Visits to Illinois/Penn State shape up

Saturday's night game at Beaver Stadium is turning out to be everything followers of Penn State football recruiting have been hoping ... maybe more.

In addition to a large number of players that have already committed to the Nittany Lions, most of their major uncommitted targets are planning to be on the sidelines or in the stands.

Here's a list gleaned from the BlueWhite Illustrated's Web site (http://bwi.rivals.com, subscription required for some pages) and FightonState.com (http://pennstate.scout.com, subscription required for some pages) of players confirmed to be attending:

-- Gaithersburg, Md., Quince Orchard DE Jason Ankrah

-- Gaithersburg, Md., Quince Orchard WR/CB Travis Hawkins

-- Waldorf, Md., Westlake WR/RB/RS Devon Smith

-- Manahawkin, N.J., Southern Regional LB Glenn Carson

-- Wilmington, Del., Concord WR Justin Brown

-- Camden, N.J., WR Tyree Watkins

-- Glen Allen, Va., Dep Run QB Antone Exum

-- Philadelphia West Catholic WR Raymond Maples

-- Houston St. Pius K Anthony Fera

-- State College LB Robby Stupar

-- McKees Rocks, Pa., Sto-Rox QB Paul Jones (junior)

-- McKees Rocks, Pa., Sto-Rox WR Andrew Carswell (junior)

-- Canonsburg, Pa., Canon-McMillan LB Mike Hull (junior)

-- State College WR Alex Kenny (junior)

-- Pottsgrove DB Terrell Chestnut (sophomore)

-- Pottsgrove RB/DB Maika Polamalu (sophomore)

The game might also attract Maryland All-American linebacker Jelani Jenkins or star underclassmen like Harrisburg Bishop McDevitt wunderkind QB Matt Johnson, but those have either been unconfirmed or are still up in the air.

Thereare several very interesting cases on this list. First, Hawkins had all but eliminated Penn State in the last couple of weeks and is cautious about letting the Lions back into it, but this bridge seems to be getting mended. His high school teammate, Ankrah, wanted to commit to Penn State but was told not to; now it looks like Penn State is rethinking that.

Watkins is a soft commitment to Virginia, and Exum is an outstanding athlete who could wind up at a number of position.

Fera is committed to Michigan, and, from what BlueWhite Illustrated is reporting, that commitment is firm. He's just making the trip, which had been in the works for a year, with his father to see the game.