Catch the Cure is Adam’s charity project to raise money for project A.L.S. It began just a few short months ago and has blown away just about everyone’s expectations. The total raised so far is over $50,000.

“$20,000 was our goal, originally and we hit that within like 48 hours, which was awesome. Since then, Cleveland Brothers has pledged to match the total, so we’ll raise well over $100,000 when it’s over.”

On his high school football team:

“We’ve lost 3 games by a total of like 10 points. We just lost a touch game to Bishop-McDevitt, one of the best teams in the state by 10 points, so we have 4 losses but if we win this week, we’ll probably host a first round playoff game.”
On friend, teammate and PSU recruit Andrew Ford:

“Andrew is one of my best friends and we talk about it all the time. He doesn’t have any offers yet but he’s at a point where the MAC schools are telling him ‘you’re not going to come to a MAC school so we’re not going to bother recruiting you’ but the big schools haven’t offered yet. He’s in an in-between phase right now. I just tell him not to compare himself to me because offering a tight end and offering a quarterback are two different things. The quarterback is the guy the program is going to be built around for four years, so they’re going to take a little more time. At the end of the day, you don’t need to have 40 offers, you just need to have one school that believes in you and one school that you believe in. I’m confident that he’s going to find that school soon.”

On Bill O’Brien and the Penn State offense:

“I don’t think this offense has scratched the surface of where it can go. O’Brien says that all the time. I don’t think this offense is close to reaching it’s full potential. Obviously their tight ends are having a great season, leading the country in receptions. It just provides you with such a matchup problem when you have guys like Kyle (Carter).”

On the Ohio State Whiteout:

I’ve been to a lot of games all across the country and I’ve been to a lot of Penn State games and I haven’t seen a place like that. I know a lot of the recruits were blown away by that. Being on the field and seeing the student section it’s a neat experience and I’m glad they got to experience it.”

On classmate Christian Hackenberg:

“Christian has been completely committed to Penn State ever since the beginning.  I think all of us were taken aback at one point because a lot of things had changed with the sanctions and the bowl ban. He was quiet during the summer for about a month but people should know that Christian didn’t have a phone for about 3 weeks in August because he goes to a military academy and they take their phones. I think Christian is 150% committed to Penn State. All we talk about now is playing together and getting on campus soon.”

On the knee injury:

“The knee feels great. I’m running under water and jogging on land some. Might start running a little harder soon. We’re being aggressive but also being careful. I’m not trying to rush it back in six months. I’ve also had a lot of time to work out my upper body and I feel as solid as I’ve ever been, physically. I feel like I’m ready to start up at Penn State in January.”

Adam isn’t setting the spring game as a goal but will play in it if he’s ready.

The last day to donate to Catch the Cure is November 18th. Be sure to check out the site, catch-the-cure.com for details. Adam started this after he tore his ACL and his accomplishments off the field have already eclipsed what he has done on the field in his high school career. His efforts to raise money for Project A.L.S are truly remarkable.

As was previously stated, the Ohio State game was a big one, in terms of recruiting, for the Penn State Nittany Lions. The atmosphere alone was enough to influence kids, regardless of the final score.

One kid who didn’t need influenced was Richy Anderson Jr, Maryland running back and son of former Penn State running back, Richie Anderson. Yes, the spelling is different…that’s how they roll. Richy had since stated that he’d only wanted to play at Penn State his whole life, yet had committed to Maryland in June because he did not feel confident that a Penn State scholarship offer was coming.

However, later in the summer, that Penn State offer did come. And on Sunday, following his visit to Penn State for the Whiteout, the younger Anderson decommitted from Mayland and gave his pledge to the Penn State coaching staff. Anderson becomes the 2nd player to decommit from Maryland for Penn State, joining OL Tanner Hartman.

Though a bit under-sized, Anderson is a good all-around back. This offer wasn’t received simply because he’s a legacy, which is evident from his offer sheet.

Richy Anderson Jr.
5’11″ 175 lbs.
Frederick, MD

Scout.com    *** 
Rivals.com   ***
247Sports    ***

OFFERS:
Maryland
Temple
Wake Forest
Rutgers
Boston College

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Kasey Gaines, Penn State Welcomes YOU! photo by Rob Christy-US PRESSWIRE

Penn State was able to reel in another southern prospect on Wednesday night when Loganville, GA defensive back Kasey Gaines gave his verbal commitment to the Nittany Lions, according to BWI.

