It’s finally here. Months of in-house visits, phone calls, text messages, and premature panic has led up to today when Penn State officially welcomes the Class of 2011. We will keep you updated as the Letters of Intent (LOI) roll in throughout the day. Although with one of the smaller classes Penn State will sign in recent seasons (you only have 85 scholarships, and we are not the SEC West), it should be a fairly predictable LOI Day.

But like every Signing Day, there will be some drama involved especially across the Big Ten landscape. For the Penn State faithful, keep an eye out for safety/cornerback Adrian Amos, who is scheduled to make his decision at 3pm. Will he stick with his original verbal at UConn despite Randy Edsall’s departure or choose the Blue and White becoming the 16th member of the Class of 2011?

We’ll have it all throughout the day.

RECAP

[Update 3:35] So barring any stunning surprises, this will be it for the Penn State Class of 2011. As expected, every one of Penn State’s verbals signed with the Lions. The only surprise on Signing Day came from Adrian Amos who decomitted from his original verbal to UConn and chose to play for Penn State. For a class that many fans felt was on the brink of disaster just a few months ago, the coaching staff really wrapped this one up nicely. Sure it would have been nice to pick up Kyshoen Jarrett, Albert Louis-Jean or even Blake Countess, recruits that would propel this recruiting class into the Top 25, but considering how limited the number of scholarships we could have given for this class, and that we just signed the B1G’s top ranked class just last season, this was anticipated.

This recruiting season, we saw Penn State address two huge areas of need, and that’s reflected in the final commit list. 9 of Penn State’s 16 signees-and most of their highest profile recruits–will play in the trenches, either along the offensive or defensive lines. But that success didn’t carry over to the staff’s other priority–the defensive secondary. Although Adrian Amos was a nice pickup and fills a key need in this class, CB Shyquawn Pullium was the only other recruit in this class that was projected to play in the secondary. This will make the secondary a critical area of need that the coaching staff will definitely be focused on for next year’s recruiting class.

TIMELINE

[Update 3:16] Donovan Smith – 4 star offensive tackle by both Rivals and Scout just sent in his LOI to Penn State. Given Penn State’s struggles along the offensive line in recent years, it’s encouraging to see them focus on that position in this year’s recruiting. Smith now joins Angelo Mangiro and Anthony Zettel as highly sought after linemen who have committed to Penn State in this year’s class. The 6-6, 280 pound offensive tackle picked the Lions over fellow finalists NC State and UCLA during a break at the Army All-American Bowl last month. He also held multiple offers from the likes of West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh, and Michigan State, among others.

[Update 3:11 pm] Adrian Amos – 3 star safety by Rivals, Scout, and ESPN just selected and sent in his LOI to Penn State! Originally a UConn verbal, the Maryland native reopened his commitment following Randy Edsall’s departure for, ironically enough, Maryland. This left less than a month for the Penn State coaching staff to recruit Amos, but it seems as if it has paid off. Amos just announced that he will be trading in UConn’s shade of Blue and White for Penn State’s Blue and White. The first team all-state player, and standout in the Crab Bowl racked up 78 tackles last year, to go along with 4 interceptions and 3 forced fumbles. A true safety, Amos is simultaneously a ball hawk and a heavy hitter, combining solid size–he’s listed at 6’1, 205 pounds–and good speed with nice ball skills. His highlight tape is impressive, and he may be instantly able to step in and improve a very thin Penn State secondary.

[Update 2:49 pm] Shawn Oakman – 4 star DE by both Rivals (#20 DE) and Scout (#19 DE) just sent in his LOI to Penn State. The 6’8, 240 lb defensive end out of Penn Woods in Lansdowne, PA was the first recruit the get the recruiting ball rolling following a long arduous offseason for fans when Penn State had just 1 verbal. Also a highly touted basketball recruit, Oakman has a tremendous frame and can also be slotted in tight end, a position he also played in high school. At Penn Woods, he finished his junior season with 136 tackles, 17 sacks and four fumbles caused. Offensively, he had 20 catches for four touchdowns.

“I couldn’t be happier,” said Oakman, who plans on wearing No. 91 at State College. “It came down to what I thought what college should be and also what college coach was going to push from being good to being great. I think Coach Johnson and Coach Vanderlinden can do that. That’s why I choose Penn State.”

[Update 2:22 pm] Bill Belton – 4 star recruit by both Rivals (#25 ATH) and Scout (#13 WR) just sent in his LOI to Penn State. Like Ben Kline, Belton was originally a Pitt verbal but eventually decommitted following the Dave Wannstedt and Mike Haywood coaching fiasco and elected to go with the Lions shortly after. The 5’9, 180-pounder was one of the top athletes on the east coast, and his offer sheet reflects that. In addition to offers from Pitt, West Virginia, Cincinnati, and Penn State he was courted by programs as far south as Florida and Georgia Tech, and to the west, from Nebraska, Wisconsin, and Oregon. He became the first New Jersian to pass for 2000 yards and run for 1000 in consecutive seasons, completing 61% of his passes with 21 touchdowns through the air. And on the ground, he ran for more than 6 yards a pop with another 16 touchdowns, a pure testament to his elite athleticism.

We should now be just waiting on Shawn Oakman and Donovan Smith. If Adrian Amos picks the Lions at 3pm, that would be icing on the cake.

[Update 12:45 pm] Anthony Zettel – #5 DE in the country by Rivals / #8 G by Scout. A longtime Wolverines fan who was considered a lock for Michigan until his verbal back in December has sent his LOI in to Penn State.

“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.”

