This Guy: December 2007

PSU's Next QB Grab

It could definitely still be Terrell Pryor or even E.J Manuel. However, if neither of these work out (Pryor the best possibility and even that is 50% chance at best) there is a certain California quarterback that has the PSU high on his list for next years class. He also is not new to the recruiting game as he has two brothers playing major Division 1 football at Stanford and UCLA. His name is Tate Forcier and you will hear a lot of him in the next year. If neither of the two quarterbacks mentioned earlier do not come to Happy Valley, look for a very early commit from Forcier, possibly the first commit. He wants to commit early as he understands the importance of being the one to start a recruiting push for others to follow. He recently received a PSU verbal offer and the written will be sent after the bowl game. PSU is now his current leader and it is fully expected for him to commit after signing day if the above two names fall through.

Tate Forcier Profile

One More Down

The nations top Quarterback recruit, Terrelle Pryor, eliminated Texas last week from his list to give him a new top list which included Oregon to replace Texas. Today he eliminated Tennessee from his list due to the Vols assistant coach Cutcliffe leaving for the Duke job. To speculate a little on top of all that, Oregon just received a verbal from the #5 quarterback (by scout.com) in the nation in Darron Thomas, so I would not expect to see them being mentioned much anymore. That leaves a few left as long as TP doesn't add new parties late in the game.

- Ohio State
- Penn State
- West Virginia
- Florida

We will know the answer in 2 1/2 short months on signing day.

Terrelle Pryor

TP

Scout.com: Vols Already Feel Loss of Cutcliffe

Stankiewitch Selected

PSU's first commit of the year, Matt Stankiewitch, will be playing in the ESPN Under Armour All Star game. Matt was selected today to step in for a hurt player previously selected to play.

"Stank"

ESPN.com - NCF - Scouts Inc. Recruiting Briefing Room

King's Future

Many people expected Justin King (cornerback) to leave after this season when asked at the beginning of the year. If you ask now, I am sure most people would say he should stay. King had an up and down year by most analyst terms, something some attribute to his shoulder injury he suffered in the Notre Dame game. King told ESPN that he is currently 50/50 for his decision. He has already submitted all the paperwork to the NFL to try and determine his draft status. This may be more of a lean toward the NFL than most people think.

BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - King ponders future

2008 Schedule Finalized

It is now official, the 2008 football season schedule. As expected, Oregon State will be replacing Arkansas State on the schedule for September 6th. The week prior PSU will host Coastal Carolina. After the Oregon State game, PSU travels to Syracuse and then back home for Temple on the 20th before opening the Big 10 Year at home against Illinois.

BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - Beavers coming to Happy Valley in '08

Connor Selected AP 1stTeam All-American

Dan Conner has received more recognition. This time as a first team AP All American. Connor joined a very standout group consisting of Dennis Onkotz (1968-69), Shane Conlan (1985-86), LaVar Arrington (1998-99) and Paul Posluszny (2005-06) as Nittany Lion linebackers that earned first team All-America accolades two times.

Dan Connor

Sophomore, Maurice Evans, also received honorable mention on the SI.com All-American team.

Big Mo

Connor Selected Associated Press First Team All-American :: Bednarik Award Winner Also on SI.com All-America Squad

Buggs In

The coach hired to replace Coach Norwood has been formally announced. Coordinator of Player Personnel, Kermit Buggs, has been announced to fill the position. He has already started to take over duties to prepare for the Alamo Bowl.

Here is a little about him.

"Prior to coming to Penn State, Buggs was a successful high school coach, leading Surry County High School in Dendron, Va. to a 34-14 record from 1999-2002. His 1999 squad was 14-0 and won the Division I state championship and Buggs was named the state's Division I Coach of he Year.

A product of Hampton, Va., Buggs is a 1995 graduate of Norfolk State University, where he played football. He was selected the team's Freshman of the Year and earned player of the game honors seven times during his career. He was the University's 1992-93 recipient of the Vince Lombardi Award for Leadership and Academic Achievement.

Buggs completed his master's degree in educational administration from Penn State in 2006.

He and Kristy Bowser were married this past July."

http://207.44.194.112/users/Brennan/2007FBImages/Buggs.jpg

BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - Buggs officially fills coaching role

Joe Paterno Speech

In case you didn't get a chance to see Joe's speech with his hall of fame induction.

Wrestlers Not Alone - BBall

The Penn State mens basketball team had a great weekend as well. After losing to Seton Hall at the half, PSU came back to tie it at the end of regular regulation. Then the Taylor Battle show began with putting Seton Hall away in OT. This was a much needed win for the lions after losing so badly in the Old Spice Classic over Thanksgiving weekend and St. Joes last week. Penn State is now 4-4 while Seton Hall is 7-2.

Taylor Battle (Freshman)

Scout.com: State Out-Battles Pirates

Wrestlers Roll

This week the Penn State wrestlers held Lehigh to no points and then traveled to Oklahoma State (a year in and year out top squad). The #5 Nittany Lions handed #3 Oklahoma State their first loss of the season 21-18.

Phil Davis (undefeated and #1 in the country at 197)

BlueWhiteIllustrated.com - No. 5 Penn State takes down No. 3 Cowboys

Connor Keeps the Streak Alive

Dan Conner last night received the Bednarik Award last night to become the 3rd Penn State player to win this defensive player of the year award. This also marks the third straight year the award has went to a Penn State player.

Congratulation Dan...

Connor Gives Nittany Lions Third Consecutive Bednarik Award Winner :: Also Named to Walter Camp All-America Team

Norwood Leaves

Coach Brian Norwood (safeties coach) has accepted a position at Baylor university being the defensive coordinator. There have been many names being thrown around about leaving for other coaching jobs, but this one definitely caught people off-guard. Especially with his son being a senior this coming football season.

http://207.44.194.112/users/Brennan/2007FBImages/FcampShrink1/07-Norwood.jpg

This move has a another major setback involved for Penn State as Texas safety prospect, D'Anton Lynn, said numerous times that Norwood was a major reason for his pick of Penn State. Lynn has already said that he is not going to say he is not coming to PSU because of this news, but he is definitely going to have to think about it and look at other schools.