Rivals250 LB stays in-state
Linebacker U added one more today in 6-foot-1, 216-pounder, Mike Yancich. The Washington (Pa.) Trinity Senior prospect picked the Nittany Lions over scholarships from 34 other schools including Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Virginia, Boston College, Georgia Tech and more.
"I actually committed about a week ago on Father's Day," he said. "I told coach Paterno and he was happy and I was too. He actually told me after I committed that was a good Father's Day gift."
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What made the Rivals250 prospect decide to head to State College?
"Just sitting in coach Paterno's office, he's a football legend and the winningest coach in college football history," he said. "To have someone like that want me to play for them is big.
"In addition, everyone looks at USC as a running back school, but if you're a linebacker you go to Penn State. It's a dream to play football at a school like that."
Other factors were important in Yancich's decision too.
"The fact it is in-state is nice," he said. "I'm a family man and like to stay close to my family. I'm glad I'll only be a few hours away from them.
"I like the coaches there a lot too. Besides coach Paterno, coach Bradley recruited me and I dealt with coach Vanderlinden a lot too. He's my linebacker coach and talking to him on my unofficial, his knowledge of the game is incredible. As for coach Bradley, he's an awesome guy to deal with."
The coaches at Penn State haven't gone out on a limb to discuss the four-star prospect's chances of playing.
"They're obviously not going to promise anything," he said. "Instead the coaches just told me I'll have to earn my spot. They said if I come in and am good enough to play they'll play me."
Yancich had one final word to say to Penn State fans.
"Go Nittany Lions!"