The word is out -- and the reaction is favorable. The 1994 Nittany Lion recruiting class has received high marks.

Last year at this time, many critics were not satisfied with Penn State's new crop of prep school prospects. They said the move to the Big Ten would have a negative impact on recruiting in Happy Valley. Coach Joe Paterno had lost his touch. Not quite.

This year is different. Many people in-and-around college football tag this year's class as one of the top five in the country. The supply of quality player's has not run out, especially in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where Penn State claimed 13 out of its 19 recruits, all of whom verbally committed before yesterday's signing date.

"I would think it would be one of the best classes," said Ronnie Christ, a longtime sportswriter at the Harrisburg-Patriot. "Penn State recruited players at positions they needed to fill. They got a quality punter."

Punter Scott Stephens is bound for Happy Valley from North Little Rock, Ark. Last year he averaged 42.6 yards a punt at North Little Rock Ole Main High School. His longest boot went 73 yards.

Penn State also hauled in a talented group of linebackers, linemen and defensive backs -- all positions where the Nittany Lions could use some added support. Although recruits on offense are lacking, offensive coordinator Fran Ganter is satisfied.

"We're very pleased," Ganter said. "We've got a solid group of guys. It shows a lot about the types of kids we got because they made up their minds early. They didn't get caught up in the recruiting game."

One offensive recruit that could eventually make Penn State's game better is 6-foot-2, 232-pound fullback Curtis Enis. The powerful runner was Ohio's player of the year and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds.

The last Penn State recruiting class to receive this much attention was in 1991. That group of players was regarded as the nation's best by most recruiting services and included the highly-touted running back trio of Ki-Jana Carter, Mike Archie and Stephen Pitts. This class might not be rated No. 1, but it's close.

"Most people say it's one of the top classes in the country," said Mike White, the scholastic sports editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "Especially in Pennsylvania, (Penn State) did real well. And this is after a year they didn't do so good."

But what constitutes a good recruiting class, anyhow? Former Lion recruiting coordinator John Bove said he never put much stock in what those so-called recruiting lists had to say.

"You don't let anyone else do your recruiting," Bove said. "You go out and make the decisions yourself. If Notre Dame offers the kid a scholarship, that doesn't mean we're gonna go after him."

The Nittany Lions received letters of intent yesterday from nine players from Pennsylvania. Highly regarded recruits Brad Scioli, a linebacker at Upper Merion, and Shawn Lee, a defensive back at Harrisburg, both signed to play inside Beaver Stadium.

Penn State also lost three heavily recruited players. Lamont Pegues a running back out of Thomasville, N.C., has decided on Clemson. Vonnie Holliday, a linebacker from Camden, S.C., chose North Carolina and defensive end Luke Petigout from Georgetown, Del., has committed to Notre Dame.