Updated signing day thumbnails

PENN STATE

Player   Ht.       Wt.      Position            Hometown

Mark Arcidiacono        6-4       289      G         Philadelphia, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Florida, Rutgers, Temple, West Virginia, UConn

Assistant coach who opened the door: Ron Vanderlinden

FYI: First-team al-stater anchored line for St. Joe's Prep to average 271.3 yards rushing.

Justin Brown     6-3       210      WR      Wilmington, Del.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, Iowa, Virginia Tech, Boston College.

Assistant coach who opened the door: Ron Vanderlinden

FYI: Scout.com's No. 9 receiver prospect was all-state at three positions and finalist for Jerry Rice Award for top high school wideout.

Nate Cadogan  6-6       265      OT       Portsmouth, Ohio

Chose PSU over: Purdue, Syracuse, Bowling Green, Marshall, Ohio, Cincinnati

Assistant coach who opened the door: Jay Paterno

FYI: Younger brother of graduating Lion offensive lineman Gerald Cadogan.

Glenn Carson   6-3       220      LB       Manahawkin, N.J.

Chose PSU over: Pitt, Syracuse, Rutgers, Stanford, Syracuse, Virginia

Assistant coach who opened the door: Ron Vanderlinden

FYI: Big-time run-stopper is two-time state runner-up wrestler at 215 pounds.

Curtis Drake     6-0       175      WR      Philadelphia, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Georgia Tech, Pitt.

Assistant coach who opened the door: Mike McQueary

FYI: First Philadelphia prep to rush and pass for 1,000 yards in same season.

Curtis Dukes    6-2       225      RB       Philadelphia, N.Y.

Chose PSU over: Pitt, Syracuse, Buffalo

Assistant coach who opened the door: Mike McQueary

FYI: Reportedly runs 4.4-second 40 and  averaged 15 yards per carry as senior.

Brandon Felder            6-2       167      WR      Oxon Hill, Md.

Chose PSU over: Syracuse, Boston College, Maryland

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Averaged 23 yards per catch with 11 TDs as junior; major knee injury senior year.

Anthony Fera   6-2       230      PK       Houston, Texas

Chose PSU over: Michigan, Ohio State, Kansas State

Assistant coach who opened the door: Mike McQueary

FYI: Consensus No. 2 kicker in country made 58-yard field goal as a freshman.

Frank Figueroa 6-4       282      G         Alexandria, Va.

Chose PSU over: William & Mary, North Carolina

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Didn't begin playing tackle football until ninth grade because father was in military.

Garry Gilliam    6-6       260      TE        Hershey, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Virginia Pitt, Temple, Akron, UConn

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: All-state first-team pick joins Abe Koroma as Milton Hershey products with Lions.

Darrell Givens   6-0       170      CB       Indian Head, Md.

Chose PSU over: Ohio State, Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Made first-team all-Maryland as a junior and boasts a 36-inch vertical jump.

Adam Gress     6-7       294      OT       West Mifflin, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, West Virginia, Central Florida, Marshall, Michigan

Assistant coach who opened the door: Tom Bradley

FYI: Played tight end as a sophomore, as well as basketball and ice hockey.

Jordan Hill        6-3       290      DT       Steelton, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, Pitt, Temple

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Associated Press Class A player of year; teams won two PIAA titles.

Gerald Hodges 6-3       211      S          Paulsboro, N.J.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, Pitt, Syracuse

Assistant coach who opened the door: Ron Vanderlinden

FYI: Philadelphia Inquirer first-team all-South Jersey pick rushed for 700 yards as QB and was 40-1 in junior year wrestling.

Ty Howle         6-1       290      C         Bunn, N.C.

Chose PSU over: East Carolina, Navy

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: One of four 2009 Lion recruits to already be enrolled along with Fera, Hodges and Newsome

Shawney Kersey          6-2       175      WR      Woodbury, N.J.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Assistant coach who opened the door: Ron Vanderlinden

FYI: New Jersey Group 1 100-meter and 400-meter dash champion, 200 dash runner-up.

Christian Kuntz 6-4       195      WR      Camp Hill, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Akron, Buffalo, UConn

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Made first-team all-state and was first-team all-Mid-Penn Conference at two positions.