Word is because of the increment weather the NCAA is actually allowing prospects to email/photo their LOIs. We are now just down to Bill Belton, Shawn Oakman, Donovan Smith, and Adrian Amos who is scheduled to announce at 3pm.

[Update 10:22 am] Shyquawn Pullium – 3 star CB by both Rivals and Scout has sent in his LOI to Penn State. Originally considered an ATH/DB prospect, Mike McQueary recruited Pullium exclusively for the CB position. The 6-1, 178 lbs player out of Cathedral Prep, Erie, Pennsylvania originally verbaled to the Lions last January, but instead of signing last summer as he had hoped, academic issues sent him to Kiski Prep in Saltsburg, PA for a year before he could finally enroll at Penn State. If that sounds familiar, it is because Kiski Prep was also the rout another Lion great, Daryll Clark took before matriculating at Penn State. Kiski’s football coach Marcus Muster said the Lions never gave up on Pullium. Mike McQueary along with Prep coach Mike Mischler stayed in touch with Pullium all throughout the fall to make sure he was on track to join the Nittany Lions.

[Update 10:16 am] Jordan Kerner – 3 star DE out of Fairview, Pennsylvania just sent in his LOI to Penn State. Following an offseason with just 1 verbal for the Class of 2011, Jordan Kerner became the 2nd commit in less than a week to join the Blue and White back in June.

The 6’5″, 225 lbs DE picked the Lions  over offers from Maryland, Boston College, Rutgers, West Virginia, Iowa and Minnesota.

[Update 9:48 am] Ben Kline – 3 star LB out of Dallastown High School, Pennsylvania has sent in his LOI to Penn State. Originally a Pitt verbal, Kline reopened his commitment following the Dave Wannstedt’s dismissal and subsequent coaching fiasco at Pitt. Initially during his recruiting process, Penn State had shown interest but never extended a scholarship offer. Kline eventually received that coveted offer by Penn State which he essentially immediately accepted just 1 day following Wanny’s dismissal. The 6’2″ 220 lb linebacker eventually committed to the Blue and White over offers from West Virginia, Boston College, UConn, Duke, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Rutgers, Pitt and Vanderbilt. He is reported to be able to complete a surprisingly fast 4.5, 40 yard dash considering his size including routinely posting a 100 meter dash in just over 11 seconds on his track and field team.

[Update 9:36 am] Ryan Nowicki – 3 star offensive tackle by both Rivals and Scout has sent in his LOI to Penn State. The furthest recruit in Penn State’s Class of 2011, the 6’5, 275-pound lineman from Arizona picked the Blue and White over offers from Arizona, Arizona State and more than a dozen programs from USC to Syracuse. It’s not often that Penn State snags a commitment from an Arizona native.

“When I went there, I just had a really good experience, I had a gut feeling that I was supposed to be there,” he said. “I liked everything about it. The players were phenomenal, they were great people, the whole town loves them. They had great players, great tradition. I just don’t think you can go wrong with it. I think it’s an amazing place.”

[Update 9:34 am] Angelo Mangiro – #18 G (3 star recruit) by Rivals / #5 G (4 stars) by Scout / #2 G by ESPN. A lifelong Penn State fan even going as far as calling it his dream school, Mangiro was a huge pickup by the Lions at a time when recruiting for the Class of 2011 was struggling badly. But the 6-3, 295 all-conference, all-region, all-county and all-state guard eventually picked the Blue and White over offers from Florida, USC, Boston College, Notre Dame, and just about every other school in the region.

[Update 8:58 am] Allen Robinson – 3 star WR by both Rivals and Scout out of Orchard Lake, Michigan has sent his LOI in to Penn State. He is out of St Mary’s Prep where he played alongside fellow alumnus Penn State QB Rob Bolden just last year. It’ll be interesting to see the dynamic the two will have on the field. The speedster reportedly runs a 4.5, 40 yard dash where he was mainly utilized as a wideout, but also contributed on the defensive side of the ball as a defensive back.

[Update 8:45 am] Deion Barnes – #6 DE (#2 prospect from PA) by Rivals / #31 by Scout. Deion Barnes has sent in his LOI to Penn State, officially becoming the first member of his family to attend college leaving what is considered one of the worst areas of Philadelphia. His pass rushing skills racked up 85 tackles, 35 for a loss including 13 sacks landed him on the second team all-state.

“I am making this decision because of academics and the comfort level. I am not going to be one of those guys that just stays three years, I want to be there for four. For those reasons, I am going to Penn State.”

[Update 8:15 am] Anthony Alosi is already an early enrollee and does not have to sign an LOI. Matt Zanellato and Sam Fricken have sent in their signed LOIs to Penn State.

Letters of Intent received so far:

Anthony Alosi (Early enrollee)
Matt Zanellato (LOI – 7:46 am)
Sam Ficken (LOI – 8:15 am)
Deion Barnes (LOI – 8:45 am)
Allen Robinson (LOI – 8:58 am)
Angelo Mangiro (LOI – 9:34 am)
Ryan Nowicki (LOI – 9:36 am)
Kyle Carter (LOI – 9:45 am)
Ben Kline (LOI – 9:48 am)
Jordan Kerner (LOI – 10:16 am)
Shyquawn Pullium (LOI – 10:22 am)
Anthony Zettel (LOI – 12:45 pm)
Bill Belton (LOI – 2:22 pm)
Shawn Oakman (LOI – 2:49 pm)
Adrian Amos (LOI – 3:11 pm)
Donovan Smith (LOI – 3:16 pm)

Letters Pending

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