February 3, 2010

2010 Freshman Class, Hello!

Penn State didn't have to worry about the usual National Letter of Intent Signing Day drama. Unlike the plurality of college football programs on signing day, Joe Paterno's crew likes to lock up their recruiting classes early.

The Nittany Lions' very first recruit in the 2010 freshman class, linebacker Mike Hull gave his solid verbal to Penn State all the way back on Thanksgiving... 2008. And while quarterback Paul Jones was in one day, out the next for a few months, he gave his first verbal to Penn State in January 2009.

The next big wave of recruits came in May and June of last year. Running back Silas Redd and lineman Luke Graham verbaled in May. That was followed up by another swell of summer verbals, beginning with linemen Tom Ricketts and Miles Dieffenbach. Over the next few months, Penn State's 2010 freshman class was looking better and better:

6/14/09 - TE/DE Kyle Baublitz†
6/26/09 - DT Evan Hailes†
6/27/09 - G/DT Daquan Jones
7/1/09 - WR Levi Norwood*
7/10/09 - QB Robert Bolden
7/14/09 - WR Alex Kenney
7/27/09 - TE Kevin Haplea†
7/30/09 - DE/LB Dakota Royer†
7/30/09 - DE C.J. Olaniyan
9/11/09 - FB Zach Zwinak
10/05/09 - LB Khairi Fortt†
10/18/09 - OL Khamrone Kolb
1/26/10 - CB Shyquawn Pullium*
1/28/10 - LB Brad Bars
(*as of 1 p.m. on Signing Day, have not faxed LOI, but are expected to in the afternoon; †Enrolled early, including Paul Jones and Silas Redd)

Notice only two of Penn State's 20 recruits actually verbally committed in 2010; and they weren't even the highest profile names in the class. This year's recruiting class is the absolute epitome of how Penn State operates. Paterno and his crew would love to get the process done with as early as possible, then move right on into winter workouts and spring practice.

For tomorrow's Thursday Question, the LBU staff will hand out grades for this freshman class, so I won't offer too much judgment right now. However, this is a really special class, that has the opportunity to surpass the accomplishments of any other class from the last 10 years.

Here is the full Class of 2010:



Pos2010 ClassHtWt40RankHometownVerbal
QBRobert Bolden6-42004.552/7Orchard Lake, MI/St. MarySigned LOI
QBPaul Jones†6-32264.87/2McKees Rocks, PA/Sto-RoxSigned LOI
RBSilas Redd†5-102004.455/15Stamford, CT/King&Low-Heywood ThomasSigned LOI
FBZach Zwinak6-22304.51/1Frederick, MD/LinganoreSigned LOI
WRAlex Kenney6-01944.4163/53State College, PA/State College AreaSigned LOI
WRLevi Norwood6-21704.55NR/131Waco, TX/MidwaySigned LOI
TEKyle Baublitz† (Scout:DE)6-42545.137/28York, PA/Central YorkSigned LOI
TEKevin Haplea†6-42264.7524/5Annandale, NJ/North HunterdonSigned LOI
CMiles Dieffenbach6-52775.54/6Pittsburgh, PA/Fox Chapel AreaSigned LOI
GLuke Graham6-52604.8316/11Harrison City, PA/Penn TraffordSigned LOI
GDaquan Jones (Scout:DT)6-43025.417/10Johnson City, NY/Johnson CitySigned LOI
OLKhamrone Kolb6-63005.1NT/77Burke, VA/Lake BraddockSigned LOI
OTThomas Ricketts6-62655.1919/32Wexford, PA/St. MarySigned LOI
DEC.J. Olaniyan6-52304.6515/18Warren, MI/Warren MottSigned LOI
DEDakota Royer† (Scout:OLB)6-32114.6622/14Manheim, PA/Manheim CentralSigned LOI
DTEvan Hailes†6-13055.0019/8Chesapeake, VA/Oscar F. SmithSigned LOI
LBKhairi Fortt†6-22204.582/5Stamford, CT/StamfordSigned LOI
LBMike Hull (Scout:MLB)6-12154.558/2Canonsburg, PA/Canon-McmillanSigned LOI
LBBrad Bars (Scout:DE)6-32254.5NR/NRNashville, TN/Montgomery Bell AcademySigned LOI
DBShyquawn Pullium 6-01804.6NR/122Erie, PA/Cathedral PrepSigned LOI

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† Will enroll for Spring semester
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