The ink is barely dry from National Signing Day but the Penn State staff is already hard at work on the Nittany Lions’ 2011 recruiting class.
And this is also no time to rest here at Nittany Network, so we are quickly out with our Nittany Network 2011 Penn State Hot List. We have a ‘Baker’s Dozen’ list of prospects that are candidates to play someday for the Blue and White.
Our list and the order we have the prospects in is based on a number of factors including: the ability of the prospect, the Nittany Lions’ need at the prospect’s position, and the likelihood of the prospect ending up at Penn State.
1. DB Maika Polamalu
High School: Pottstown (Pa.) Pottsgrove
Considering: Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, Virginia, Villanova, LSU, UCLA, Illinois, Clemson, Colorado and some others
The Skinny: Polamalu’s mother and father went to Penn State and he attended a couple PSU games this past season. It seems safe to say Joe Pa is a prominent player in this battle.
2. TE Ben Koyack
High School: Oil City, Pa.
Considering: Penn State, Ohio State, Pitt, West Virginia, Notre Dame, Florida, Cal and others
The Skinny: Koyack finally received a written offer from the Nittany Lions. He also saw Andrew Quarless catch nine passes on New Year’s Day, which all helps Penn State’s chances. The Nittany Lions and Buckeyes are currently tied for the lead.
3. ATH Terrell Chestnut
High School: Pottstown (Pa.) Pottsgrove
Considering: Penn State, Pitt, West Virginia, Rutgers, Connecticut, Villanova and others
The Skinny: Chestnut is an outstanding talent who could play on either side of the ball in college. Joe Paterno would like to land Chestnut and worry later about where to play him.
4. OL Jay Whitmire
High School: Alexandria (Va.) T.C. Williams
Considering: Penn State, Virginia, Pitt, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Maryland and others
The Skinny: Whitmire is one of the country’s top offensive line prospects and the Nittany Lions would love to land him. He attended the Penn State-Syracuse game and is definitely interested in Penn State.
5. RB Jameel Poteat
High School: Harrisburg (Pa.) Bishop McDevitt
Considering: Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Pitt, Rutgers, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Texas and some others
The Skinny: Poteat has an impressive scholarship offer list which should soon include Penn State in written form.
6. LB Lawrence Thomas
High School: Detroit (Mich.) Renaissance
Considering: Penn State, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Alabama, Oklahoma, UCLA, Colorado, Ohio State, Notre Dame and others
The Skinny: Will ‘Linebacker U’ land the Midwest’s top junior linebacker?
7. OL Angelo Mangiro
High School: Succasunna (N.J.) Roxbury
Considering: Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, Rutgers, North Carolina, Boston College and others
The Skinny: Mangiro is one of the top offensive linemen on the East Coast and another guy I see soon landing a written offer from the Nittany Lions.
8. ATH Michael Caputo
High School: Imperial (Pa.) West Allegheny
Considering: Penn State, Ohio State, Pitt, North Carolina State, West Virginia, Purdue, Syracuse, Penn State and a few others
The Skinny: All of the above schools have offered. Will the Nittany Lions dominate the Keystone State in 2011?
9. DL Kevin McReynolds
High School: Washington, D.C. St. John’s College
Considering: Penn State, Ohio State, Maryland, North Carolina, Kansas State, Missouri, New Mexico, Texas El Paso, and a few others
The Skinny: McReynolds says he would love to get an offer from the Nittany Lions and I see that happening sometime - maybe sooner rather than later.
10. DB Kyshoen Jarrett
High School: East Stroudsburg (Pa.) South
Considering: Penn State, Maryland, Pitt, Miami, Illinois, Rutgers and a few others
The Skinny: Jarrett doesn’t have a Penn State offer yet, but I will be surprised if that doesn’t eventually happen. Provided it does, I tend to like the Nittany Lions’ chances.
11. RB Savon Huggins
High School: Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peters Prep
Considering: Penn State, Boston College, Rutgers, Cal, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Stanford and Duke
The Skinny: All of the schools on Huggins’ list have offered except Penn State. I expect the Nittany Lions to join the others.
12. LB Travis Hughes
High School: Virginia Beach (Va.) Kempsville
Considering: Penn State, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Clemson, West Virginia, East Carolina, North Carolina and a few others
The Skinny: Hughes is definitely interested in Penn State and says the Nittany Lions have indicated they want him.
13. DB Sheldon Royster
High School: Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peters Prep
Considering: Penn State, Rutgers, West Virginia, South Carolina, Boston College, Virginia and some others
The Skinny: Royster is one of the top defensive prospects in the state of New Jersey and has Penn State on his list.
NN 2011 Hot List: February
