Will Hill takes an official to Penn State

Three-star defensive end Will Hill took his second official visit over the weekend. The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder rolled through State College to check out the Nittany Lions.

"It went well, really well," he said. "From the standpoint of academics, they are a really good academic school. Then the players are good guys and there is an opportunity to play early. It's just like every other place. There is a battle for competition and you've got to love that.

"I was very comfortable with the coaches. I liked the activities and things to do on campus. It was a pretty good visit all in all."

Hill got to Penn State on Friday night.

"I toured the facilities, met with the academic advisors and met some of the players," he said. "My host was DeOnt'ae Pannell. I met all the incoming freshmen to see who'd be there my first year if I got there.

"Pretty much they told me about different things freshmen do and how they all have a mandatory study hall. They mentioned how the coaches were good and honest. He was a good host."

The No. 33 strongside defensive end in the country took in the Penn State-Indiana game.

"It was raining and they got off to a slow start," he said. "Offensively they weren't hitting on all cylinders. In the second half they were explosive and I watched the defensive line. They have some of the top defensive ends in the country. Maybin is in the top three in sacks in the nation, he's probably an All-American when it's all said and done.

"Maurice Evans was a preseason All-American. Both of those guys are juniors so if they flirt with the NFL there is time to play. If they come back it'll help me learn some stuff I don't know. Wherever I go I want to battle and compete to get on the field.

"Penn State is the only thing in State College and the stadium with 110,000, it's a heck of a stadium. Even though it was raining, 108,000 strong were there. The excitement about football is ridiculous. It was pretty crazy."

While on the visit, Hill met with a few of the coaches including Joe Paterno.

"I talked to Coach Paterno, I sat down with him and talked it went well," he stated. "I talked to Coach Kenney and Coach Johnson too. They mentioned how they see me fitting in with the program too."

Where does Hill go from here?

"Right now I'm scheduled to take an official possibly to Maryland on Saturday," he said. "I'm still trying to work that out and I'm talking to the coaches.

"After that I want to go ahead and make a decision sometime next week. I haven't set up a date right now, I'm trying to."

The No. 24 prospect in Virginia confirmed he's down to four schools, Penn State, Virginia, Maryland and Tennessee.

"They all pretty much fit the mold I was looking for," he said. "All of them have good academics, an opportunity to play early and a coaching staff I'm comfortable with. I like all these schools.

"It's a hard decision, so many schools have what I want. I can't go to a school because of the coach. I have to go where I feel best if football wasn't in the equation."

Hill recently wrapped up his senior season with a 4-6 record.

"WE didn't have that strong of a year," he said. "I performed well, but I don't look at individual stuff. I didn't help my team to a better record. All the statistics are irrelevant because I could have helped my team better than I did.

"I did see an improvement in my play. My range on the field is greater. I was running sideline to sideline and teams ran away from me and I still chased the play down. I knew when to expect a cut block and how to get off of it. I think I was smarter, wiser, stronger and faster."