Stephon Morris            5-8       172      CB       Greenbelt, Va.

Chose PSU over: Rutgers, Tennessee, Illinois, Louisville

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Hails from same alma mater (Eleanor Roosevelt) as Derrick Williams.

Kevin Newsome           6-3       217      QB       Chesapeake, Va.

Chose PSU over: Michigan, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Boston College

Assistant coach who opened the door: Bill Kenney

FYI: One of top 10 QB prospects in country, prepped at Hargrave Military and played in U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Stephen Obeng-Agyapong        5-10     174      S          Bronx, N.Y.

Chose PSU over: Maryland, UConn, Buffalo, Iowa

Assistant coach who opened the door: Kermit Buggs

FYI: Comes from same high school as Lion tailback Stephfon Green -- John F. Kennedy.

Eric Shrive        6-7       285      OT       Scranton, Pa.

Chose PSU over: Notre Dame, Illinois, Pitt, Rutgers, South Carolina, Nebraska, Ohio State

Assistant coach who opened the door: Dick Anderson

FYI: Scout.com's No. 2-ranked tackle prospect was U.S. Army All-American.

Devon Smith     5-7       140      WR      Waldorf, Md.

Chose PSU over: Temple, Akron, Eastern Michigan

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Has run an electronically-timed 10.42 seconds 100 meters and the 40-yard dash in 4.19.

Sean Stanley     6-2       250      DE       Gaithersburg, Md.

Chose PSU over: Nebraska, Georgia, Pitt, Rutgers, Syracuse, Virginia Tech, Illinois, Maryland

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Baton Rouge, La. transplant has thrown the shot put 60 feet.

Derrick Thomas            6-0       176      WR      Greenbelt, Md.

Chose PSU over: Maryland, Pitt, Tennessee, Illinois

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Caught 27 passes for 624 yards and scored 15 TDs as senior; first-team all-state.

John Urschel     6-3       275      G         Buffalo, N.Y.

Chose PSU over: Boston College, Buffalo

Assistant coach who opened the door: Mike McQueary

FYI: Named the top lineman in western New York state.

Mike Wallace   5-10     182      CB       Olney, Md.

Chose PSU over: New Mexico, Stanford, Army, Maine, New Hampshire, Towson

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: Cousin of former Nittany Lion Terry Killens and high school teammate of All-American LB Jelani Jenkins.

Malcolm Willis  5-11     201      S          Indian Head, Md.

Chose PSU over: Only offer when he committed, but Michigan State, Illinois and Rutgers were showing interest

Assistant coach who opened the door: Larry Johnson

FYI: High school teammate of fellow Lion recruit Darrell Givens made 99 tackles.

  

PITT

Player   Ht.       Wt.      Position            Hometown

Kevin Adams   6-0       208      RB       Montvale, N.J.

Chose Pitt over: Syracuse, Akron

FYI: Team's only loss came to highly-regarded Don Bosco Prep.

Will Clarke       6-6       240      DE       Pittsburgh, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: West Virginia, Akron

FYI: Father played collegiate basketball for Duquesne.

Brock DeCicco            6-4       220      TE        Jefferson Hills, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Rutgers, Tennessee, Wisconsin, UConn, Illinois, Miami

FYI: Won two state titles at Thomas Jefferson; brother, Dom, is safety with Panthers.

Fernando Diaz  6-2       285      G         Bronx, N.Y.

Chose Pitt over: UConn, Army

FYI: Won high school strongman heavyweight division title at New Jersey competition.

Jason Douglas  5-6       174      RB       Weston, Fla

Chose Pitt over: Vanderbilt, Central Michigan, Florida International, Northern Illinois, Troy

FYI: Posted top SPARQ (overall athletic ability) rating at Nike Miami combine in 2007.

Tyrone Ezell     6-5       255      DT       Homestead, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Ohio State, Michigan, Georgia, Maryland, Rutgers, Virginia, Colorado

FYI: Member of Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Terrific 22, Tribune-Review Terrific 25 and first team all-state.

Carl Fleming     6-1       191      S          Reisertown, Md.

