Quarterback Jake Waters picks Kansas State over Penn State

Most Penn State fans with a computer monitor were tuned Thursday to Iowa Western Community College to find out whether record-breaking quarterback Jake Waters would become a Nittany Lion, the most anticipated announcement for a Penn State recruit since Terrelle Pryor in 2008.

Sadly for Nittany Nation, Waters' decision did not go the Lions' way, as when Pryor chose Ohio State. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Iowan announced he would attend Kansas State.

"I really liked both schools," Waters said at a news conference shown on the Internet. "I connected with both coaching staffs and I can see myself playing at both. But at the end of the day, it's just what I felt in my gut. I had a long talk with the Lord last night, and just in my gut this is the best thing for me as a student and as a player."

The announcement by Waters, who passed for 3,501 yards and 39 touchdowns in leading Iowa Western to the 2012 national junior college championship, leaves the Nittany Lions with just one scholarship quarterback, sophomore-to-be Steven Bench, participating in spring practice.

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien is expected to continue to search the junior college ranks to bring a quarterback in for the spring. He has an oral commitment from high school prospect Christian Hackenberg of Fork Union (Va.) Military Academy, but Hackenberg would not be able to report to Happy Valley until after he graduates in May.

O'Brien flew Monday to Council Bluffs, Iowa, to visit the quarterback. Waters said he told O'Brien he was "pretty much leaning" to Penn State, but that would change.

"I just thought it over again and something clicked," he said. "I think God just showed me a sign that K-State was the place for me."

Kansas State got the last in-person word. Quarterbacks coach Del Miller visited Waters on Wednesday night, when the player and his head coach at Iowa Western, Scott Strohmeier, discussed his decision until 11 p.m.

Waters indicated that he liked the idea of being able to compete in the postseason for a title, something he would not be able to do at Penn State because of NCAA sanctions.

His decision wasn't based "too much" on that factor, Waters said, "but it definitely is awesome to know that I'm going to have a chance to do that again."