A Deuce
Lions add two out-of-state recruits to roster

By JOHN GIBLIN
Collegian Staff Writer

On the heels of two out-of-state verbal commitments, Penn State received commitment No. 26 last Thursday from Owings Mills, Md., linebacker T.C. Cosby.

The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Cosby is a four-year starter at McDonogh High School. As a junior, he recorded 118 tackles (85 solo) and four interceptions. He also was considered one of the top-22 juniors in the Washington, D.C., area.

This year for the Eagles, he was an All-Metro Conference selection in the Baltimore area and a second-team all-state selection.

He has led McDonogh to the past two Maryland Scholastic Athletic Association B Conference titles.

Cosby has posted a 4.7 in the 40-yard dash, and bench-presses 325 pounds. He has performed well in the classroom as well, carrying a 3.0 grade-point average and scoring over 1300 on the SATs.

McDonogh coach Dominic Damico said Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson recruited Cosby as a middle linebacker.

"He's been favoring Penn State all along, and was just waiting for a scholarship offer from them," Damico said. "He chose Penn State over several other schools who had offered."

Cosby received offers from every school in the ACC, as well as Virginia Tech, Boston College and Pittsburgh.

Sleepless in Seattle

Suddenly, Penn State football is making its mark in recruiting in the state of Washington.

After Kentwood High School receiver Ryan Scott gave an oral commitment to the Nittany Lions the last week of August, fellow Washington resident John Bronson also verbally agreed to play next year in Happy Valley.

A 6-foot-3, 230-pound tight end/defensive end from Kent-Meridian High School, Bronson was another unknown prospect who chose the Lions.

"I don't know how Penn State even crossed my mind," Bronson said. "But I liked it, and I talked to (South Kitsap (Wash.) High School graduate and Lions linebacker) Mac Morrison for a half hour about it."

Bronson attend this summer's Penn State Nike Training camp with Scott, who plays for rival Kentwood. The two schools complete in the South Puget Sound League.

The senior was also impressive at the Nike camp in Portland, Ore., where he ran a 4.66 in the 40-yard dash, posted a 31-inch vertical leap and looked very good in the one-on-one drills, according Bronson's coach at Kent-Meridian Mike Clancy.

Bronson was a Seattle Times preseason all-state selection, and is ranked as the No. 8 player in the state by the Tacoma News-Tribune. He had 56 tackles and five sacks last year.

He said Penn State coaches haven't decided if they want him as a defensive lineman or tight end.

In addition to Penn State, Bronson also received looks from Nebraska, Arizona State and Oregon.

Only the Lions and Arizona State had offered scholarships. Washington had considered him as well, but the senior spurned its offers, stating he did so because the Huskies had ignored ex-teammate Robin Miller, who now plays at Nebraska.