Penn State Football Recruiting 2012: The Lions' Top Commitments and Targets

Happy Valley went through a lot this season, but that hasn't completely shattered the Nittany Lions' recruiting class. Even though things are a bit tense right now as the staff awaits to learn it's fate after the Ticket City Bowl vs. Houston, recruiting doesn't stop.

For this read I'm going to give you a quick update on some aspects of the current state of Penn State recruiting. This is a crossroads time for the program, so this class will be crucial going forward.

Here we go.

Recruiting Capsule & Outlook

 August was a big month for the Nittany Lions' 2012 recruiting efforts. They really surged up and Joe-Pa got hip and took advantage of Skype.

The class does possess some top-tier players like WR Eugene Lewis, DT TommySchutt and DB Armani Reeves—who all committed in August. However, they have lost J.J. Denman, a big OL, to Wisconsin and Joey O'Connor, a 4-star OG prospect. 

A player I really like in this class is Camren Williams, a speedy, athletic and rangy 6'2", 200-pound OLB. 

Technically this is a 16-commit class, but Schutt and LB Nyeem Wartman are listed as "soft" verbals.

Key Commitment: Eugene Lewis, WR

Lewis is a 6'2", 180-pounder who will see his mark mostly made in the intermediate passing game. He has the tools to develop into a very good No. 2 receiver, the mold of, say, a Reggie Wayne-type.

He works his routes well, sets up defenders and can break out quickly from cuts at the junction point. He won't wow you deep, but he can get by if he has to.

Lewis has been a leader for this class during the controversial times, as only days after much of the big news broke, Lewis attended the home game vs. Nebraska. He's a Nittany Lion through and through.

Schutt Looking Around

5-star DT Tommy Schutt is listed by Scout.com as a "soft" verbal, which is not the best outlook for PSU. Iowa and Ohio State are the main competition for Penn State in the Schutt sweepstakes. 

At 6'3" and 290 pounds, Schutt plays with great explosiveness at the snap. Combine that with a great motor and very good strength, and you see a great player in action.

He shows the potential to develop into either a 4-3 tackle or 3-4 two-gapping end. He also flashes very good ability to use his hands to shed and escape blocks.

Penn State Not out of Spence Sweepstakes Afterall

Noah Spence took a visit to Happy Valley a few motnhs ago and came away very impressed by PSU. He was talking them up so much that I was even starting to think he was a Lion-leaner.

Penn State isn't out of it, thanks to DL coach Larry Johnson, Sr., but if Johnson is not on the staff of the new head coach going forward, there's a slim chance Spence will end up in Happy Valley.

Spence has a top five, according to his father Greg, that's composed of Ohio State, LSU, Florida, Penn State and Maryland.

Florida was just in for a home visit on Tuesday that went very well according to Mr. Spence.