PSU faring well in recruiting battle

By JOHN GIBLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

While the Penn State football team has been playing solid football on the field, it has done a more-than-solid job off the gridiron.

While current high school seniors are barred by the NCAA from signing a formal letter of intent until Feb. 1 — a.k.a. National Signing Day — 21 players thus far have verbally committed to play for the Nittany Lions next season.

Some have family ties to Penn State football, while others played at the same high school as current Lions. All, barring any complications, will be wearing the Blue and White come next fall.

The following is a rundown of high school seniors who have committed so far:

Tim Johnson — Defensive end (6-foot-4, 235 pounds)

Johnson is the son of former Penn State linebacker/tight end Pete Johnson, who was a roommate of offensive coordinator Fran Ganter when the elder Johnson played from 1967-69. The younger Johnson was named Morris County's Defensive Player of the Year last season with 94 tackles, 14.5 sacks, an interception and three forced fumbles.

A consensus All-American, he has bench-pressed 350 pounds and squatted 495 pounds.

Erik Noll — Defensive lineman (6-6, 318)

Another consensus All-American, Noll is considered Maryland's top-rated high school prospect, according to several recruiting publications. Noll has run the 40-yard dash in 4.84 seconds. Last year, he had 34 solo tackles, 71 assists and seven sacks.

Nick Marmo — Offensive lineman (6-6, 318)

Marmo, regarded as the No. 1 college prospect in Western Pennsylvania this season, was a member of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's "Fab 22" recruits and all-state second team last year. A varsity starter since his freshman season, Marmo played center as a freshman and sophomore, but moved to guard last year as a junior. He also played on the defensive line for WPIAL-AAAA champion New Castle High School.

Adam Taliaferro — Defensive back (5-11, 180)

As a junior, Taliaferro rushed for 1,238 yards and 24 touchdowns for Eastern High School coach Larry Ginsburg, averaging 8.8 yards per carry. He also caught two touchdown passes and returned an opening kickoff 90 yards for a score. His 27 total touchdowns led all of Southern Jersey. On defense, Taliaferro was named first-team All-South Jersey and third team all-state. He intercepted four passes.

Sam Ruhe — Defensive end (6-5, 245)

Ruhe is touted as one of the top football recruits in the Midwest. His eight sacks and 88 tackles (11 for loss) earned him all-state honors last year.

Scott Davis — Linebacker (6-3, 270)

A two-way starter, Davis rushed for 1008 yards and scored 15 times last season from the fullback position. He also played inside linebacker on defense. He has been timed at 4.80 seconds in the 40-yard dash, and has bench-pressed 355 pounds. Penn State is looking at him to play linebacker, defensive end or defensive tackle.

Dan Acri — Defensive end (6-3, 230)

This season, Acri will start on both offense and defense for Bishop McDevitt High School. 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 Lions, Acri was looked at by many schools to play on both sides of the ball.

Zac Wasserman — Quarterback (6-3, 200)

Rated as one of the top-five senior quarterbacks going into this season, Wasserman was one of the first to verbally commit to Penn State. The Westlake Village, Calif. product has run the 40-yard dash in 4.80 seconds.

Pete Gilmore — Running back (5-11, 210)

Wilson High School back Pete Gilmore, one of the top players in Pennsylvania, said that playing with his older brother, tight end John Gilmore, was a big factor in his decision to commit to the Lions.

As a freshman, Gilmore was called up to play for the varsity squad. He started at defensive back the next season, and moved to running back his junior season. As a fullback, Gilmore amassed more than 1000 yards and 15 touchdowns, averaging more than seven yards per carry.

J.D. Benson — Linebacker (6-4, 211)

Benson had 94 tackles as a sophomore and 97 as a junior, including four sacks and three interceptions. In addition, the Lebanon native has run the 40-yard dash in 4.50 seconds.

Paul Jefferson — Running back (6-1, 240)

The fullback from Wilkes-Barre GAR High School is touted by many as Pennsylvania's No. 1 fullback prospect this season. As a junior, Jefferson rushed 82 times for slightly more than 500 yards during the course of the season.

Jefferson was offered a scholarship after performing exceptionally well at Penn State's Nike camp. He ran two sub-4.50 40-yard dashes and recorded the camp's second-highest standing broad jump ever.

Jimmy Mitchell — Running back (6-2, 200)

Not as well known as some of the other top prospects in Pennsylvania, the Exeter native has a good combination of size and speed. Mitchell was considered a virtual unknown until Penn State's Nike camp, where he ran a 4.40 40-yard dash.

Exeter coach Ron Zeiber said Mitchell is the first Div. I football recruit in school history.

Chris McKelvy — Offensive lineman (6-4, 305)

The North Penn High School product is considered by many as one of the top offensive line products in the country. McKelvy has bench pressed 385 pounds and squatted 590 pounds.

Ellery Moore — Defensive end (6-3, 255)

Despite not being as tall as the prototype defensive lineman, the Massillion, Ohio native is quick --he has run the 40-yard dash in 4.90 seconds -- and was still recruited by numerous Div. I schools. He made 32 solo tackles and had 26 assists as a junior, as well as 19 quarterback pressures.

Sean McHugh — Tight end (6-6, 240)

One of the most versitile of Penn State's early signings, McHugh was recruited as an athlete who could have played defensive end, fullback, linebacker or tight end in college. One of the most talented prospects in Ohio, the Chagrin Falls native rushed for about 1300 yards as a sophomore and 1607 as a junior.

Scott Sanden — Defensive back (5-11, 190)

Sanden, a Fairfax, Va. native, played three positions for Robinson High last year — defensive back, running back and kick returner. Sanden fared well in all phases of the game, averaging 22 yards per punt return and 35.9 yards on kick returns, while rushing for 800 yards and making more than 60 tackles.

Jeremiah Davis — Defensive end (6-5, 250)

One of the Virginia's top players, Davis also plays defensive tackle and tight end. The Annandale, Va. native was named all-district, all-region, and all-state as a junior.

Davis went to the same high school as linebacker Maurice Daniels.

Jesse Neumyer — Linebacker (6-2, 220)

Neumyer enters the season as one of the state's top overall prospects, and is Cumberland Valley's starting running back, linebacker and kicker. As a junior last season, Neumyer was named to the preseason all-state team at linebacker before an early season injury ended his entire junior campaign.

B.J. Evangelista — Linebacker (6-3, 250)

Evangelista made 58 tackles and picked off one pass from his inside linebacker spot as a junior. He also plays fullback for Franklin Regional High School, but will likely play on defense at Penn State. The senior wanted to play at a school close to his home in Murraysville, Pa.

Zack Mills — Quarterback (6-3, 205)

Mills, the top-rated quarterback in Maryland, led his team to the Class AA state title last year.

Gerald Smith — Defensive back (5-11, 175)

A top-100 prospect nationally, Smith runs the 40-yard dash in 4.40 seconds. Penn State offered him a scholarship after his sophomore season in high school. He also can play running back.