Kasey is listed as a three star safety by ESPN but is unrated by the major scouting services. However, both Scout and Rivals credit Kasey with a 4.5 40 yard dash which is solid speed at the safety position.

He camped at Penn State over the summer and reported an offer shortly after.

As a junior in 2011, Kasey Gaines reported 93 tackles, including seven tackles for loss. He also had five interceptions and 13 pass break-ups on his way to being named a first team all-state safety.

Gaines joins Neiko Robinson, who committed over the summer as southern defensive backs in the Penn State class of 2013.  It’s clear that the Nittany Lions coaching staff is addressing the secondary as a concern and they’re going south do so. Along with Jordan Smith, there are currently three DBs committed to Penn State.

Kasey Gaines
5’10″ 160 lbs.

OFFERS:
Harvard
Miami (OH)
VMI
Howard

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

You originally committed to Rice in December, had anyone from Penn State contacted you at all before that?

 ”No sir. The first contact I had with Penn State was when Coach Hixon called in January.”

 Many people think that choosing Penn State over Rice is a no-brainer, but I know you struggled with the decision. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

“Rice had recruited me the longest of my finalists. I had gotten to know them the best and all that was left was to go visit which I did in January. In the eight months before that, they had recruited me, they had offered me, they had flown over from Houston to Georgia and it’s not like they have the highest budget, as far as football goes. They had really shown that they wanted me. I had sat down with all the coaches and gone through every aspect of the recruiting process that you could possible go through. You need to go somewhere that you’re wanted, and that goes a long way. They are a class act. I could talk to you for days about Rice University. They’re heading in the right direction. They know what they wanna do and they know how to get there. I have the utmost respect for them. I had fallen in love with Rice. I had picked them, I was ready to sign with them, all that. They’re top notch as far as academics goes…but a Penn State degree isn’t anything to sneeze at either. They’re up there as far as academics goes, but they’re also up there as far as football goes. And Rice isn’t it, yet. So, playing top level football and getting a top level degree is- I couldn’t ask for more.”

What was your initial impression of Coach O’Brien?

“He came off as a no-nonsense guy. That was the first thing. He knew what he wanted to do and he knew how he wanted to get it done. You could tell he had a goal or vision toward what he’s trying to do. He doesn’t just know where he wants to go, he knows how he wants to get there. He seemed like a blue collar guy who loves football and knows football.”

You were rated across the board, mostly as a three star. I’ve read where a scout called your accuracy “borderline elite.” You have the arm and above-average speed (4.68 40). You were recruited by some big schools, but the offers never came. Why do you think that is? 

“The rankings don’t mean anything to me. A lot of that stuff is bogus. I play down here in the heart of the SEC and it’s not unusual for me to go every single week, playing against at least one four or five star football player down here and I’ve been extremely successful against every single one that I’ve ever played against. I can play with the best of em, whether my Rivals rating says it or not, I can do it. I proved I can do it, you just have to come watch. 
They all wanted to see me in camp. I’ll be honest, over the last year or year and a half, I’ve grown a ton as far as weight and even height. I got knocked for my size but at the same time, I’d go to camps and just light it up- make all the throws and make them well. I’d perform really well at camps but then it would be ‘Well he played in a veer offense his junior year, or he’s too small or Look, nobody else has offered so there must be something wrong with him, even though he just lit up our camp.
As far as not getting those big offers, I was on plenty of boards, I was really high on plenty of boards. I got offered by Mississippi State when I told them I was committing to Penn State. No one knows that because I didn’t report it. There was no need to, because I was going to Penn State. I called them to tell them I had committed and he said ‘but you haven’t come on an official visit yet!’ They had been dragging me along and then all of a sudden they wanted me. 
I was sitting in Jimbo Fisher’s office and he told me that if they didn’t get Jameis Winston (#11 overall player in the country), I was the kid that they want. I was on plenty of boards and for whatever reason, they always ended up getting whatever guy they wanted ahead of me. I guess that’s just how it happens sometimes.”

