By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst

bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com

July 15, 2009

Warren (Mich.) Mott defensive end C.J. Olaniyan, who has a scholarship offer on the table from the Nittany Lions, visited Penn State in March.  Four months later Olaniyan, remains interested in PSU.

“They are pretty high on my list,” Olaniyan said.  “I like them a lot.”

Olaniyan visited Penn State in late March, met a number of the Nittany Lions’ coaches and was given a tour.

“I liked coach (Larry) Johnson,” Olaniyan said.  “It was nice talking to him.  And I liked their facilities.”

The 6-foot-5 and 230-pound Olaniyan made 85 tackles and had nine sacks during his junior season.  He had 14 tackles for loss.  Olaniyan played both defensive end and tight end and caught 33 passes and had three touchdowns.

Olaniyan estimates his scholarship offer total stands at two-dozen.  The list includes Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia Tech and Oregon.

“I’ll narrow it down around late August or early September,” Olaniyan said.  “Hopefully, by late August I’ll have some favorites.”

However, Olaniyan probably won’t come up with a college choice anytime soon after he narrows his list down.

“I’m probably going to take some official visits,” Olaniyan said.  “I’m guessing I’ll take visits to my top five.”

It is not a definite Michigan and/or Michigan State will be among his official visits.

“They’re alright,” Olaniyan said.  “I like them.”

Kurelic’s Comment:  Olaniyan has never seemed overly excited about the two Big Ten in-state schools, Michigan and Michigan State.  The Nittany Lions appear to have as good a shot as anyone.