National Signing Day 2012: Penn State Football Adds Depth in Passing Game

Penn State has signed 19 players to their Class of 2012, including one player who was already enrolled on campus. Of those players signed, nine will fill some spots on the offense, including four new wide receivers and a pair of tight ends.

Here is a look at Penn State's new crop of wide receivers and tight ends and how they might fit in to the future of the offense.

Wide Receivers

Eugene Lewis

• Plymouth, PA
• Wyoming Valley West
• 6'-2" 185 pounds

Malik Golden

• Cheshire, CT
• Cheshire Academy
• 6'-3"185 pounds

Trevor Williams

• Towson, MD
• Calvert Hall
• 6'2" 190 pounds

Jonathan Warner

• Camas, WA
• Camas
• 6'-1" 200 pounds

Penn State made the wide receiver position a top priority on offense this recruiting season, and they will add four players expected to field the position. Eugene Lewis looks to be the top player not only in the wide-receiver haul but also in the entire class of 2012 for Penn State.

The 4-star product was a first-team All-State Class AAAA selection by the Patriot News last season and will represent Pennsylvania in the Big 33 game this summer in Hershey. He played quarterback in his senior season, so with a little creativity he could be used in the wildcat offense that Penn State employed late in the 2011 season if Bill O'Brien chooses to mix it in with his scheme.

Penn State also ensures some depth with the wide receivers signed because there are just four players on scholarship with freshman or sophomore eligibility slated for 2012.

They also have some versatility with Malik Golden, a two-way player if needed. Penn State also welcomes Jonathan Warner, son of legendary Penn State running back Curt Warner, to continue the family theme in the program.

Penn State only has two players with senior eligibility at the position (Justin Brown, Devon Smith) but four players with junior eligibility so the need to replenish the position now was key. Expect players like Lewis to be competing for significant playing time as early as 2013.

Wide Receivers On Scholarship

Senior Eligibility (2): Justin Brown, Devon Smith

Junior Eligibility (4): Curtis Drake, Christian Kuntz, Shawney Kersey, Brandon Moseby-Felder

Sophomore Eligibility (3): Bill Belton, Alex Kenney, Allen Robinson

Redshirt Freshmen (1): Matt Zanellato

Class of 2012 (4): Malik Golden, Eugene Lewis, Jonathan Warner, Trevor Williams

Tight Ends

Jesse James

• McKeesport, PA
• South Allegheny
• 6'-7" 248 pounds

Brent Wilkerson

• Hyattsville, MD
• DeMatha
• 6'-4" 245 pounds

Jesse James was already enrolled on campus and will benefit from getting to practice and work out with the team this spring and perhaps get a chance to play in the Blue White Game, but both players are rated as 3-star prospects. Under Bill O'Brien's offense, these two players should be studying now if they want to emulate the success of New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Penn State currently has two redshirt freshmen for 2012 (Kyle Carter and Jordan Kerner), and Kevin Haplea and Gary Gilliam each have two years of eligibility remaining.

The tight end position has also been a bit of a weak spot on the offense right behind offensive line for Penn State in recent seasons, and with a new coaching staff on board, no starting job is a given heading in to the new season.

Still, do not expect either Class of 2012 tight ends to be competing for a starting job next fall, but also do not be surprised if either makes a case for some playing time on a rotational basis by the end of the season if the upperclassmen are inconsistent.

Tight Ends on Scholarship

Junior Eligibility (2): Kevin Haplea, Gary Gilliam

Redshirt Freshmen (2): Kyle Carter, Jordan Kerner

Class of 2012 (2): Jesse James, Brent Wilkerson

Kevin McGuire is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter, like him on Facebook and add him to your Google+ circle.