Lions sign small recruiting class

By CHRIS ANTONACCI
Collegian Staff Writer

In the college football recruiting game, 13 is an unlucky number.

With most of its players returning for next season, the Penn State football team found itself with just 13 available scholarships.

And in the end, found itself with a small but talented recruiting class.

"The quality is there, I just have quantity concern," The National Recruiting Advisor editor in chief Bobby Burton told The Times Leader. "I never had a top 10 class with less than 17 commitments."

Heading Penn State's list is Bryan Scott, from Central Bucks East High School. Scholastically, he rushed for almost 3,000 yards and was the team's leading tackler for the past three seasons. Scott was named a consensus All-American and was named Pennsylvania Player of the Year by USA Today. Scott was ranked as the 33rd most highly sought recruit by ESPN.

Another recruit in the top 100 who signed with Penn State is David Costlow, a 6-foot-2-inch, 205-pound defensive end and offensive lineman from Lansdale. From North Penn High School, Costlow is a scholar in addition to an All-American. He has a 4.0 Grade point average and 1420 SAT score.

"When you think of the top programs in the country, Penn State is right up there with the best of them," he said. "You can say what you want about playing football after college, but you are definitely going to the need the academics no matter what.

"I couldn't see myself not coming to Penn State," added ESPN's 78th-ranked recruit. "I wasn't expecting to contribute big-time on the field next year. I can make an impact one or two years down the road."

In addition, Horace Dodd, a 6-foot-2-inch, 200-pound running back from Hamden, Conn., has committed to Penn State. Dodd, ranked 91st in the nation by ESPN, has been hailed by several publications as the best football player in New England.

Philadelphia native Damone Jones also will come to Happy Valley this fall. The 310-pound lineman was listed by The National Recruiting Advisor as one of its top 25 recruits for 1999.

Also calling Happy Valley home next season will be Deryck Toles, a running and defensive back from Warren, Ohio. He rushed for 1,127 yards and made 54 tackles along with three interceptions his junior season.

Gino Capone comes to Penn State with an illustrious high school career behind him. At North Schuylkill High School, he rushed for 1,207 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. He has made more than 200 tackles as a linebacker.

A wide receiver and defensive back, Baltimore-native Bryant Johnson also has committed to Penn State. He caught 97 passes for 2,298 yards during his career at City College High School.

Another wide receiver and defensive back, Yaacov Yisrael also will strap on the pads in Beaver Stadium this year. The Palatine, Ill., native had 1,143 yards and notched 22 touchdowns his junior season, the best of his high school career.

Finally, Keith Jenkins, a lineman from Chardon, Ohio, already has enrolled at Penn State. He was a recruit last season, but withdrew from Penn State after he was injured in the preseason.

These recruits join Ricky Upton, who announced he would come to Penn State in November. He has rushed for almost 5,000 yards in his high school career along with 45 touchdowns. Upton currently is enrolled.

Penn State football coaches do not comment on individual recruits and how they fit into the mix for the upcoming season, Lion offensive coordinator Fran Ganter said.

"We don't make any comments about freshmen," he said. "What we've done is totally stay away from commenting about our recruiting class."