12 WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4, 2004 FOOTBALL THE DAILY COLLEGIANTHE DAILY COLLEGIANTHE DAILY COLLEGIAN FOOTBALL WEDNESDAY, Feb. 4, 2004 13 Wyatt Bowman - OL - 6’6” - 314 Patrick Humes - K - 5’9” - 160 Mechanicsbrg, Pa. - Cumberland Valley H.S. Gibsonia, Pa. - Pine-Richland H.S. Massive lineman who possesses surprising agility and quickness Passed on a scholarship offer to Connecticut to walk-on at Penn for his size. Clocked a 5.0 in the 40. Has ability to play either State. Kicked 13 field goals and 124 extra points and was ranked guard or in college. Is a fundamentally strong blocker. the No. 29 kicker in the country by Rivals. Top 30 overall Pa. prospect Top five OL Pa. prospect Jonathon Jackson - DB - 6’1” - 180 Philadelphia, Pa. - West Catholic H.S. Dontey Brown - LB - 6’3” - 250 Was originally a member of last year’s recruiting class, but had to , Pa. - McKeesport H.S. sit out in the fall while getting treated for an aneurysm. Not cleared as of yet to play football. Projected but has size, ability to play rush end. One of the WPIAL’s most explosive defensive players. Recorded 150 All-State tackles, 15 for loss and six sacks in his junior year. Quickness for All-Catholic League his size suggests that he may line up as Will linebacker. Putting it together First team WPIAL Quad A All-Conference Dan Lawlor - FB - 6’3” - 245 Pittsburgh Tribune-Review All-WPIAL pick Top 15 overall Pa. prospect National Letter of Intent Day brings together Penn State football class of 2008 Mechanicsburg, Pa. - Cumberland Valley H.S. Benching over 300 pounds, already has the body to play college ball. Could add a little speed to a 4.6 40-yard dash time. Also start- Gerald Cadogan - OL - 6’8” - 305 ed at linebacker. Portsmouth, Ohio - Portsmouth H.S. Three Time All-State resides in New Orleans and is a Can add weight to his tall frame, but will need to work on lower Max Emfinger Three Time All-Conference 25-year veteran of player evaluation and scouting. He Three Time All-League body strength to excel at next level. Quickness for his size allows has been involved with high school, college and pro- him to get of the line quickly and block well downfield. fessional recruiting throughout his career. In the First Team All-State 1980’s, he worked for the Dallas Cowboys as a talent Mike Lucian - DE - 6’3” - 250 All-District scout and now is the proprietor of maxemfingerrecruit- Frederick, Md. - Liganore H.S. All-Legion ing.com, one of the nation’s leading recruiting data- Ohio High School Heisman Finalist bases. Played on both sides of the ball as a and defensive end, Emfinger summed up this year’s recruiting class for but will play on defense at Penn State. Penn State and made some predictions of his own for Two-time All-State pick Paul Cianciolo - QB - 6’5” - 220 the future of the Nittany Lions’ program. Fort Dorchester, S.C. - Fort Dorchester H.S. “This is a heck of a class,” he said. “Penn State’s Jordan Lyons - QB/TE - 6’5” - 220 Threw for over 2850 yards and 28 senior season. recruiting started like a house of fire and it started Efficient passer, completing 55% of attempts. Owns school single out real good. I wouldn’t say it’s not good now, but College Park, Ga. - Woodward Academy season and career passing record. they were able to get a lot of big name players early Recruited as and tight end by numerous programs. on.” ESPN’s Tom Lemming’s No. 1 quarterback in SC Will get a shot to play quarterback for the Lions but will likely end North-South All Star Game Selection Penn State’s and offensive lineman in its up at tight end due to lack of depth at the position. 2004 class are what Emfinger said are the highlights of an otherwise solid class. Georgia Varsity Player of the Week - QB - 6’3” - 193 “Harrison, Cadogan, Varva and Bowman, that’s about Youngstown, Ohio - Ursuline H.S. a good a group of lineman I the country,” Emfinger Richard Ohrnberger - OL - 6’3” - 275 said. Mobile quarterback with strong arm. Three-year varsity starter East Meadow, N.Y. - East Meadow H.S. in very competitive Ohio conference. Chance of delayed enroll- Emfinger’s Blue Chip Prospects Wasn’t rated highly by many services, but New York prospects ment due to a grade issue, but will work out with the team this Dan Connor - LB