Penn State offers DE/TE Marco Jones

Maryland defensive end Marco Jones (Rivals/Scout/ESPN) received a scholarship offer this week from Penn State. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound prospect from The Boys’ Latin School in Baltimore is projected as either a tight end or a defensive end in college. I'm not yet sure if this is a reaction to losing out on Ben Koyack, who committed to Notre Dame last week, but Jones is a very solid recruit from one of Penn State's favorite recruiting grounds.

Jones says he wants to make a decision before the football season begins, which starts the clock for Penn State's prospects with the rising senior. He now holds between seven and nine offers, depending on which recruiting service you read. Those offers include West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Louisville, UConn, Kansas State and North Carolina. Jones recently returned from a trip to Rutgers, which he said impressed him and his mother very much, particularly in terms of the academic prowess of the school. If academics are a priority for Jones and his mom, Penn State should be in the top few schools.

Three defensive ends--six ends including the tight ends--currently hold offers form the Nittany Lions. The addition of Jones brings the defensive ends count to four. Why does that matter? Well, it doesn't really. But it does give somewhat of an indication that Penn State wants to sign at least one defensive end in this upcoming class.

One defensive end might not sound like a lot, especially for Penn State. That's because, well, it isn't a lot. Larry Johnson, Sr. brings in pretty much a new defensive line rotation in each recruiting class. To sign only one defensive end in 2011 would surprise the hell out of a lot more people than just me.

Follow LBU on Facebook and Twitter. You can also Subscribe to Linebacker-U.com by Email