Recruiting continues amid mourning for JoePa

WHILE THE PENN State campus continues to mourn the loss of Joe Paterno, the business of college football recruiting rolls on.

The Nittany Lions received a verbal commitment from Cairo (Ga.) High School quarterback Steven Bench. The 6-3, 206-pound Bench originally had given a verbal to Rice.

"The thing about playing in front of 100,000 people, is that it kind of sounds like its almost exaggerated a bit," Bench told BlueWhiteIllustrated.com. "But just the fact that I'll get the opportunity to do that is just a dream come true almost."

New Penn State coach Bill O'Brien, who remains Tom Brady's positional coach for the Super Bowl-bound New England Patriots, also has a verbal commitment from St. Joseph's Prep quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg. Mornhinweg has said he is weighing other options following the Jerry Sandusky child sex-abuse scandal. Players may sign with schools beginning Wednesday, Feb. 1.

Matt McGloin, who missed this year's TicketCity Bowl because of a concussion, has 1 year of eligibility remaining. Rob Bolden, who started the bowl game, has 2 years left.