tend to get less respect than they deserve. Could be the sleeper of summer. this year’s class. Finishes blocks well. Greg Harrison - OL Ranked No. 24 dual-threat quarterback by rivals.com Tom Thorp Award for Nassau County Player of the Year TheInsiders Big Ten Top 100 Prospect Spencer Ridenhour - DB Matrone Award for Nassau County Lineman of the Year All-Area Selection Tyrell Sales - DE / LB Two Time All-County A.Q. Shipley - DT Dan Connor - LB - 6’3” - 225 Emfinger’s Four Star Prospects Spencer Ridenhour - DB - 6’1” - 210 Wallingford, Pa. - Strath Haven H.S. Wyatt Bowman - OL White Plains, N.Y. - White Plains H.S. One of the top overall prospects in the nation. Hard hitting and Dontey Brown - LB Given scholarship after Penn State football camp this summer and intense linebacker. Enrolled early at Penn State and should start Gerald Cadogan - OL finished as the camp’s top safety. Very physical and hard hitting 2004 season at middle linebacker. Rushed for over 1700 yards and prospect who will likely end up as a strong safety. 23 touchdowns as a fullback in 2002. Tony Davis - DB Two Time All-State No. 2 middle linebacker by rivals.com Matt Hahn - FB Two Time All-League Parade All-America Jed Hill - TE Two-time first team AP All-State Dan Lawlor - FB Elijah Robinson - DT - 6’3” - 300 Mike Lucian - DE Camden, N.J. - Woodrow Wilson H.S. Mark Rubin - WR Tony Davis - DB - 5’11” -180 Trent Varva - OL Pursued by Penn State last year, but ultimately committed to Warren, Ohio - Howland H.S. Tulane. Never enrolled at Tulane in an attempt to raise SAT score. Committed to Penn State this year after improving academics and 4.4 speed makes him best pure in this class. Totaled TOP CATCH is currently enrolled this semester. Could provide an immediate 14 career INTs, including three his senior year to go with 48 tack- inside presence to defensive line. les. Also scored 20 touchdowns on offense as a running Dan Connor - LB Philadelphia Inquirer second team All-South Jersey selection back. “He never comes off the field. If you didn’t know he Prep-Star All-Region team AP Ohio Division II Offensive Player of the Year Part of a 15-0 state championship team in junior year Trumbull County Player of the Year was an All-American linebacker, you’d think he First Team All-League was an All-American fullback. He’s super intense, a Mark Rubin - WR - 6’4” - 210 great leader and has great work ethic. He just runs Buffalo, N.Y. - Amherst Central H.S. Adam DiMichele - DB - 6’1” - 179 over people on both sides of the ball. You can’t help McKees Rocks, Pa. — Sto-Rox H.S. Big receiver will present matchup problems. One of New York but like this guy.” State’s best all time high school receivers. No. 2 in receptions and All-time WPIAL passing leader, totaling 6,471 yards in his career, receiving yards all time in New York, trailing only current Arizona but projected as a in college. Has possibility of Cardinal Marquise Walker. playing baseball at Penn State. MOST UNDERRATED PROSPECT No. 64 recever by rivals.com AP Class A First-team selection Elijah Robinson - DT First Team All-State AP Class A Player of the Year “Last year, how Tulane found him was a fluke. The people down here didn’t understand how good he is. Tyrell Sales - DE/LB - 6’4” - 235 Josh Gaines - DE - 6’3” - 255 Pittsburgh, Pa. - Butler H.S. He’s unbelievable. The guy can run and he has the Ft. Wayne, Ind. - Northrop H.S. Accomplished and heavily recruited high school linebacker, but ability to become a great player. He Ranked as a top 25 defensive end nationally by Rivals and The likely projects as a strong-side defensive end because of size and Insiders. Projects as defensive lineman in college, but could play was Tulane’s best recruit last year, but I don’t think Penn State’s depth at linebacker. Senior year numbers suffered on a mediocre Butler team, but is an outstanding athlete who also tight end. Had a 110 tackles and five sacks as a junior. a lot of people still know who he is.” excels academically. AP Class 5A All-State Two Time All-League All-WPIAL selection SLEEPER PROSPECT One of the top five prospects in Pa. Paul Cianciolo - QB One of the top linebackers in the nation Matt Hahn - RB - 6’1” - 218 “I haven’t seen him play or seen him on video, so I Long Island, N.Y. - St. Anthony’s