By Bill Kurelic, NN Recruiting Analyst
bkurelic@nittanynetwork.com
Sept. 14, 2009

Joe Paterno and his staff have done it again in the state of Maryland.  The Nittany Lions had great success in Maryland with their 2009 recruiting class, and have a 2010 commitment from Baltimore (Md.) City College wide receiver Adrian Coxson, the No. 102 prospect on the ESPNU 150.

Paterno has now added another Maryland star to his 2010 class: running back/linebacker Zach Zwinak from Frederick Linganore.

Zwinak had over a dozen a scholarship offers including Penn State, Maryland, West Virginia, Michigan, Stanford, Cal, Boston College, Virginia Tech, Pitt, Rutgers, Cal and Stanford before he selected the Nittany Lions. He is the top fullback prospect in the country according to ESPN Scouts Inc.

Zwinak visited Penn State near the end of May, and also attended the Nike Football Training Camp in State College on May 2 - check out video of Zwinak from the camp below.

The 6-foot-2 and 230-pounder has been a starter at both running back and linebacker since the beginning of his sophomore season.  Zwinak rushed for 435 yards and averaged over eight yards per carry that season.  He made 41 tackles including eight for loss.

Zwinak rushed for 1,447 yards, averaged 10.9 yards per carry and scored 19 times during his junior season.  He made 53 tackles including 11 for loss.  Zwinak forced seven fumbles with his hard-hitting style.

Zwinak is a powerful young man who runs well and is very athletic. 

“I think he’ll start off there in the backfield,” Linganore coach Rick Conner said.  “They recruited him for the backfield. Not H-back. Not tight end. He’ll be in the backfield.

“He’s like anyone else.  Once you carry the ball, you like to do that.  But he doesn’t care, he just loves football.”

In addition to his May visits, Zwinak also visited Penn State last football season, attending the Penn State-Michigan game along with offensive line teammate Robby Havenstein, who the Nittany Lions have also offered.

Kurelic’s Comment:  Zwinak has told me he prefers offense, but I like him better at linebacker.  If he plays on offense, I see him as a fullback.  But it would not shock me if he eventually winds up at linebacker for the Nittany Lions.