Penn State signings start new era

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — It didn’t seem to matter that there was a coaching change and a major program overhaul. Philosophical differences from the old regime to the new continue to play out, but a new era of transparency at Penn State took its next step Wednesday with news conferences on the signees.

The Nittany Lions reeled in 19 recruits, and coach Bill O’brien said he isn’t too concerned with where they are ranked ( 49 and 50 in Scout. com and Rivals. com). O’brien credited assistant coaches for taking on primary recruiting responsibilities as he prepares for Sunday’s Super Bowl.

“You never judge a recruiting class until, I would say, two years into it,” O’brien, the New England Patriots offensive coordinator, said via teleconference from Indianapolis. “At that time, we’ll be able to say, ‘ Hey, here’s a really productive class of good football players and guys that are doing the right thing off the field.’ We really believe that’s what we have.”

Adding the recruits to a mix of players O’brien is still getting to know has its challenges. O’brien identified signing running back Akeel Lynch as a priority, so the 6- 0, 205- pounder could take some of the burden off junior Silas Redd. What O’brien knows about Redd stems from film evaluation and a 30- minute conversation the two had when O’brien was on campus the week before the AFC divisional playoffs.

But the message to parents and recruits didn’t change in November when the child sexual abuse scandal hit Penn State. Some highly touted recruits who once had Penn State on the radar went elsewhere, but those who honored their commitment will be part of a special group, defensive line coach Larry Johnson said.

“You really were selling Penn State University and what it stands for, rather than who the coach was,” said Johnson, one of two holdovers from Joe Paterno’s staff. “When you’re selling something that has something concrete ( with it), it’s easy to sell.”

Penn State made a rare move when it signed quarterback Steven Bench from Bainbridge, Ga., an area O’brien recruited as a college assistant. The staff added players from nine states and one from Canada.

By Matthew Emmons, US Presswire Double duty: Bill O’brien, in Indianapolis as Patriots offensive coordinator, is transitioning to his new job as Penn State’s head coach.