Acri commits to Nittany Lions

By JOHN GIBLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

The Penn State football team received yet another verbal commitment from a high school senior, raising the number of recruits in the class of 2000 to 16.

Dan Acri, a 6-foot-3, 230-pound defensive end/tight end from Bishop McDevitt High School in Harrisburg, announced his decision to attend Penn State yesterday at a press conference.

"Dan has committed to Penn State," said Acri's father, Dan. "Dan held a press conference at the high school to announce his decision to attend Penn State."

This season, Acri will start on both offense and defense for Bishop McDevitt. As a junior, he recorded 56 solo tackles, eight sacks and one interception for a touchdown. On offense, Acri had eight receptions for two touchdowns.

While he is expected to play defense for the Nittany Lions, Acri was looked at by many schools to play on both sides of the ball.

"They weren't sure which position to recruit me at, so I'm like an athlete," Acri said. "Most were recruiting me for defense.

"I prefer defense in college, but I don't care where I play. I just want to be on the field."

In addition to Penn State, 15 other schools offered Acri scholarships, including Notre Dame, Georgia Tech, Purdue, Georgia and Michigan State. Most of the scholarship offers were made by mid-May.

"Penn State recruited Dan to play defensive end, but said with his versatility that he could possibly play linebacker or even tight end," Acri's father said. "Dan wanted to make his decision now to focus on the task at hand, which is helping his team the best he can."

Considered one of the top prospects at defensive end on the East Coast, Acri has heaped praise from both colleges and numerous recruiting experts across the nation.

"He is certainly one of the finest players that I have seen on film this year," said Chris Pool of the Pigskin Recruiting Journal. "Dan runs a quick 40 (yard dash), he doesn't stay blocked and is fast enough to chase down the backside."

Although he is big at 6-foot-3, 230 pounds, Acri has been timed in the 40-yard dash in 4.60 seconds. However, the defensive end is not done growing yet, according to his father.

"He's big now, but coaches have told me that he could get to 260 (pounds) by his freshman year (in college)," Acri's father said. "Dan is a hitter - he never stops. He is very quick to get to the ball too."

In addition to Penn State's Nike Recruiting Camp, Acri also spent time at summer football camps at Notre Dame and Boston College. He has spent this summer visiting college campuses as well as attending camps.

"The Penn State visit went pretty good," Acri said. "I went on like a recruiting day, so there were lots of other prospects there.

"At Notre Dame, I hate to say it, but I felt like their football program and the school didn't work together real well."

Despite his 2.4 grade-point average, the defensive end is academic-minded. Acri recently scored a 1020 on the SATs, making him academically eligible to play his freshman year at Penn State.