H.S. honestly don’t know a lot about him.” Jimmy Shaw - DE - 6’4” - 260 A fast and physical back who says he plays with a style similar to Spring Grove, Pa. - Spring Grove H.S. Larry Johnson. As a senior, rushed for 1,368 on 141 carries for a gaudy 9.7-yard average. First player to verbal in this class. Transferring from Rice and currently attending branch campus with intention of attending University Park this summer. Older New York Daily News Player of the Year Photo clockwise from top left: Greg Harrison and Wyatt Bowman, photo courtesty of Joseph Rokita - PSU Playbook; Dan Connor, photo courtesy of Laurence Kesterson - brother of defensive tackle John Shaw, a Penn State recruit from AP State Player of the Year last year. Played in every game last season at Rice. Has possibility Two Time All-State Philadelphia Inquirer; Adam DiMichele, photo courtesy of The Pittsburgh Tribune Review; rivals.com Top 25 Tyrell Sales, photo courtesy of the Pittsburgh Tribune Review; Gerald Cadogan (70), of playing linebacker. Two Time All-Long Island photo courtesy of Max Emfinger; A.Q. Shipley, photo courtesy of Max Emfinger. Led H.S. team to YAIAA Division I title Pa. class of 2004 prospects York Daily Record’s Division I Player of the Year Greg Harrison - OL - 6’5” - 295 Page Designed by Beth Allison. Content compiled by Rob Riva, Wade Malcolm and Derek Levarse Shenandoah, Pa. - Shenandoah Valley S.H.S. - QB - undecided A.Q. Shipley - DT - 6’2” - 280 Chad Henne - QB - Michigan Dominating and smart lineman who enrolled at Penn State Coraopolis, Pa. - Moon Area H.S. semester early. Committed to the Nittany Lions at the Blue-White Dan Connor - LB - Penn State Received 41 scholarship offers, but felt most comfortable in Happy game in 2003. Four-year varsity starter. Actively recruited many Expect Morelli to join already solid Penn State incoming class Kyle Mitchum - OL - Ohio State Valley. One of the top recruits in the state. Possesses impressive of the other commitments in the 2004 class. James Bryant - LB - undecided By Rob Riva but will wait until this morning to make According to rivals.com, Notre foot speed for a lineman. Doesn’t excel in any one area, but is a No. 6 guard by rivals.com it public. “From a historical perspective, Penn State fans should Dame’s 16 commitments garner it a solid all-around player. Four-star recruit, per rivals.com. One of the Tyrell Sales - LB - Penn State highest rated recruits in this year’s Penn State class. AP First Team All-State - Small School he list of com- From a historical perspective, Penn have every reason to believe Morelli will choose the weak No. 34 ranking nationally. The Andrew Johnson - RB - Pittsburgh mitments to State fans should have every reason to Fighting Irish were passed up by Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 A.Q. Shipley - DT - Penn State T the Penn State believe Morelli will choose the Lions. Lions.” numerous blue chip prospects Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 Jed Hill - TE - 6’4” - 245 Greg Harrison - OL - Penn State football isn’t quite Over the last few years, numerous including Brian Brohm who went to AP First-team Pa. Class AAA All-State Struthers, Ohio - Struthers H.S. complete yet. high school prospects that have verbal- Louisville and Dan Connor to Penn Chris Rogers - LB - Michigan There’s at least ly committed to a program and then after taking a visit to Palo Alto. an amazing feat it was to put together a State. Only true tight end recruit in Penn State’s class. Missed most of Corey Davis - LB - Pittsburgh one name missing gone elsewhere on official visits almost So where will Morelli ultimately end class of this caliber. Penn State’s recruiting ability has Kevin Suhey - QB/DB - 6’2” - 195 junior season due to injuries. Gym fanatic who works out six days from the incoming always decommit from their original up? First, didn’t Penn State finish 3-9 just this year proven versatile while Notre State College, Pa. - State College H.S. a week. Converted from fullback before his injury, but coaches Rory Nicol - TE - Ohio State group. choice. Quite frankly, I don’t know. recently? Yes. Dame’s has stumbled. like his catching ability. Jordan Steffy - QB - Maryland Penn Hills quar- It’s gone both ways for Penn State; And if anyone tells you that they And isn’t Joe Paterno obsolete on the Regardless, keep in mind that once Local product who led Little Lions to the PIAA Quad A semifinals. Likely to “greyshirt” this season, meaning he will not enroll until Bench presses 390 lbs. terback Anthony the program has lost players and know, whether it be with 100, 99 or 98.6 recruiting trail? Apparently not. these incoming prospects reach cam- Devon Lyons - DB - undecided Morelli, one of the gained players. percent certainty, chances are they are Let’s assume that the Lions don’t fin- pus, a handful will fade into obscurity. January 2005 and will not count against Penn State’s scholarship Leg press of 890 lbs. MY OPINION count until then. Had a completion percentage above 60 at State 34-inch vertical leap Anthony Heygood - RB - undecided nation’s top overall Levi Brown originally committed to full of it. ish with a top-10 class nationally. Worst Another handful will go on to become Craig Bokor - DT - Pittsburgh prospects and Virginia Tech, took an official visit to But if you’re one for unsubstantiated case scenario, let’s assume that Penn solid contributors to the Penn State High but may move to safety at Penn State. strongest arms, has yet to officially Happy Valley, then chose Penn State. rumors and Internet gossip, the word is State, heaven forbid, lands with a top-15 football program. A fraction will go Led team to PIAA Class AAAA semifinals Austin Hinton - OL - 6’4” - 298 Ryan Purvis - TE - Boston College name the college that will receive Both Donnie Johnson and J.R. Morelli has selected Penn State. class instead. All things considered, the on to the next level. Led team to District 6 Class AAAA title Chris Crane - QB - Boston College his services next season as of press Zwierzynski initially chose Illinois but Hold your applause because until the recruiting class of 2004 is nothing short Morelli might be one of Secaucus, N.J. - Secaucus H.S. time. after visiting Penn State became Nit- letter of intent is signed, and faxed to of stellar. them. Adam Gunn - DB - Pittsburgh Whether he ends up making that tany Lions. Josh Hannum is a Notre Joe Paterno, nothing is official. To make a comparison, look at anoth- Connor might be one of Trent Varva - OL - 6’3” - 320 Earned early scholarship offer after impressing coaches at the final list of Nittany Lions’ freshman for Dame decommit as is Lavon Chisley of Still, if Morelli indeed becomes a Nit- er program that has mimicked Penn them. Penn State summer football camp. Athletic ability and quickness Scott McKillop - LB - Pittsburgh Lake Orion, Mich. - Lake Orion H.S. Dan Lawlor - FB - Penn State the 2004 season remains to be seen. Maryland. All changed their minds tany Lion, he will be a final piece to an State’s fall from grace in football Then again, they is there, but will need to get bigger and stronger. Projected as an Morelli, who committed to Pittsburgh after making a trip to Penn State. otherwise unprecedented 2004 recruit- recently: Notre Dame. might not. Was overlooked by Michigan for being “too short.” Lack of size offensive guard. Kevin Akins - DB - Boston College in August, has since rescinded his ver- It also works the other way. ing class. Even if he sticks with Pitts- The Fighting Irish ended the season aside, explodes well off the line of scrimmage. Projects as an offen- All-State Wyatt Bowman - OL - Penn State bal commitment and took an official Last year, highly recruited Georgia burgh, the Lions’ 2004 recruiting class better off than Penn State did. Notre Rob Riva is a senior major- sive guard. All-Area visit to Penn State two weeks ago. As of Jason Evans committed remains solid nonetheless. Either way, Dame finished 5-7 and has since been ing in psychology and is a Col- Two Time All-State All-League Dontey Brown - LB - Penn State Monday evening, Morelli made his deci- very early on to the Nittany Lions, there are certain contexts that need to unable to recruit a highly touted class legian recruiting writer. His e-mail Two Time All-Area All-County Darrelle Revis - DB - Pittsburgh sion between the Lions and Panthers, but ultimately signed with Stanford be remembered when considering what of incoming freshmen. address is [email protected]. Two Time All-League