Penn State’s list good but small

The Nittany Lions once again loaded up at linebacker, including Michael Zordich.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) — Penn State’s latest recruiting class might be most notable for one name missing from the list.

Instead of announcing his college choice Wednesday, Jeannette quarterback Terrelle Pryor said in a nationally televised news conference that he was still trying to decide between Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State and Oregon.

For now, PSU’s blue-and-white faithful will have to settle for a small recruiting class of 14 players headlined by linebackers but light at needy spots like quarterback and wide receiver. With the coaching staff talking about moving to a spread-style offense next season, stockpiling such skill position players might be considered more important than usual.

“Overall though, other than that, they did what they had to do,” said Mark Brennan, the editor of FightonState.com, which covers Penn State recruiting. “At linebacker, they just keep stocking up.”

This is Linebacker U., after all.

Four-star prospects Mike Yancich from Washington, Pa., Mike Zordich from Mooney High and Michael Mauti of Mandeville, La., should replenish depth for years to come at a school that has boasted recent All-Americans Dan Connor and Paul Posluszny.

Rivals.com recruiting analyst Mike Farrell called Penn State’s latest haul “one of the best linebacking classes in the country.”

Brandon Beachum, Zordich’s teammate at Mooney, is bringing his 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame to Happy Valley to play running back, though some analysts considered linebacker to be the four-star prospect’s best position. Considered a bruising runner, Beachum will be added to a relatively inexperienced but promising tailback mix led by Evan Royster, who will be a sophomore in the 2008 season.

The Nittany Lions did lose out on Michael Shaw, a speedy back from Ohio who dropped his verbal commitment to Penn State to sign with Michigan.

Penn State didn’t have many scholarships available this year. Its class is ranked 40th by Scout.com and 42nd by Rivals, and is generally rated behind Big Ten rivals Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Receiver A.J. Price of Reston, Va., might have to add bulk to his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame, though he has been timed at 4.5 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Getting Price was important for the future given that Penn State’s current top three receivers — Derrick Williams, Deon Butler and Jordan Norwood — will all be seniors.