Chose Pitt over: Delaware, Eastern Michigan, Buffalo

FYI: More than 2,000 rushing yards, 124 tackles, nine interceptions in last two years.

Shane Gordon  5-11     224      LB       Weston, Fla.

Chose Pitt over: Auburn, South Florida, Tennessee, Kansas, Louisville, Mississippi

FYI: First-team big school all-Broward County by Miami Herald as senior; second team in 2007.

Raymond Graham         5-9       177      RB       Elizabeth, N.J.

Chose Pitt over: Rutgers, Maryland, Penn State

FYI: Missed most of junior year with broken collarbone but was first team all-state as senior.

Kolby Gray      6-2       183      QB       Houston, Texas

Chose Pitt over: South Florida, Utah, Vanderbilt

FYI: Passed for more than 3,000 yards as a junior, rushed for more than 1,000 as senior.

Jason Hendricks           6-1       167      RB       Jersey City, N.J.

Chose Pitt over:  Syracuse, Temple

FYI: Hudson County player of the year.

Juantez Hollins  6-4       265      G         Aliquippa, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Akron, Buffalo, Eastern Michigan, Marshall

FYI: Two-time all-state pick is third Aliquippa player to go to Pitt in three years.

Cory King        6-4       317      G         Stoneboro, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Minnesota, Bowling Green

FYI: Considered the most highly-touted prospect ever from Lakeview High School..

Dion Lewis       5-7       180      RB       Blairstown, N.J.

Chose Pitt over: Tulane, Miami (Ohio)

FYI: Played in a backfield with Florida State and Cincinnati signees as a junior.

Jack Lippert     6-3       243      DE       Harrisburg, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Penn State, Boston College, Temple

FYI: Had 11 sacks in 2008, including five in one game vs. Altoona.

Dan Mason      6-0       220      LB       Pittsburgh, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: West Virginia, Penn State, Boston College.

FYI: Big 33 Classic, Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Tribune-Review Terrific 25 pick had 100 tackles each of last two years.

Bernardo Nunez           6-3       232      DE       Hoboken, N.J.

Chose Pitt over: Maryland, Michigan State, Temple, Oklahoma

FYI: Had 29 sacks over last two seasons and forced five fumbles as senior.

Ryan Schlieper 6-5       278      OT       Wexford, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Maryland, Temple, West Virginia, Buffalo.

FYI: Son of former major league pitcher Rich Schlieper originally committed to Maryland.

Devin Street     6-4       176      WR      Bethlehem, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Temple, Akron, Eastern Michigan, UConn

FYI: Top receiver for PIAA Class AAAA champions; second-team all-state.

Todd Thomas   6-3       200      WR      Beaver Falls, Pa.

Chose Pitt over: Michigan, West Virginia, Penn State

FYI: Named to Associated Press Class AA all-state team three times.

Ed Tinker         6-2       190      WR      Charlotte, N.C.

Chose Pitt over: West Virginia, Colorado, Louisville, Michigan State, UConn, Iowa

FYI: Originally from Pittsburgh; made Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 in 2007.

 

NOTRE DAME

Player   Ht.       Wt.      Position            Hometown

E.J. Banks        5-11     181      CB       McKees Rocks, Pa.

Chose Notre Dame over: Ohio State, Pitt, Wake Forest, West Virginia, Rutgers

FYI: Made Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Tribune-Review Terrific 25 as both junior and senior.

Alex Bullard     6-3       275      G         Brentwood, Tenn.

Chose Notre Dame over: Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama, Oklahoma

FYI: Press Register's second-ranked prospect in Tennessee; father, Louis, played pro ball in NFL and USFL.

Carlo Calabrese           6-2       225      LB       Verona, N.J.

Chose Notre Dame over: Rutges, Boston College, Florida

FYI: Newark Star-Ledger's defensive player of the year broke Anthony Fasano's school record with 131 tackles.

Jordan Cowart 6-2       225      C         Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Chose Notre Dame over: No other offers, but Georgia showed interest

FYI: Long snapper was teammate of current Irish Sam Young and Dan Wenger at St. Thomas Aquinas High School

Tyler Eifert       6-6       220      TE        Fort Wayne, Ind.

