Penn State Football Recruiting: 7 Things Missing from the 2012 Class

The Penn State Nittany Lions currently have 14 commitments in the 2012 recruiting class.

This is not a surprise given the situation surrounding the Penn State campus following the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.

This is exactly what most Penn State fans expected once it became obvious the situation did not end with the former Penn State defensive coordinator.

Penn State has four 4-star commitments so far this offseason, with one more hanging in the balance. This gives them a few capable playmakers, but they need more if they want to return to the nation's elite class.

The Nittany Lions' 2012 class includes many things, but here are seven things it does not include so far:

Pennsylvania's Best Talent

Penn State has locked down one of Pennsylvania's top 10 recruits, according to rivals.com.

Two of the other nine have committed to Pittsburgh, two are uncommitted and the rest have taken their talents to other states.

The Nittany Lions are still in the mix for Demetrious Cox. He is the No. 10 prospect in Pennsylvania and could fill a void in the Penn State secondary early in his career.

Penn State must find a way to lock down the elite talent in their own state. If they cannot do this, they will struggle to return to dominance.

Obviously, there is talent to be had in other states, but in-state recruits are supposed to be gimmes for powerhouse state schools.

Depth in the Secondary

Penn State currently has one defensive back set to arrive on campus next season from the 2012 class.

Armani Reeves is a 4-star recruit, but his soft verbal commitment could be in jeopardy if Bill O'Brien cannot lock him down.

The Nittany Lions lose Drew Astorino, Nick Sukay and D'Anton Lynn from this season's secondary. It would be a big boost to their defense if they could add depth through the freshman class for next season.

Demetrious Cox is a 4-star safety recruit and still considering Penn State at this point. He would be a major addition to the 2012 class, especially if O'Brien can lock Reeves down.

Penn State's defense should be great again next season, but it only takes a few injuries before a lack of depth becomes an issue.

Signature Recruit

The Penn State Nittany Lions have not locked down a single 5-star recruit for the 2012 class.

Jerry Sandusky's sex abuse scandal has certainly played a part in this, but this was a likely possibility regardless of the situation.

Penn State needs to get back to blue-chip recruiting hauls. 4-star prospects are nothing to wrinkle your nose at, but 5-star recruits are the mark of a premier program.

Wyoming Valley West product Eugene Lewis is the closest thing the Nittany Lions have to a signature recruit at this point.

He played quarterback in high school, but has experience at wide receiver which is where fans will see him in Happy Valley.

It is too late for the Nittany Lions to pursue the elite recruits of the 2012 class, but new head coach Bill O'Brien needs to start looking ahead to 2013 sooner rather than later.

Tommy Schutt

Tommy Schutt verbally committed to Penn State before switching his commitment to Ohio State following the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.

Schutt is a big-time defensive tackle prospect. He was Illinois' Mr. Football and should use his 300-pound frame to wreak havoc on Big Ten offenses under Urban Meyer.

Losing Schutt was a major blow to Penn State's 2012 recruiting haul. He had the potential to make an early impact and would have DaQuan Jones for starting snaps in spring practice.

It is never a good feeling to lose top recruits, especially when fans already fear the inevitable following an awful situation.

Impact Players on the Offensive Line

Penn State currently has two offensive line prospects committed for the 2012 class. However, neither are considered immediate impact players.

J.J. Denman could have been. The Pennsbury High School product originally planned on attending Penn State, but switched his plans to Wisconsin following the Jerry Sandusky sex scandal.

The Nittany Lions must replace four offensive lineman from 2011 before next season. Denman would not have started from day one, but he would have provided depth behind an inexperienced group of blockers.

Penn State needs impact players in several positions not for right now, but for the future.

Noah Spence

Noah Spence is the No. 1 weakside defensive end in the nation, the top recruit in Pennsylvania and the No. 9 overall recruit in the country according to rivals.com.

Penn State's failure to grab a player of Spence's quality is a major downer. The best schools lock down the best talent in their home state. Spence is all that and more.

Spence has the talent to start from Week 1 next season at Ohio State. He has great length and an excellent burst off the edge.

Nittany Lion fans have been counting Spence as a Nittany Lion commitment all season. That all changed when the hoopla broke out off the field in Happy Valley.

The failure to nab 5-star recruits is one thing, but losing a blue-chip recruit in your own backyard is extremely disheartening for a program grasping for good news.

Bill O'Brien Trademark

The 2012 recruiting class is the first class new head coach Bill O'Brien will have a hand in at Penn State. Needless to say, he would love to leave his mark in some way.

It may be too late for O'Brien to make a major impact on this year's crop of high school talent unless he grabs 4-star safety Demetrious Cox.

O'Brien must make his mark on the 2013 class. The sooner Penn State hops back into the recruiting conversation, the better off the program will be down the road.

A program is only as good as their ability to recruit. O'Brien must show he is no slouch as soon as he can.