The commitment to recruiting the southern United States has officially paid off, as Georgia DB Kasey Gaines has signed his Letter of Intent, becoming the newest member of the Penn State Class of 2013.  Kasey is ranked as a 3-star prospect on 247, and was also considering Harvard, Miami (OH) and VMI before signing with the Nittany Lions.  Former defensive coordinator Ted Roof, whose Georgia roots run deep, lead the effort in recruiting Kasey, and even after he left for Georgia Tech, Kasey remained solid in his commitment to Penn State.

While the other three defensive backs in this signing class (Jordan Smith, Anthony Smith, Neiko Robinson) could initially split their time between safety and cornerback, Kasey is a virtual lock to play at safety.  With the limited depth in the secondary we have discussed ad nauseum around here, Kasey could earn playing time as a true freshman, especially if injuries become an issue.

My feeling is that a redshirt year would likely benefit both player and program though, as there are returning players at both safety spots, and some limited depth behind them with players who have a year in the program.  Kasey is obviously a bright kid, as evidenced by the opportunity to attend Harvard, but is a better athlete than he gets credit for.  This is much more than just a depth signing.  I fully expect Kasey to make an impact at PSU early in his career, whether it’s this year or in 2014.

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