The Nittany Lion football team signed some of the best high school players in the state and nation yesterday.

"I'm excited to be a part of this class," said Conestoga Valley wide receiver Corey Jones, who is considered to be the nation's number one receiver. "We've got some great athletes. I think we all want to contribute and do our best to win a national title."

Yesterday was the first day high school seniors were able to sign national letters of intent. The Lions signed 19 players, 10 from Pennsylvania.

Topping the list is the Associated Press Pennsylvania Big-School Player of the Year, Brandon Short of McKeesport. Short averaged more than 12 tackles per game this season on McKeesport's state championship team.

"He's the best player to come from this area in a long time," said Mike White, scholastic sports editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "I think he's better than Sean Gilbert was when he came out of high school."

Gilbert, from Aliquippa, was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year in 1988 and is currently with the St. Louis Rams.

Also agreeing to come to State College was Askari Adams, a defensive back from Cumberland Valley who finished his high school career with 127 tackles and 19 interceptions. Adams, who runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, was named to the Big-School All-State First Team and was a finalist for the Pennsylvania Big 33 Player of the Year.

"I never give up," Adams said. "I don't quit. I guess I'm kind of a headhunter roaming in the backfield."

Aaron Harris, a running back from Downingtown, also runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds and rushed for over 1,200 yards. He scored 23 touchdowns and helped lead Downingtown to the state finals.

The Lions also received commitments from some of the highly touted players in other states, including USA Today's Virginia Player of the Year, Maurice Daniels from Annandale.

Daniels helped lead Annandale to the Group AAA Division 6 state championship and a fourth-place national ranking by USA Today. He finished the year with 136 tackles -- 23 for a loss.

"He's the best all-around student-athlete in 41 years here," said Annandale Coach Dick Adams. "I've never coached anyone better or tougher. He practiced and played hurt."

The Lions also landed the top lineman in New York City in Basim Grant, from New Utrecht in Brooklyn. Grant racked up 18 sacks this season.

"He's excellent on both sides of the ball," said New Utrecht Coach John Burke. "I don't recommend players to colleges all the time. I only recommend good kids, and he's one of them."

Curt Enis, a fullback/linebacker, was recruited last season but was unable to attend Penn State his freshman year due to academic ineligibility. Enis attended Kiski Prep and will enroll in classes at Penn State in the fall.

"He came here for a year to improve not only academically, but also to transition," said Kiski Coach Marcus Muster. "We're a lot like a small college here. Here they learn to balance their time and get the feel for college life."

The Lions were thrown the biggest curve of the recruiting season when Bethlehem Catholic quarterback Dan Kendra backed out of his verbal commitment to Penn State and signed with Florida State.

When Kendra changed his mind, the Lions were left with one quarterback recruit, Kevin Thompson from Damascus, Md.

But during the last week of the recruiting season, the Lions landed a record-setting quarterback from Clearfield, Chad Kroell. Kroell set three state records: touchdown passes in a season (49), career touchdown passes (79) and season passing yards (3,224).