Chose Notre Dame over: Purdue, Wake Forest, Vanderbilt

FYI: Had 73 receptions and averaged more than 17 yards per catch last two seasons.

Shaquelle Evans            6-0       203      WR      Inglewood, Calif.

Chose Notre Dame over: USC, Michigan, Colorado, California, UCLA

FYI: Originally a soft commit to Southern Cal, picked to play in U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Dan Fox           6-4       219      LB       Rocky River, Ohio

Chose Notre Dame over: Pitt, Stanford, Virginia, Iowa, Michigan.

FYI: Helped perennial power Cleveland St. Ignatius win Ohio state title.

Jake Golic        6-4       220      TE        West Haven, Conn.

Chose Notre Dame over: UConn

FYI: Son of former Fighting Irish and NFL star Mike Golic.

Zach Martin      6-5       270      OT       Indianapolis, Ind.

Chose Notre Dame over: Michigan, Iowa, Virginia, Kentucky

FYI: Team won back-to-back Class 3A state titles his junior and senior years.

Zeke Motta      6-2       207      LB       Vero Beach, Fla.

Chose Notre Dame over: Auburn, Florida, Boston College

FYI: Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers defensive player of the year; made more than 130 tackles each of last two seasons.

Theo Riddick    5-10     185      RB       Somerville, N.J.

Chose Notre Dame over: Rutgers, Penn State, Boston College, Northwestern, Pitt, West Virginia

FYI: Rushed for 4.024 yards and scored 52 TDs in three years in which team went 33-3.

Tyler Stockton  6-1       290      DT       Princeton, N.J.

Chose Notre Dame over: Penn State, Pitt, Rutgers, USC, Tennessee, UCLA, Vanderbilt

FYI: Played with Michigan recruit Anthony LaLota at the Hun School, which also produced Florida State's Myron Rolle.

Nick Tausch     6-1       180      PK       Dallas, Texas

Chose Notre Dame over: No other offers, but was hearing from LSU, Oklahoma, Oregon, Baylor, Utah and Louisiana Tech

FYI: Made 8-5A all-district first-team as both a kicker and a punter.

Manti Te'o        6-2       225      LB       Honolulu, Hawaii

Chose Notre Dame over: USC, Stanford, UCLA, BYU, Colorado.

FYI: High school Butkus Award winner; considered one of nation's top two linebacker prospects.

Ben Turk          6-0       190      P          Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Chose Notre Dame over: Cincinnati, Alabama

FYI: Nephew of NFL punter Matt Turk.

Chris Watt        6-3       280      G         Glen Ellyn, Ill.

Chose Notre Dame over: Ohio State, Penn State, Northwestern, Iowa, Illinois, Virginia, Boston College

FYI: Ranked as No. 1 guard in nation by Scout.com, No. 2 by Rivals.com.

Cierre Wood    6-0       192      RB       Oxnard, Calif.

Chose Notre Dame over: UCLA, Auburn, California, Florida, Nebraska, North Carolina, USC

FYI: One of top-10 RBs in country; scored 97 touchdowns over the last three years.

 

WEST VIRGINIA

Player   Ht.       Wt.      Position            Hometown

Shawne Alston 5-11     220      RB       Hampton, Va.

Chose West Virginia over: Maryland, Illinios, Penn State, East Carolina

FYI: First-team all-stater rushed for 2,278 yards, including 237 in state championship.

Tavon Austin    5-8       156      RB       Baltimore Md.

Chose West Virginia over: Maryland, North Carolina, Michigan

FYI: Three-time Baltimore Sun all-Metro offensive player of the year.

Stedman Bailey 5-10     186      WR      Miramar, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: South Florida, South Carolina, Boston College

FYI: All-Broward County first-teamer had 1,100 yards, 14 TDs receiving.

Cole Bowers    6-5       288      OT       Ona, W.Va.

Chose West Virginia over: Marshall, Virginia

FYI: Shot put state champion blocked for backs that averaged 217 yards rushing.

Branko Busick  6-1       220      LB       Steubenville, Ohio

Chose West Virginia over: No other written offers but took unofficial visits to Penn State and Pitt

FYI: Son of former powerlifting champ and pro wrestler "Big Bully' Nick Busick.