What was your proudest high school moment, athletically?

“If I had to pick one, this past year we played an important game toward getting our regional championship. We came out, turned the ball over, fumbles, miscues on special teams and we were down 20-0 at halftime. I gave my little ‘Tebow speech’ at halftime to whoever would listen. I got a little loud- I gave my two cents. We came out and the first play of the 2nd half, I ran over a safety. Just ran him flat over, got up, got the crowd into it and it really, not being cocky, it really ignited the rest of our season to the semi-finals. We ended up winning that game 28-20. Couldn’t be stopped. Scored on four straight series. That one play really ignited the rest of our season. We were down 20-0 and all of a sudden we couldn’t be stopped. From that second half and everything that came from it was probably my proudest athletic moment in high school…Other than signing with Penn State.”

What number will you be wearing at Penn State?

“I asked for either #3 or #12, hopefully I get #12.”

What are your goals as a freshman at Penn State?

“Becoming the best football player that I can possibly be. If that’s the fourth string quarterback, then so be it. If it’s the starting quarterback, then so be it. My goal is to be the best I can be and work my tail off.”

If you want to read more, yes MORE, from Steven Bench, check out our Facebook page!

Re-introducing Penn State’s 2012 Recruiting Class: 

OG Anthony Stanko

DE Evan Schwan

CB Jake Kiley

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Gary Wooten, Penn State Welcomes YOU!!! photo by Rob Christy-US PRESSWIRE

Much like the addition of Arizona linebacker Brennan Franklin to the 2012 recruiting class, the Penn State staff has now added another linebacker to that recruiting class. By the way, I know I’m a little late on this…I was trying to get the details because it’s a bit confusing.

Florida’s Gary Wooten took an untraditional path to college football, but his services will be appreciated greatly by the Penn State faithful. After graduating in 2011, Wooten was set to enroll at college last summer. However, do to either his grades, or his family wanting him to stay closer to home, things fell through and Wooten sat out the entire 2011 season from football. I read that he qualified academically, but it was late. If that was the case, it shouldn’t have held him out for the season. I’m inclined to believe it was more of a family issue.

Gary is a Miami product who was rated as a three star player by Rivals. He played defensive end in high school at 6-foot-3, 198 pounds and recorded 72 tackles and 12 sacks as a senior. He has apparently added 20 pounds to that frame in the last year and is projected as an outside linebacker/ hybrid DE in Ted Roof’s defense.

Wooten was originally offered scholarships by Western Michigan, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Washington State and Arkansas. Roof was familiar with Wooten from his time at Auburn and Central Florida.

His FILM shows a kid with a terrific motor who never quits on a play. Make sure to check out the 1:20 mark where he runs down the running back from behind. That’s impressive speed.

This commitment is significant as Penn State technically now took three linebackers in the class of 2012: Nyeem Wartman, Brennan Franklin and now Gary Wooten. With the scholarship limit of 15 this year, this linebacker depth allows them to focus on other positions for the class of 2013. Wooten is expected to enroll this week and begin practicing.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Offer from Penn State! Believe whatever and listen to the media, but it’s a honor to be recognized by a program with such tradition. Blessed

— Kasey Gaines(@KG_III) August 19, 2012

Gaines has offers from Harvard,  Howard and VMI to go along with Penn State and according to multiple reports, the  5’10″ 160 pound safety has Penn State at, or near the top of his list.

Gaines camped at Penn State in June, so it’s fair to assume that his interest has been building for some time. The Georgia-to-Penn State trip is not a particularly easy one to make.

Despite being listed as a cornerback on Rivals, his FILM show him playing more of a safety role. It will be interesting to see if he gains some weight to play safety at the next level or if Ted Roof and the staff feel that his coverage abilities dictate a move to corner.

Both Scout and Rivals credit Gaines with a 4.5 40 yard dash time, so speed should not be an issue at the next level. His 5 interceptions and 9 tackles for loss as a junior are also very impressive numbers.

