Recruiting Predictions: How Penn State Finishes Out A Small Class

With Penn State likely to take only a small number recruits in 2010 (14-18 projected), and seven spots already taken, here's how I see the rest of the class shaping out. For these purposes, I am listing recruits based on the following criteria: team need, top targets at their position, and the likelihood they commit to PSU.

Penn State currently has seven commitments from: P.J. Jones (QB), Adrian Coxson (WR), Silas Redd (RB/ATH), Luke Graham (G), Miles Dieffenbach (C/G), Tom Ricketts, Jr. (OT), and Mike Hull (OLB). They will likely take a total of at least 14 but no more than 18 recruits, leaving between 7 and 11 remaining scholarships to go around. Furthermore, there are several must get positions: QB 1, WR 1-2, TE 1-2, OT 1, DT 1-2, DE 1-2, LB 1, CB 1-2, S 1.

Top 11 Remaining Targets:

1. Khairi Fortt (LB)--PSU v. ND battle, PSU lean.
   
2. Dakota Royer (DE/OLB)--PSU v. ND battle Part Deux? Still a PSU lean.
   
3. Sharif Floyd (DT)--PSU v. UM & OSU? This one goes until January, maybe.
   
4. Alex Kenney (WR)--Not sure.
   
5. Kyle Baublitz (DE/TE)--PSU lean, summer decision.
   
6. Khamrone Kolb (OT)--PSU lean, could be under pressure to commit with OL scholarships getting thin.
7. Kevin Haplea (TE)--Not sure, but the staff has only offered one TE still available and that's Haplea.
   
8. DaQuan Jones (DT)--Not sure, but I think he'll end up here.
   
9. Jeff Knox, Jr. (SAF/DB)--Not sure.
   
10. Nick Jones (CB)--PSU lean, if he gets an offer this weekend he may commit quickly.
    
11. Barry Brunetti (QB)--Not sure, but he's got to be higher on the list than Gonzales.
    

Near Misses:

• Marcus Lattimore (RB)--I think we've got a good shot at him if he loves it when he visits this weekend, and hopefully he makes it up again for the Iowa and Ohio State games.
  
• Kenny Stills (WR)--USC is still the odds on favorite, but a visit would help.
  
• Zack Zwinack (FB)--Maybe an Ohio St. lean.
  
• Arie Kouandjio (OT)--OSU lean also, but who knows.
  
• Dominique Easley (DE)--Love to get him, but we'll see.
  
• Corey Miller (DE)--Lattimore teammate that I'd love to get; depends on his visit.
  
• Brandon Willis (DT)--Another Lattimore teammate that I'd love to get; depends on his visit.

Back-Up Plans:

• Anthony Gonzales (QB/ATH)--If we don't get Brunetti, but may still be a tough pull anyway.
• Brandon Felder (RB/WR)--If we don't get Kenney and Stills, may still need to fight for him.
• Robby Havenstein (OT/G)--If we don't get Kolb, be still need to fight for him too.
• Braylon Heard (DB/ATH)--If we don't get Knox or Jones, but Heard could also replace either of them at the top of the list.