It would've been understandable if Anthony Scirrotto didn't want to play Penn State football. Nobody would've questioned him if he didn't exchange his baseball glove for a dorm room in Happy Valley.

Nobody would've thought any less of the three-star recruit had he decided to pursue a different school or a different career.

Instead, he opted to play football for the school of his dreams -- virtually giving up a Major League Baseball contract and $200,000 in the process.

"I wasn't really concerned about the money," Scirrotto said.

I wanted to get a college education; I wanted to get a degree."

It's a decision most players dream about but few athletes experience: Become a professional athlete and earn six-figures or go to college and live off PB&J sandwiches for four years.

Scirrotto took the road less traveled. According to his high school football coach, Clyde Folsom, Scirrotto had a slew of baseball scholarship

offers and was projected as a third- or fourth-round Major League Baseball prospect straight out of high school.

In the 2001 MLB Draft, only one pick in the fourth round earned less than $200,000, just in signing bonuses. Scirrotto could've followed in those same footsteps, but he seemed to imply the decision was pretty simple.

He liked football more.

"I don't know if he would've gone football if it wasn't Penn State," Folsom said. "And, actually, Stanford was going to allow him to play both. Stanford was right there with that double-offer but when Penn State came in, as soon as they offered, he committed and off he went."

Scirrotto was a decorated athlete at New Jersey's West Deptford High School: a two-time baseball captain as a pitcher/shortstop and a football player that set all kinds of precedents. Folsom said Scirrotto was only one of "three or four freshmen in the last 17 years" that started for the powerhouse football squad for four straight seasons.

As a defensive back, Scirrotto caught almost as much attention from scouts as he did interceptions -- he had 26 INTs in four years. And he received around a dozen other scholarship offers from Div. I-A schools to compete on the gridiron.

But his most incredible, and unknown, achievement may have occurred when he was an upperclassmen for the football Eagles.

Scirrotto led the team to a 24-0 record and two state titles -- as a quarterback.

Maybe that positional insight is why defensive coordinator Tom Bradley has put so much faith in the sophomore safety. After all, Bradley said Scirrotto is the defensive back responsible for directing everybody when it comes to checks.

Scirrotto has a knack for learning quickly, Folsom said, and would routinely watch film, sometimes cutting lunch to watch tape in the film room. Even Scirrotto acknowledged he learned a lot this past month, between both game experience and tape.

"I am glad to hear him say that because he is an Italian and sometimes Italians are very tough to teach," Joe Paterno said, joking, before putting his hand to his head and muttering, "Oh Jesus, the Italian American Organization."

Paterno took a serious tone later, though, saying Scirrotto's main problem is he doesn't play as fast he could because he's sometimes indecisive. But game experience can correct that, Paterno said.

"I don't think you quite understand how much it's a big difference... He is still not anywhere near as good as he is going to be," Paterno said.

Scirrotto's made a good impression so far, leading the team in interceptions with two. He also has 20 solo tackles -- the most among non-linebackers.

Whether Scirrotto has an NFL future is certainly up in the air, but the Kinesiology major doesn't seem to regret his decision to attend Penn State. When asked how it felt to step onto Beaver Stadium out of the tunnel, Scirrotto didn't hesitate.

"It's indescribable, really," he said. "I remember running out through the tunnel with Joe Paterno, one of the legendary coaches of college football, and screaming fans. All eyes are on you at that point. It's amazing to know you have all those people supporting you, and it's a feeling you can't really describe."