February 7, 2012 at 2:32 PM

Penn State will be well represented at the NFL scouting combine, which runs from Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis.

Seven former Nittany Lions have received invitations to the event, which allows former college players to showcase their skills for NFL coaches and scouts. Wisconsin, with eight players invited, is the only Big Ten team to have more players heading to the combine than Penn State. Iowa also had seven players receive invitations.

On the offensive side of the ball, wide receiver Derek Moye and offensive guard Johnnie Troutman will represent the Lions.

Defensively, defensive end Jack Crawford, defensive tackle Devon Still, linebacker Nate Stupar and cornerbacks D’Anton Lynn and Chaz Powell all received invitations.

Last year, just two Lions were invited to the event (running back Evan Royster and offensive lineman Stefen Wisniewski). Six Penn Staters received invites in 2010.

Penn State finished the 2011 campaign at 9-4 and lost to Houston in the TicketCity Bowl.

January 29, 2012 at 1:38 PM

Penn State has received verbal commitments from seven high school seniors during the past week.

After losing three-star quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg to Florida, the Nittany Lions received a verbal from three-star dual-threat quarterback Stephen Bench from Cairo, Georgia.

Penn State was the only FBS school to offer Bench, who was originally committed to Rice in the fall.

The Lions also signed three-star running back Akeel Lynch from Athol Springs, N.Y. The 6-foot back had offers from Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Iowa, Syracuse and Boston College, among others.

In addition to Lynch and Bench, the Lions landed two-star defensive back Da’Quan Davis, two-star defensive tackle Wendy Laurent, two-star defensive end Evan Schwan, two-star wide receiver Jonathan Warner and three-star wide receiver Trevor Williams.

Williams, who attended Calvert Hall, the same school as cornerback Adrian Amos, had signed with West Virginia before decommitting and signing with Penn State.

The Lions currently have 18 verbal commits.

The Lions have the No. 43 recruiting class in the country, according to Rivals. National Signing Day is Wednesday, Feb. 1.

 

January 17, 2012 at 1:33 PM

San Francisco 49ers linebacker NaVorro Bowman has been named a finalist for the VIZIO Top Value Performer award.

The award is given to the NFL player whose on-field performance most significantly exceeded expectations and the value of their salary.

With the 49ers in 2011, Bowman, whose base salary is $580,500, led the team in tackles with 143 and his conference (the AFC) with 111 solo tackles. San Francisco allowed the fewest rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in the league this season.

Bowman was originally drafted in the third round of the 2010 NFL draft. With the Nittany Lions, Bowman had 215 career tackles, including 36 for a loss, three forced fumbles and three interceptions.

Other finalists for the award are Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte, Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Laurent Robinson, New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz and New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

January 16, 2012 at 9:36 PM

According to Lions247, three-star defensive back recruit Jordan Lucas has decided to come to Penn State.

Lucas, who played high school football in New Rochelle, N.Y., was recruited by Temple, and had initially planned on beginning classes this week, but a recruiting visit from Nittany Lions coaches Ron Vanderlinden, Ted Roof and John Butler changed his mind, Lions247 reported.

"They came, we had a good meeting with Coach Roof, Coach Butler and Coach Vanderlinden. They sat down with my head coach after they got the academic part squared away," Lucas said to Lions247. "They let me know that I had an offer. They knew I was going to commit before they offered, so they were happy to hear the news."

Along with the Owls, Akron, UMass, Old Dominion and Villanova recruited the 6-foot, 176-pound post-graduate student.

"Nothing is bigger than Penn State, playing in front of 100,00 people every game," Lucas said to Lions247. "I take it as a challenge, with what they're going through. They want to build on the tradition that they have and keep things going in the right direction. I'm happy to be a part of it."

January 12, 2012 at 5:41 PM

UPDATE: Penn State confirmed Friday that Bill O'Brien's defensive staff is now complete with the additions of Ted Roof as defensive coordinator and John Butler as secondary coach.

Roof was Auburn's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach from 2009-11, helping the Tigers win the 2010 BCS National Championship. He has experience in the Big Ten as Minnesota's defensive coordinator in 2008.

Roof worked with O'Brien for a pair of seasons while he was head coach of Duke from 2004-07. 

