Penn State recruiting efforts fall short

A "perfect storm of negativity" delivered a serious hit to Penn State's recruiting class of 2012, depriving it of well-regarded talent and leaving one prominent recruiting analyst wondering if the entire group would pan out.

The shocking disclosure of nearly three months ago, when former Penn State assistant coach Jerry Sandusky was arrested and charged with child sex abuse, sent a cloud over the State College campus of anger and sadness, two emotions that spread to high school recruits wondering if they still wanted to play football for the Nittany Lions.

The firing of legendary coach Joe Paterno and the uncertainty over what would happen to the assistant coaches who recruited these prep stars added further doubt to how many of those who had verbally committed would follow through and become part of the Class of 2012.

It hasn't been good for Penn State. Six players who committed to Paterno's staff have pledged to go elsewhere since the scandal broke. While new head coach Bill O'Brien and his staff hurriedly attracted eight players to the program, only one or two are considered to be impact additions at some point.

In all, 18 are expected to sign letters of intent Wednesday with Penn State. The group does not compare with past recruiting classes, coming in at No. 46 in the nation in the opinion of two primary recruiting websites, Rivals and Scout, and in the middle of the Big Ten.

Mike Farrell, national recruiting analyst for Rivals, said the scandal played a major role - but not the only role - in the quality of the class. After Paterno was fired, the university waited 58 days before its Jan. 6 hiring of O'Brien, who said he would finish the season with the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots as their offensive coordinator.

"I think it would have been better had they hired him quicker and had him around full-time," Farrell said Tuesday. "The delay in hiring a coach so long after the [regular] season ended allowed some kids to come up with backup plans, make other visits. Had he been able to do in-home visits, on-campus visits and meet with the kids personally, I think that would have helped them for sure."

Of the six players who backed out of their commitments, four were ranked in the Rivals 250. All four were plucked away from Happy Valley by new Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer.