For those Penn State fans obsessed with the whims of 17-year olds, this has not been a fun year. Even the not recruiting-obsessed portion of the fanbase could certainly sense something was up. Whether its the uncertainty of Joe Paterno’s future, the coaching staff eyeing other jobs, or due to the relative disappointment of a 7-5 season, or infertile recruiting grounds, this year, moreso than any other in recent memory, this year’s futility has sent those denizens of the message boards into a panicked frenzy. And it only got worse when prospects we were expected to secure slipped out of our grasp, when the weeks and months rolled on with Penn State near the bottom of the Big Ten, not just in the number of commitments, but in their perceived caliber.

Perhaps that’s what makes Anthony Zettel’s choice of Penn State even more inspiring, even amongst those of us who would either prefer not to stress over recruiting stars or who would diminish the importance of one year’s struggles. But his decision to come to Penn State was the kind of shocker Joe–or at least Ron Vanderlinden–needed to revitalize this class, or at least to try and salvage it. Zettel grew up a Michigan fan and throughout his recruitment was considered a sure thing for the Wolverines–but the lack of certainty in Ann Arbor regarding Rich Rodriguez’s future apparently usurped that in State College. Even if it wasn’t going to be Michigan, the other hometown team, Michigan State, was also considered a leading contender for Zettel’s services. In short, him choosing Penn State was a surprise totally out of left field, but one certainly more comforting than the Penn State “locks” who chose to go elsewhere.

Oh, and Zettel is, in the eyes of most observers, a legitimate stud. Rivals ranks the 6’4, 260-pounder as the #5 defensive end in the country, the nation’s #65 prospect. Scout sees him as an offensive guard, and ranks him #8 at that position. Along with just a handful of the other players in this small (to this point) recruiting class, Zettel is not just a future starter, but a future star for Penn State, whether it’s on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. Last year, he put up the kind of numbers you’d expect from a top prospect: 113 tackles and 7 sacks in just 9 games from his defensive end position, earning scholarship offers from schools all over the country–from USC to Penn State, to his hometown Michigan schools, Iowa, and most other major programs in the midwest. According to MLive, “his athletic abilities even allowed Zettel to move around the field, throwing passes, catching passes and even record a 100-yard rushing day as a running back.” He’s a standout basketball player, too, and while you’d expect a big kid like Zettel to dominate at shot-put and discus, he also runs hurdles and the relay for his track team.

With a little over a month and a half left until signing day, and a number of key recruits still uncommitted, it’s possible for Penn State to avoid the “worst recruiting class ever” this year’s crop seemed destined to be. If Zettel’s announcement earlier this evening is any indication, perhaps the 84-year old Joe Paterno still has a few tricks up his sleeves, even if he’s got one foot out the door.

Update: Lions247, which is fast becoming one of the best sources for Penn State news, has an article with plenty of quotes from Zettel. Here are the choicest:

Zettel said he thought about his decision a lot while on break from school and is completely certain with his choice.

“Over my vacation I came to reality,” Zettel said. “Then every day it just grew and grew, so I was 100-percent sure.”

“Just a great education there, the family atmosphere that they have and great coaching,” Zettel said when asked what set PSU apart. “They teach their players to be good guys and good football players.”

“I liked Michigan, I just didn’t feel like the chemistry was there as much as Penn State,” Zettel said. “It’s not like I didn’t like one thing (about Michigan), I just liked Penn State in every aspect.”