Butler coached outside linebackers and acted as special teams coordinator at South Carolina in 2011. Like Roof, Butler worked at Minnesota. He coached outside linebackers  and special teams from 2007-10. 

Former Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who acted as interim head coach for the final four games of the 2011-12 season, won't be on O'Brien's staff. 

Bradley issued the following statement via Twitter on Friday morning: "Finished packing up my office late last night. Walked out the doors proud with a lot of great memories and friends and a better man."

After a week of reports and rumors, Penn State has confirmed the hiring of six coaches to new football coach Bill O'Brien's staff. O'Brien's staff includes four new members O'Brien hadn't retained from former coach Joe Paterno's staff.

Stan Hixon (assistant head coach/wide receivers), Charles London (running backs), Mac McWhorter (offensive line) and John Strollo (tight ends) will join current staff members Larry Johnson (defensive line) and Ron Vanderlinden (linebackers).

"It was crucial to get an experienced, passionate and enthusiastic staff together quickly so they can hit the ground running," O'Brien said in the release. "All of these coaches have varied and successful backgrounds coaching in the NFL, college and high school around the country. They have developed extensive relationships with coaches that will be vital in our recruiting efforts. They are excited to meet our current players, get on the road and become a part of the Penn State Football family."

Hixon has spent the last two seasons coaching receivers with the Buffalo Bills, and has 32 years of coaching experience and the collegiate and professional level. London spent last season as an offensive assistant and quality control coach with Tennessee Titans. McWhorter is entering his 32nd season as a college coach, and spent 2005-2010 as an associate head coach and offensive line coach at Texas. Strollo has 31 years of coaching experience, and spent 2010 as the offensive line coach at Ball State.

According to the release, O'Brien is still in the process of hiring a new defensive coordinator, secondary coach and quarterbacks coach. However numerous reports have rumored Central Florida defensive coordinator Ted Roof to take over as the Lions' defensive coordinator and New England Patriots' assistant coach George Godsey to be hired as quarterbacks coach.

Jay Paterno announced earlier this week he wouldn't be returning as Penn State's quarterbacks coach, a position he's held for the last 12 seasons.

Additionally, ESPN reported today that Tom Bradley will also not be returning to the Lions' staff. Bradley, who took over as interim head coach for the final four games of the season after 33 years on staff, reportedly did not interview with O'Brien to join his staff and will seek options else where.

Attempts to reach Bradley went unreturned, and Penn State sports information director Jeff Nelson said he couldn't confirm Bradley's departure.

January 9, 2012 at 7:14 PM

According to reports, Penn State head coach Bill O'Brien has added four coaches to his staff that already includes Penn State coaches Larry Johnson and Ron Vanderlinden and Tennessee Titans coach Charles London.

Penn State football information director Jeff Nelson said in a text message that no staff hires will be formally announced today, however.

Buffalo Bills wide receivers coach Stan Hixon will be added, according to the Buffalo News.

Ball State offensive line coach John Strollo will join and serve as the tight ends coach, according to WIOU out of Kokomo, Ind. and the Scranton Times-Tribune.

Central Florida defensive coordinator Ted Roof confirmed to ESPN via text message that is is coming to Penn State.

And former offensive line coach at Texas, Mac McWhorter, will replace Dick Anderson and serve as the offensive line coach, according to the Times-Tribune.

January 7, 2012 at 6:39 PM

New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick issued a statement Saturday on Penn State's hiring of Bill O'Brien as its new head coach.

O'Brien coached under Belichick since joining the Patriots as an offensive assistant in 2007. This season, O'Brien was promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in New England.

O'Brien said Belichick has been one of his biggest influences as a coach, and called Belichick "the most challenging guy [he's] ever worked for."

Here's what Belichick had to say about O'Brien going to Penn State:

"Over the course of his long coaching career, Bill O'Brien has met every personal and professional challenge head on with great passion and  competitiveness.  I expect Bill to draw on his deep background in college football and the NFL to continue attracting and developing top players. For five years, Bill's outstanding work with our quarterbacks and entire offense has led to record-setting performances.  His presence and command before our team has grown into that of a inspirational leader.  This is a great match between a storied program and a old-school football coach.  Bill will be up to the task and I couldn't be happier for him, Colleen and the O'Brien family."

