Correction appended
It seems some numbers don't mean much to Joe Paterno.
Despite his program pulling in the top recruiting class in the Big Ten and around the top 10 in the country on National Signing Day, according to recruiting Web sites Rivals.com and Scout.com, Paterno is taking a wait-and-see approach.
"We'll see when they come here," Paterno said Wednesday.
The Nittany Lions' 20-man class ranked higher than some other traditional powers like Miami (Fla.), Notre Dame and Georgia.
Though the size of the class was smaller than most of the other top classes, the quality of the ratings pushed it higher.
Indeed, it is Penn State's highest ranked class since 2006, when both outlets ranked it No. 6 in the country.
One of the top players is linebacker Mike Hull, who was the MVP of the Team USA vs. Team World game in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., last weekend.
"He's a high-effort kid who will run through you," Rivals.com's Mike Farrell said. "He reminds me of those other Big Ten linebackers like [Bobby] Carpenter and Paul Posluszny. And as the Big Ten goes to the spread, we're seeing smaller and smaller linebackers."
Of the 20 players, seven have already enrolled early, including running back Silas Redd and quarterback Paul Jones.
The majority of the class came regionally, with nine hailing from Pennsylvania.
One of the outliers was receiver Levi Norwood, who came from Waco, Texas, and is the brother of former receiver Jordan Norwood.
Perhaps the biggest question mark for Penn State entering the upcoming season is quarterback, but the Lions not only signed two highly regarded prospects but also pulled in a mix of offensive and defensive players.
In fact, getting such a haul comes at no surprise to Scout.com's Cory James, especially with Paterno at the helm.
"He's down-to-earth and can relate to them," James said. "They find he's really easy to talk with."
A photo caption accompanying this article incorrectly stated when the photograph was taken. It was shot at football practice last fall.
