Cael Sanderson grew up fishing.
When the Penn State wrestling team's coach goes on vacations, it's still one of his favorite things to do.
Sanderson has also come to be an excellent angler in the game of recruiting, and he'll need to continue his success Wednesday with the beginning of the early signing period.
Prior to Wednesday, high school grapplers only have the ability to commit verbally to a college. Sanderson said he's had success in the past and has had a high percentage of verbals end up signing to wrestle for him.
"Most time the kids that you want aren't going to give you their word and go somewhere else," Sanderson said. "That's just the kind of character you look for when you're recruiting."
One of the Nittany Lions' highly touted freshmen this season stuck to his word to wrestle for Sanderson -- despite a change in plans to a school 900 miles away.
David Taylor originally verbally committed to wrestle at Iowa State, but came to Penn State when Sanderson took the head-coaching job for the Lions.
The freshman said wrestling for Sanderson was the sole reason he came to Happy Valley, but believes there are many more reasons to wrestle for the Lions.
"Not only do you have amazing facilities," Taylor said, "But kids want to come here in general. This is like the place to come in Pennsylvania, so if you get a verbal it's a big deal."
Assistant coach Troy Letters said as long as the situation at a school remains the same until the recruit signs, a verbal is almost as good as a signature. He said verbal commitments are similar to a handshake or a word of honor.
Letters believes the entire coaching staff helps to appeal to a variety of recruits.
"I think we have a great mesh of coaches on the team," Letters said. "From lightweight coaches all the way through middleweight and heavyweight."
Letters said the geographical origins of many of the coaches adds to the ability to recruit different regions of the country.
Sanderson -- along with his brother and assistant coach Cody Sanderson -- are both from Utah and wrestled at Iowa State.
Assistant coach Casey Cunningham wrestled and coached at Central Michigan before joining Sanderson for one season at Iowa State, while Letters said his career at Lehigh has helped him become familiar with several local coaches in Pennsylvania.
Taylor said Sanderson and the rest of the coaches only add to the appeal of Penn State wrestling.
"It's a great school, and kids want to come to Penn State anyway," Taylor said. "Now, adding our coaching staff, a verbal commitment is a pretty sure thing."
