Penn State picks up linebacker Gary Wooten of Hialeah High

Posted: August 22, 2012

Penn State has picked up another addition to this season's freshman class. Linebacker Gary Wooten of Hialeah (Fla.) High School has committed, according to multiple websites, and is expected to be on campus this week for practice.

Wooten played his final season at Hialeah in 2010. He fell one core class short of graduating in 2011 and, even though he made up the class, decided to sit out last season.

Hialeah coach Marc Berman told the Nittany Nation website that he received a call last week from Penn State defensive coordinator Ted Roof inquiring about Wooten, whom Berman said is 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds after playing at 6-2 and 190 in high school.

After the 2010 season, Wooten fielded offers from a number of schools, including Vanderbilt and Washington State, but was believed to be deciding between Eastern Michigan and Massachusetts. He did not, however, commit to any school.

Berman said Florida also had asked him recently about Wooten.

Earlier this month, Penn State received a commitment from 5-11, 220-pound linebacker Brennan Franklin of Peoria, Ariz., for this season's freshman class.

Penn State also added a kicker on Monday when former State College High School player Kevin DiSanto joined the team. DiSanto, a junior who has sophomore eligibility, kicked four field goals and 20 extra points for the 2009 State College team that reached the PIAA Class AAAA final.

The Nittany Lions have been looking to replace punter-kicker Anthony Fera, who transferred to Texas earlier this month. Sam Ficken, a sophomore, is the leading candidate to take over the kicker duties. Freshman Matt Marcincin of Malvern is the only other kicker on the roster.


Contact Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com. Follow on Twitter @joejulesinq. Read his blog, "Lion Eyes," at www.philly.com/sports/lioneyes

 

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