Hill commits to Penn State

Jed Hill's injury-plagued junior year didn't stop Joe Paterno from offering.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;By BRIAN RICHESSON & lt;/a & gt;
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
STRUTHERS -- Jed Hill turned a football camp into a permanent stay.
The Struthers High tight end, who will be a senior in the fall, verbally committed to Penn State University this week after impressing coaches at a one-day camp.
"What made me stand out to them was my size and strength," said the 6-foot-4, 245-pound Hill, who grew up in Indiana and moved to the Mahoning Valley as a freshman.
Sought-after
Hill had the size of a Division I-type player, drawing the attention of major programs. Every Mid-American Conference school was interested. So was West Virginia, Syracuse and Louisville.
"Everyone kept saying that he is a freak of nature," Struthers coach Gary Zetts said. "He just looks like a college player."
Once the Nittany Lions saw him in person, head coach Joe Paterno didn't hesitate to offer.
"I really didn't have a clue it was going to happen" this week, Hill said. "I didn't know what to say when they offered me."
He said yes.
"It feels like home up there," he added of State College, Pa. "All the coaches are reasonable and understanding."
In his workout for Penn State coaches, Hill bench-pressed 225 pounds 25 times, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.7 seconds and the shuttle run in 4.1 seconds.
The Nittany Lions, who also have received a commitment from Howland's Tony Davis, went 9-4 last season and 5-3 in the Big Ten.
Setback
Hill started at defensive end as a sophomore and planned to make an impact last year as a fullback/linebacker, but he broke his fibula in the second game.
"The rehab was basically sitting down and letting it heal," Hill said. "I was out six weeks. Watching everybody else play was pretty rough."
College coaches kept requesting game film of Hill, but Zetts couldn't provide them with any because Hill simply hadn't played enough.
"He knows he has a lot to prove," Zetts said. "Even though he's a physical kid, he's never really shown what he can do on the football field. He wants to prove he belongs."
Impact player
Hill's presence will give Struthers a formidable blocker with sound technique who has the ability to catch the ball and turn up field fast. He will try to help the Wildcats improve on a 4-6 record, 2-3 in the Metro Athletic Conference.
"If he plays up to his potential, he'll win us a ton of games. He's unbelievable," Zetts said. "He runs so well and he's so strong. He's got everything."
Hill isn't the only Wildcat impressing college coaches right now.
Offensive lineman Justin Decker (6-3, 280), who also will be a senior in the fall, has been offered by Youngstown State, Vanderbilt, Bowling Green and Toledo.
& lt;a href=mailto:richesson@vindy.com & gt;richesson@vindy.com & lt;/a & gt;