Kudos to the staff for digging deep and finding players with ability and upside. Most importantly, they are finding kids who are still very interested in Penn State, despite the sanctions.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Another part of the equation is the recent addition of Arizona linebacker Brennan Franklin to the 2012 recruiting class. This is a move worth noting, as he essentially took the spot of one linebacker in this class. I’m glad that’s not confusing at all…

There are currently two linebackers committed (Zayd Issah, Brandon Bell) but there’s a rumor that Zayd may not be committed for much longer. Also, players like Al-Rasheed Benton, Buddy Brown and Jonathan Walton are all still interested, according to various reports. The point is, Penn State can probably get as many linebackers as they want in this class, sanctions be damned. The problem comes back to that darn scholarship limit.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Smith seemed happy to have the process over. After camping at Illinois, Maryland and Penn State this summer, he seemed confident in his choice. Jordan also told me that in addition to Colorado, Hawaii and Kansas, Illinois had also offered him a scholarship. He was also being recruited by Vanderbilt and Ohio State.

Jordan explained that he grew up a Penn State fan, pointing to the fact that his brother’s teammates Navarro Bowman and Derrick Williams went to Penn State.

He’s unsure if he’ll be playing corner of safety in Ted Roof’s defense, saying “I only know that I’ll be enrolling as a defensive back.” When will he enroll?

“I will be graduating in the winter and enrolling at Penn State in January.”

That’s crucial information because it allows the staff to count him toward the 2012 recruiting class, not against the limit of 15 scholarships that they have in 2013. With both Smith and Adam Breneman enrolling early, the staff will be allowed to give scholarships to 17 kids from this class. That’s assuming they’re the only two early enrollees.

Jordan doesn’t yet have an official visit planned to Penn State this fall, but noted that he definitely intends to be at the opener September 1st against Ohio, saying “It’s going to be crazy.”

Jordan Smith was the first player to commit to Penn State following the sanctions levied by the NCAA president Mark Emmert. Without even enrolling at Penn State, he has already etched out a place in the hearts of many Nittany Lion fans with his commitment and the timing of it.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Will tweeted:

GREAT time at Penn State! Coach O’Brienmade me remember why I committed in the 1st place. I’m 100% committed to the greatest college.

— 4a Mvp (@Will_Fuller7) July 28, 2012

Then tweeted:

A Bowl game? I got 108,000 behind me. Not worried about a bowl game.

— 4a Mvp (@Will_Fuller7) July 28, 2012

However, Will recently received an offer from Notre Dame. He found that offer enticing enough to take a visit to South Bend over the weekend. That offer apparently went well, as Ryan Snyder of BWI has confirmed that Will Fuller committed to Brian Kelly and the Fighting Irish.

Will Fuller has confirmed, he’s now verbally committed to #NotreDame

— Ryan Snyder (@BWISnyder) August 5, 2012

Will camped at Penn State in June with the intentions of earning an offer from the staff, and he succeeded. Within days of receiving the verbal offer from Penn State, he committed and immediately began doing some recruiting of his own.

The loss of Fuller leaves Penn State without a wide receiver committed to the class of 2013. Will is the second recruit to decommit from Penn State since the NCAA levied sanctions two weeks ago.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

According to the NCAA’s website:

“Four-year reduction of grants-in-aid. For a period of four years commencing with the 2013-2014 academic year and expiring at the conclusion of the 2016-2017 academic year, the NCAA imposes a limit of 15 initial grants-in-aid (from a maximum of 25 allowed) and for a period of four years commencing with the 2014-2015 academic year and expiring at the conclusion of the 2017-2018 academic year a limit of 65 total grants-in-aid (from a maximum of 85 allowed) for football during each of those specified years. In the event the total number of grants-in-aid drops below 65, the University may award grants-in-aid to non-scholarship student-athletes who have been members of the football program as allowed under Bylaw 15.5.6.3.6.” (http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/20120723/21207232).

There are two different elements one must understand in reference to the four-year reduction in scholarships portion of the sanctions:

1) A maximum of 15 scholarships available (25 maximum, typically) per year during the 2013-2014 to 2016-2017 seasons.

2) A maximum of 65 scholarship athletes (85 maximum, typically) on roster per year during the 2014-2015 to 2017-2018 seasons.