Darwin Cook   6-1       180      S          East Cleveland, Ohio

Chose West Virginia over: Cincinnati

FYI: Made 99 tackles with 20 sacks, had 24 receptions for 650 yards and ran for 302 yards as senior.

Dominik Davenport      6-0       268      DT       Hampton, Va.

Chose West Virginia over: Florida State, Maryland, Virginia

FYI: Teammate of Alston and Clemson QB recruit Tajh Boyd at Phoebus High.

Pat Eger           6-6       260      OT       Jefferson Hills, Pa.

Chose West Virginia over: Marshall, Maryland, Buffalo, Miami (Ohio)

FYI: Will play against several former Thomas Jefferson High teammates in "Backyard Brawl' with Pitt.

Curtis Feight     6-6       260      DE       Zuther, Gemany

Chose West Virginia over: Boston College

FYI: Played high school football at Mercersburg (Pa.) Academy; reportedly runs 4.8 40.

Tivita Finau       6-5       275      DE       Maui, Hawaii

Chose West Virginia over: California, Louisville, Colorado

FYI: Signed with Mountaineers last year but stayed at Phoenix (Junior) College when ineligible.

Terence Garvin 6-2       200      S          Baltimore, Md.

Chose West Virginia over: Maryland, UConn, Syracuse

FYI: Baltimore Sun all-Metro first-team defender helped team set school record with 11 wins.

Daquan Hargrett           5-9       180      RB       Miami, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: Iowa State, Clemson, Troy, South Florida

FYI: Led Northwestern to Florida 6A title game as junior and senior

Logan Heastie  62        192      WR      Chesapeake, Va.

Chose West Virginia over: Boston College, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Penn State

FYI: First-team all-Tidewater speedster is Scout.com's No.8-ranked receiver nationally.

Brodrick Jenkins           5-10     175      CB       Fort Myers, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: Pitt, Wisconsin, South Florida

FYI: All-purpose player averaged 22 yards per catch and was all-state on defense.

Nick Kindler    6-6       275      OT       Camp Hill, Pa.

Chose West Virginia over: Illinois, Boston College

FYI: Two-time Class AA first-team all-state pick at Trinity High School.

Derek Long      6-0       175      WR      Washington, D.C.

Chose West Virginia over: Michigan State, Duke, Syracuse, Pitt

FYI: Caught 70 passes for 1,189 yards and 15 TDs as a junior.

Pat Miller         5-10     170      CB       Hoover, Ala.

Chose West Virginia over: Mississippi State, Kentucky, Oklahoma State

FYI: First-team Birmingham all-Metro and honorable mention 6-A all-Alabama.

Terrance Moore           6-2       185      WR      Key West, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: WU was only acknowledged offer.

FYI: Junior college All-American at Mesa (Ariz.) Community College.

Taige Redman  6-0       201      LB       Keyser, W.Va.

Chose West Virginia over: Ohio, Marshall

FYI: Received offer from Mountaineers on signing day morning.

Jonathan Scott  6-3       190      S          Daytona Beach, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: Alabama, Clemson, Rutgers, South Carolina

FYI: Two older brothers have played major-college football; high jumps 6-6.

Eugene Smith    6-3       182      QB       Miramar, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: Alabama, LSU, South Florida

FYI: Third-best passer in Broward County history; South Florida Sun-Sentinel player of the year.

Chris Snook     6-3       222      LB       Medina, Ohio

Chose West Virginia over: Akron, Bowling Green, Cincinnati, Miami (Ohio), Wake Forest.

FYI: Played most of season with broken hand; set school record for career rushing yards.

Ryan Spiker     6-4       295      G         Dresden, Ohio

Chose West Virginia over: Cincinnati, Indiana, North Carolina State, Wake Forest

FYI: First-team all-Ohio selection will play in Big 33 Classic.

Jordan Weingart           6-2       287      G         Gainesville, Fla.

Chose West Virginia over: East Carolina, Central Florida, South Florida

FYI: Gainesville first-team all-area, Class 5A first-team all-state