Penn State Football: 5 Recruits the Nittany Lions Must Pursue

Penn State's 2013 recruiting class is currently ranked No. 14 by scout.com, but there is plenty of work left to do. 

The Nittany Lions will have plenty of holes to fill with 11 contributing seniors graduating after this season, and a handful of underclassmen who could test the NFL waters.

Bill O'Brien and his coaching staff have done an excellent job thus far. Landing a blue-chip quarterback in Christian Hackenberg and the nation's No. 1 tight end, Adam Breneman, were huge steps in the right direction.

Locking down in-state talent, filling holes on the depth chart and landing a few bonafide stars are goals for every college football coach.

Let's take a look at five recruits Penn State needs to add to their 2013 recruiting class.

Vernon Hargreaves III, CB

Vernon Hargreaves III is rated ninth overall by rivals.com, fourth overall by espn.com and No. 13 overall by scout.com.

Hargreaves III has the ability to compete for time in Penn State's secondary from day one. He could start immediately, or at least earn a nickel position. 

Penn State has offered Hargreaves III a scholarship. They shouldn't put all of their eggs in one basket, but Hargreaves III is worth paying a little extra attention too. 

He excels in man coverage because of his speed and fluid hips. He has excellent closing speed, allowing him to contribute in the box and he is adept at read-and-react plays. 

Penn State's secondary is arguably the thinnest area on the Nittany Lion team this year. Adding talent never hurts, and Hargreaves III could be better than any player currently on the depth chart.

Bringing Hargreaves III to Happy Valley would be similar to adding Justin King in 2005. He is an elite, blue-chip recruit with considerable upside. 

The Nittany Lions can make a statement by pulling him out of the Sunshine State.

Alex Anzalone, LB

Alex Anzalone is back on Penn State's radar after the Keystone State native backed out of his Ohio State commitment earlier this month.

Anzalone played tailback and safety in high school, but the 6'3'' 220-pound specimen will probably switch to linebacker at the college level. Anzalone may play both ways (i.e., former Stanford player Owen Marecic). 

Penn State is known as Linebacker U for a reason. Landing Pennsylvania's top linebacker recruit is necessary to continue their historic success.

Anzalone fits Penn State's bill. He is extremely smart, diagnoses plays, supports the run to the inside and outside and plays well in coverage. He is a solid athlete with above-average athleticism.

He is not an elite prospect like Hargreaves III, but Anzalone is completely necessary for Penn State's recruiting haul.

Gerald Hodges and Michael Mauti graduate. Others will fill in, but depth never hurts. 

Bill O'Brien has been adamant about locking down Pennsylvania's top talent. This is a great place to start.

Isaac Rochell, DE/OT

Bill O'Brien was a member of Georgia Tech's coaching staff from 1995 to 2002. He needs to use his coaching connections to tap into Georgia's recruiting pipeline and pursue Isaac Rochell.

Very few prospects have Rochell's versatility and upside. He plays offensive tackle and defensive end in high school, and plays them both well. 

Rochell is only 260 pounds, but his length gives him room to fill out on the offensive line. He has raw technique, but his strength and athleticism make up for it.

Defensively, Rochell had 90-plus tackles and seven sacks last year. He is a dominant athlete on the edge, capable of stuffing the run or chasing down the quarterback. 

Versatile, dynamic players do not grow on trees. Penn State needs to do its best to pull this blue-chip recruit out of Georgia and bring him to Happy Valley. They have an offer on the table, and must be relentless in their pursuit.

Rochell's college position is still undetermined, but his potential is undeniably high.

Robert Foster, WR

My complete thoughts on Robert Foster can be found here. The Pennsylvania product is an elite, game-breaking talent with superb open-field ability.

The Nittany Lions will face stiff competition from every major program across the country, but they need to prove their mettle on the national scene. Recruits with Foster's homerun ability do not emerge from Pennsylvania's crop of high school players every year. 

Foster is exceptionally elusive in the open field. He sees plays develop two, or three, steps in advance. He uses that vision to set-up blockers down field and turn plays into massive gains.

Adding Foster to their 2013 recruiting class would give Penn State their best playmaker since Derrick Williams arrived in 2005. His ability to blow the top off of a defense would add value to every player on Penn State's offense. 

Bill O'Brien wants to add the top in-state talent to the Penn State mix. Foster is the cream of the crop, and must wear blue and white when all is said and done. 

Kendall Fuller, DB

Kendall Fuller is No. 27 in the ESPN150, No. 3 on the Rivals 150 and scout.com ranks him No. 22 overall. 

He's a can't-miss defensive back prospect. Penn State needs to be in heavy pursuit, but the Nittany Lions have yet to offer Fuller a scholarship. 

Penn State has a rich recruiting history in Maryland, Fuller's home state. Recently, the Nittany Lions have snagged Donovan Smith, A.J. Wallace, Sean Stanley, Stephon Morris and Malcolm Willis from Maryland.

In 2005, the Nittany Lions lured the nation's No. 1 overall recruit, Derrick Williams, from the Old Line State.

That trend must continue with Fuller. He is a bit undersized at 5'11'' and 180 pounds, but he has dynamic ball skills and the attitude to make up for any physical shortcomings.

Fuller is capable of defending in man or zone coverage (although he is more comfortable in zone). He is a strong run supporter excellent football instincts. 

The Nittany Lions need to pursue blue-chip recruits. Fuller definitely falls in that category. 

Penn State could solidify their secondary for years to come with a few huge commitments.