The reason for the two-year hiatus before implementing the roster reduction (85 to 65) is to allow all current scholarship student-athletes to maintain their status on scholarship. This is one spot the NCAA is correct; there is no way Penn State could drop from 85 to 65 scholarship players by this upcoming season, unless 20+ student-athletes transferred or completely lost their scholarship – the NCAA couldn’t bank on the transfers (and that extreme an exodus is highly unlikely) or allow kids who earned their scholarship to arbitrarily lose out. Waiting two years until the 65-athlete roster limit, paired with two previous years of reductions in available scholarships, allows a natural decrease in total roster numbers without any current student-athletes losing their earned scholarship. 

You’re probably aware by now that Silas Redd has decided to transfer to USC where he will finish his athletic career. There are a couple of other shifts taking place in the college landscape, as well.

Rob Bolden visited LSU and will indeed start camp with the Tigers today. He joins a QB depth chart that previously only had one player with actual playing experience. It’s hard to say if Bolden will be able to beat out the current redshirt freshman for the backup role but Penn Staters wish Bolden the best.

TE Kevin Haplea recently visited Florida State and has decided to transfer and play for the Seminoles. As far as depth, this isn’t a real blow. The Nittany Lions are deep at tight end and having freshman Jesse James as well as 2013 commit Adam Breneman on the way sets the position up for a few years to come.

Incoming freshman DT Jamil Pollard intends to enroll at Rutgers, as opposed to Penn State. Jamil committed last summer, then lost his offer due to academic reasons. He fought to earn it back, which he did, just weeks after Joe Paterno was fired. Pollard then committed to Penn State in late December, when Penn State had no real direction to speak of. This one comes as a bit of a shocker, as Jamil was admittedly a Penn State fan growing up. It’s also a blow because 2013 recruit Greg Webb decommitted just a couple weeks ago. That’s the loss of two young 4 star defensive tackles in a month’s time.

News came out of Norman last night that Oklahoma has some interest in WR Justin Brown. It’s tough to gauge how serious the conversations have been and it was noted that OU has “backed off” but the senior wideout did not write off a potential transfer. He is set to be Penn State’s leading returning receiver and is a player I expect to blossom under new WR coach Stan Hixon…provided he stays at Penn State.

A recruiting note worth mentioning, LB Zayd Issah, who is set to visit Penn State this weekend and make a decision, was offered by Oregon last night. I can tell you that his interest in Oregon before committing to Penn State was very high, as he is originally a west-coast guy. Zayd remains committed to Penn State, but this is a situation worth monitoring.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

I talked to people from Altoona, Johnstown, Pittsburgh, Philly, Bellefonte, Philipsburg, and Harrisburg. One guy and his son drove up from Kentucky.

There were hoards of students who walked over from their dorm rooms in East and West or North Halls or from their apartments downtown. There were players from other Penn State teams, wearing their colors, their team jackets, and their numbers.

Of course there was also the fleet of media vans and trucks, with the reporters and camera men rushing around trying to get the best images or statements.

The occasion was a 6 a.m. rally, thought up at the last minute by a local radio host, designed to show support for the players and coaches on this Penn State football team.  The idea was to meet at the entrance to the Lasch Football Complex and greet the players as they arrived for their Tuesday workout.

I expected to see a couple hundred people, but instead there were at least a thousand, maybe two, all chanting and cheering as if this was a pep rally and Ohio State was coming in tomorrow.

And when the band showed up, playing all the football favorites, all of this officially turned into “An Event.” Sort of like midnight madness with doughnuts and coffee instead of whatever they eat and drink before midnight.

Everyone I talked to, though, no matter what their exact words were, all had the same thoughts as to what this rally was really all about: we are here to show our support and enthusiasm for the players on this football team. We are like a family, and at times like this, families pull together.

At about 6:15 the first of the players began to show up. All of them were greeted with cheers, shouts of encouragement, signs, and high-fives. Some of the players were followed by newsmen with microphones and cameras. Some walked in alone, some in  small groups. Some smiled and waved and signed autographs. Others stared ahead intently, maybe already focusing on the job at hand and the season to come. Still others seemed to be taken aback by the size of the crowd and didn’t quite know how to react.

It didn’t matter. The all received the same loud and raucous welcome, the same chants of “We are number one” and “We are Penn State.”

By 6:45 all of the players had pretty much arrived, and with the band still playing and the radio people still broadcasting,  people began to drift away, while some of the fans that stayed longer were allowed in to watch some of the workouts.