January 7, 2012 at 2:15 PM

Penn State has announced Bill O'Brien as the next head football coach, and the Nittany Lions' Football Lettermen's Club have a message for the new leader.

The message was posted on GoPSUsports.com today. Tim Sweeney, President of the Lettermen's Club and a Penn State class of 1989 graduate, issued the statement on behalf of the rest of the club.

The Lettermen express their "full support" for O'Brien, and will welcome him into the Penn State family.

Here is the message in its entireity:

My name is Tim Sweeney, class of 1989, and I am proud to serve as the current President of the Penn State Football Letterman's Club. We are a 30-year-old organization comprised of nearly 1,000 former football lettermen and managers.

On behalf of the entire membership, I would like to congratulate Coach O'Brien on being named the next head football coach at Penn State University. We welcome him as the next leader of our football program, and we welcome his family to ours.

We want Coach O'Brien to know that he has the full support and backing of the Letterman's Club as he leads Penn State Football into the future.

Our highly regarded standard of academic achievement equals that of our on-field performance, and we feel that Coach O'Brien is an excellent choice to continue this tradition that for so long has defined Penn State. Our membership looks forward to welcoming Coach O'Brien and his family in the near future.

Welcome to the Penn State Football family, Coach.

January 7, 2012 at 1:26 PM

Former Penn State defensive coordinator and interim football coach Tom Bradley released a statement Saturday afternoon thanking the university, coaches, fans and players for their support and wished new head coach Bill O'Brien the best of luck as the program moves forward.

Bradley's status with the university is still unclear. The statement was released by Meg Kane, the vice president of Brian Communications, a public relations firm in Philadelphia.

"Penn State has been my life.  In my nearly four decades in Happy Valley, I went from a kid who loved football to a man who cherished and respected the game for the life lessons it taught.  I learned many of those lessons under a great mentor and coach in Joe Paterno and I have dedicated my life to trying to help other young men, like myself, realize their potential both on and off the football field," Bradley said.

"As a former player, I want to acknowledge and thank my teammates who have remained lifelong friends and confidants.  Our friendship didn’t end when we hung up our blue and white jerseys – it only became stronger.  As for my fellow coaches, the bond we share is irreplaceable in my life.  And for that, I am incredibly grateful."

"As a coach, I am most proud of how many of our players have gone onto lead lives dedicated to making this world a better place.  I have always believed that football was just one part of preparing student athletes for the next chapter in their lives.  Those chapters – lived by our players after the games ended – define the Penn State football tradition.  I want to thank every one of our players who gave their talent, effort and most importantly, heart to Penn State.  It has been my life’s privilege to coach you."

"I also want to thank President Erickson, the Board of Trustees, Administrators and Faculty for the chance to be a part of Penn State University. This is a world class academic institution and I am proud to not only work here but to be an alumnus."

"Finally, to our fans and alumni, your support has been incredible, not just this year but for the 37 years I have been here as a player and a coach.  You make Beaver Stadium come alive.  You are our heart.  Make sure that our team – and our opponents – never forget it. "

"I wish Coach O’Brien all the best.  No matter the challenges that the university may face, Penn State will always have my support.  This is forever my home and forever my family.  It is important that we come together to support our players and our university.   Now is the  time to demonstrate that we are – and always will be – Penn State."

January 6, 2012 at 9:05 PM

Former Penn State coach Joe Paterno issued a statment to the Associated Press Friday congratulating Bill O'Brien on his appointment as the Nittany Lions' head football coach.

Though Penn State has yet to announce O'Brien, the offensive coordinator for the New England Patriots, as the head coach, Paterno said the following in a statement provided by his family:

"I understand Bill O'Brien has been named head coach and I want to congratulate him on his appointment." Paterno said. "I don't know Bill, but I respect his coaching record, and I am particularly pleased we share a connection to my alma mater, Brown."

"Despite recent commentary to the contrary, Penn State football has always been about more than winning," Paterno said. "I am hopeful this tradition will continue."

Paterno was fired on Nov. 9 and has since been diagnosed with what his family called a treatable form of lung cancer. 

Tom Bradley acted as interim head coach for the Lions' final four games of the season, including a 30-14 loss to Houston in the TicketCity Bowl.