State College. 

Havenstein attended three Penn State games last season as a guest of the Nittany Lions’ coaching staff.  He was on hand as Penn State defeated Oregon State, Michigan and Michigan State.  Havenstein also attended the Nike Football Training Camp at Penn State on May 2.

Needless to say, Havenstein is quite interested in the Nittany Lions.

“I really love Penn State,” he said.  “Penn State has great tradition.  I really like the coaches.  Coach (Larry) Johnson and Coach (Bill) Kenney, I really like them.  I like the college town atmosphere at Penn State.”

Havenstein – who checked in at 6-foot-7 ½ and 346 pounds at the May Nike Camp - was a starter at right tackle his sophomore season and moved to left tackle his junior season.  He helped lead Linganore to a 13-0 record before a state championship game loss last fall.

Havenstein has 15 scholarship offers including Penn State, Wake Forest, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia, Stanford and Kansas State.

When asked if he has narrowed his choices down, Havenstein said, “I haven’t made a set list, but I have a feel for who I like.  But I want to keep that in my mind right now.  Penn State is in there.  I went down to Wake Forest, North Carolina State and North Carolina.  I really like those schools too.  And I went to Virginia and West Virginia.  I’m going to visit Wisconsin and back to Maryland again.”

Havenstein would like to select a college sooner rather than later.

“I’m thinking about getting it out of the way before the (football) season starts,” Havenstein said.  “But if I’m not comfortable with it I’ll take some more visits.”

Kurelic’s Comment:  When one looks at the Nittany Lions’ recruiting board, Havenstein remains one of the stronger possibilities to end up at Penn State.