One couple, all dressed in blue and white, passed by me on the way out. I said hello, and the guy looked at me and said, “That was pretty amazing, wasn’t it?” Yes it was.

On the way to my car, I walked around the site where they are building the new hockey complex. It is a giant mess now, holes everywhere and everything scattered all around in big piles. But soon they are going to start building, and that giant mess will slowly become one of the finest college hockey facilities in the country.

There is a different kind of construction that will be going on in the Lasch Building, and they are going to try to build something that will be just as impressive as that hockey building.  Maybe that work started today.

“It’s a new era. Changes were made in 1966 probably. Changes are going to be made in 2012 as well. Jump on board. Support this team and support these players.”

My gut instinct is that the jerseys will have the names on them, at least for the opening game against Ohio. These players have been through a lot and the one who are sticking beside the Penn State football program and university through these sanctions deserve to be recognized. As a person who loves the traditional basic blues, I am 100% for this move.

But what else could be in store?

When Temple visits Penn State on September 22, the fans will participate in a “blueout”, wearing all blue in an effort to raise awareness for abused children. What if the football team participated, as well?

If the first time that Penn State changed their uniforms in 60 years was in an effort to help raise awareness for child abuse, would you protest that? This is another move that I think people should get behind. Not sure how the black shoes would play here…but they could figure something out.

What about on October 27th when Penn State hosts Ohio State for the night game whiteout? Penn State usually wears their home blues for those games but that could be a spot for a little uniform tweak, no? Imagine if the Nittany Lions came out of the tunnel to an audience clad in all-white while wearing these:

Nothing drastic, but enough to remind people that this is a new era of Penn State football. Also, the white on white would be visually appealing and if you’re going to break something out to pump the players up, why not do it against the Buckeyes?

Other teams have been able to use alternate uniforms as a recruiting tool in the past. Oregon is notorious for it and the small changes that Michigan has made in the last couple years have been very popular with the younger crowd. O’Brien and his staff are in a tough spot and they need to get creative when it comes to bringing in top recruits.

Plus, I still think we’re a few eras away from something drastic like this…

…but who knows!

“Penn State has taken a lot of punches over the last six months, and it’s time to punch back.”…”Get on board.”
~Bill O’Brien

VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE  TO SEE OTHER (BETTER) PROTOTYPES.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

TE Adam Breneman, QB Chritian Hackenberg, DE Garrett Sickels,  OG Brendan Mahon, OT Andrew Nelson and WR Will Fuller made the trip to speak with the staff and each other about their commitments to Penn State.

Before today, Mahon, Sickels and Breneman, to an extent, had re-affirmed that they were still 100% committed, while the others wanted some answers before making that statement. I’ve been told that after meeting with O’Brien and discussing the future, all six players have decided that they are 100% committed.

And then they almost broke twitter.

Love this 2013 class. @AdamBreneman87 @BigBabyMahon @Will_Fuller7 @DorianJ64 @GarrettSickels @ANelson59

— Christian Hackenberg (@chackenberg1) July 28, 2012

-Christian Hackenberg

GREAT time at Penn State! Coach O’Brienmade me remember why I committed in the 1st place. I’m 100% committed to the greatest college.

— 4a Mvp (@Will_Fuller7) July 28, 2012

-Will Fuller

100% committed to Penn State and Coach O’Brien. Love these guys. @chackenberg1 @BigBabyMahon @GarrettSickels @ANelson59 @Will_Fuller7

— Adam Breneman (@AdamBreneman87) July 28, 2012

-Adam Breneman

We are the 2013 class. @BigBabyMahon @chackenberg1 @AdamBreneman87 @Will_Fuller7 @ANelson59

— Garrett Sickels (@GarrettSickels) July 28, 2012

-Garrett Sickels

#RestoreTheRoar wouldn’t want to do it with anyone but these guys @BigBabyMahon @Will_Fuller7 @GarrettSickels @chackenberg1 @AdamBreneman87

— Andrew Nelson (@ANelson59) July 28, 2012

-Andrew Nelson

This is a special group of young men and, along with the leaders from the 2012 class who are set to start camp in a week, the future of Penn State football is bright.

