Bill O'Brien to Penn State: Nittany Lions Will Take Step Back Under O'Brien

Bill O'Brien's move to Penn State isn't a good thing for the immediate future.

The Nittany Lions were inconsistent this year, but they played pretty well, especially considering the circus that surrounded them in November.

Now, with O'Brien apparently coming, things won't be good for the Nittany Lions.

That isn't a knock on O'Brien. He's done some great things in New England. However, being a head coach in such a hectic situation is not ideal for him. He has been a college coordinator before, as he worked at Brown, Georgia Tech, Maryland and Duke.

While he knows the college game, the Big Ten is another animal completely. He will have a brutal conference schedule every single year, and his recruiting will probably struggle.

Trying to get kids to come to Penn State will be tough. Given the recent history and stigma, high school recruits probably have many schools ranked ahead of Penn State right now.

As O'Brien tries to get his own players in his own system, he will probably be doing that with less-talented kids. It's a harsh reality, but that's what the future of Penn State looks like.

He is a smart coach. He has a chance to make Penn State relevant again.

However, that won't be for a little while. The first step will be back for the Nittany Lions, and it will be a tough road after that.