And also very talented.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

Christian’s father has stated that his son remains currently committed to Penn State, but added that the blue chip quarterback needs to have some questions averted before making a final decision.

Will Fuller told me earlier this week that he hoped to speak with his high school coach and family soon before making a decision of his own. He likely has questions for O’Brien, as well. Remember, Fuller committed to Penn State just days after earning his offer. There’s no doubt he wants to be aNittany Lion.

It’s an understatement to call this a critical weekend in the future of the Penn State football program. If O’Brien can convince the core group of this class that Penn State still has plenty to offer, the football team has a strong chance of thriving through the bowl-less seasons.

Adam Breneman has stated that he hopes to get other recruits, such as Dorian Johnson and Curtis Cothran, on campus as well.

My theory is that the more time these kids spend together and with O’Brien and his staff, the more likely they are to remain committed to eachother and the university.

Stay tuned this weekend.

Brennan Franklin, Penn State Welcomes YOU!!! photo by Rob Christy-US PRESSWIRE

As this week continues the streak of unpredictability, 247Lions($) is reporting a commitment this evening. According to the folks on Twitter, it is from  Arizona LB Brennan Franklin. He is a member of the 2012 class. It’s unclear if he is a walk-on or a scholarship athlete with the sanctions recently levied on Penn State. My assumption is that he will be a scholarship athlete from 2012, as that year was not effected by the ruling. I think.

Penn State wanted to bring in a second linebacker in the 2012 class, and they have managed to do so, nearly six months after signing day.

Franklin is originally from the Chicago area and is a middle linebacker-type. At 6’2″ 240 p0unds, he certainly has the size capable to do that. Between Rivals and 247Sports, Franklin’s offers include Mississippi State, Eastern Kentucky, Robert Morris and Wofford.

He is unrated by both sources, but one could assume that they will issue a ranking on him soon.

He shows decent speed, a good eye for play recognition and an absolute knack for hitting. His FILM shows him filling holes and laying the ball carrier out on more than one occasion. The other linebacker in the 2012 class, Nyeem Wartman, is more than fast enough to play on the outside, so it’s safe to assume that Franklin will hold down the MLB spot within the class.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

If everybody on board right now remains on board, here’s what the Nittany Lions could look like when they head into their next bowl-eligible season: 2016

QB
Steven Bench
OR
Christian Hackenberg: Both have been pretty quiet since Monday morning but both still remain in the fold.

RB
Akeel Lynch: Could also be a guy who isn’t currently on the roster, if Lynch doesn’t redshirt this season.

WR
Will Fuller
Johnathan Warner
Trevor Williams: Warner or Williams COULD burn their redshirts this year, but the team is deep at WR and it may benefit them to wait.

TE
Adam Breneman
Brent Wilkerson: One position that I expect O’Brien to recruit well through the sanctions is TE. This duo is just fine.

OL
Andrew Nelson
Brendan Mahon
Anthony Stanko
Brian Gaia
Dorian Johnson: Gaia and Stanko would have to redshirt to make this happen, but that’s not unlikely. Heard a report yesterday that Gaia would be leaving but there was never any follow up, so we’ll assume he’s staying. By the way, that’s a terrific offensive line.

DE
Evan Schwan
Garrett Sickels
Curtis Cothran: Schwan and Sickels have said they’re Nittany Lions for good. Cothran would certainly be a factor here.

DT
Jamil Pollard
Derek Dowery
Austin Johnson
Wendy Laurent: I could see at least one of these guys not sticking around. Also could see one on the offensive line.

LB
Nyeem Wartman
Brandon Bell
Zach Bradshaw
Zayd Issah: This group is up in the air as I haven’t heard anything from any of them. Regardless, if these four guys are seniors in 2016, that is an incredibly diverse and athletic LB unit. 
DB
This is a very interesting unit. Freshman right now include Jake Kiley, DaQuan Davis and Jordan Lucas, all of whom could see time this year. The only committed player to 2013 is Safety Neiko Robinson.
The defensive backfield in 2016 will likely be a young group, but they should be quality players who were sold on early playing time…because there is not much depth!

Keep in mind that there will be three recruiting classes after the current class that will sprinkle into this depth chart. Is this team good enough to make an impact? Hopefully you will find out in four years!

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.

The staff scrambled to contact the class that remained, hoping to secure as many of them as possible before the fallout became too great. They did a pretty fine job. DE Garrett Sickels and OG Brendan Mahon have both said that they are remaining solidly committed to Penn State, calling themselves a “package deal.” Sickels stated on Facebook, “I am here to stay. We Are.”

In another Facebook thread, a Notre Dame fan questioned his decision on why he would remain committed at time like this. Sickels response? “Because it’s still Penn State.”

Adam Breneman, one of the leaders of the class and the top tight end of 2013, later re-affirmed his commitment. Adam cited that the fans and coach O’Brien, two of the biggest reasons that he chose Penn State, still remain. He has stated that he and his family have some decisions to make, but for the time being, Adam is still a Nittany Lion.

That decision could hinge on the announcement from QB Christian Hackenberg, who is very close with Breneman. Christian spent most of Monday morning traveling home from the Elite 11 competition in California. If Christian remains on board, it will only strengthen Adam’s commitment and really gives this class, and this team going forward, a shot.

Florida DB Neiko Robinson also told Lions247 that he remains committed to Penn State, “for now.” Remember, those words aren’t necessarily a bad thing. These kids have a lot on their plates and this is a lot of information to process. Many of them are likely looking to each other so see what the next move is.

DE Curtis Cothran declined to comment, saying no decision has been made yet. WR Will Fuller had a similar approach, telling me that he would be talking to his coach and parents soon, regarding his commitment to Penn State.

There are a lot of moving parts in this situation right now and we’ll know more by the end of the week, but the bottom hasn’t fallen out just yet.

The bad news comes by way of DT Greg Webb who, while visiting North Carolina this weekend, has now given the tarheels his verbal pledge.

In the wake of the Freeh Report, many are expecting NCAA sanctions to follow at Penn State. That’s plenty of ammo for competing coaches when it comes to recruiting.

It’s also notable that Greg’s friend and high school teammate DE DaJaun Drennon committed to UNC today. Greg was not offered a scholarship to Penn State, as they told him they were full at the position.

Greg is a four star DT out of New Jersey who is rated as a top ten player at his position.

The big question is whether or not Greg will be the last to jump ship. Some recruits have said that they are remaining fully committed while some are quietly taking visits to other schools. In fairness, these kids deserve to research their options with the future of Penn State football foggy, at best.

Make sure to check out this week’s recruiting update where I’ll name a few potential DTs that the coaching staff might reach out to. Keep in mind that the staff was perfectly comfortable taking just one player at Gregs position this year which would indicate that they don’t view defensive tackle as a huge position of need.

UNC got themselves a fine player and this is a good reminder to PSU fans that verbal commitments should be celebrated cautiously.

Usually consisting of 24 players, this year’s deep, talented class will send 25 quarterbacks to the competition.

The players will compete in a vast array of drills, as well as challenging 7-on-7 games with the plays coming from an elaborate playbook that each quarterback received weeks ago. The players are expected to know the playbook and their knowledge of it will count for or against them.

At the end of the competition, 11 finalists will be crowned the “Elite 11.” On top of that, individual awards will be given out such as “Best Arm”, “Most Accuracy” and

Is it important for the players to make that list of 11? “Oh yeah, that is definitely a goal, going in” Hackenberg says. “It’s all about the competition.”

Joining Hackenberg will be Michigan commit Shane Morris as well as Ohio State commit JT Barrett. Morris figures to fare particular well and is armed with one of the best arms in the country. Barrett is a dual threat-type, but is also no slouch throwing the ball.

Other top committed quarterbacks set to compete this week include Cooper Bateman (Bama), Max Browne (USC) and Malik Zaire (ND). Stanford commit Ryan Burns, who many Penn State fans are familiar with, was invited to compete but had a prior commitment.

Hackenberg added:

“I’m gonna go out there to compete. I know a bunch of the guys. We’re all pretty cool in the class of quarterbacks but I know when we get out there we’re going to be competing-going at eachother’s throats.”

The Finals will air on ESPN in August.

For all of the latest on the Penn State Nittany Lions, follow VBR Lead Editor Tim Tolley on Twitter.