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Despite receiving the "Slow Death Penalty" by the NCAA, it appears as though Penn State may hold on to a majority of its 2013 recruiting class. Several players reaffirmed their commitment to the program on Saturday, including four-star defensive end Garrett Sickels out of Little Springs, N.J.
We are the 2013 class. @bigbabymahon @chackenberg1 @adambreneman87 @will_fuller7 @anelson59
— Garrett Sickels (@GarrettSickels) July 28, 2012
The tweet from Sickels refers to five other recruits in Penn State's Class of 2013, including four-star OL Brendan Mahon (@bigbabymahon), four-star QB Christian Hackenberg (@chackenberg1), four-star TE Adam Breneman (@adambreneman87), three-star WR Will Fuller (@will_fuller7) and three-star OT Andrew Nelson (@anelson59).
That's half of Penn State's incoming recruiting class. Out of that group of six players, Boston College had recruited and offered four -- Breneman, Fuller, Mahon and Sickels.
In a text message to the Associated Press, Breneman wrote: "Although I am still processing and discussing the impact of today's announcements with my family and coaches, I did speak with Coach O'Brien and his staff today and I remain committed to Penn State." Breneman is the No. 1 rated tight end in the Class of 2013 according to ESPN.com.
Fuller, a senior WR at Roman Catholic HS in Philadelphia, said he would honor his commitment unless Penn State received the death penalty. He's ranked as the no. 130 WR according to ESPN.
Mahon, the No. 10 OG in the country, recently reaffirmed his commitment to Penn State via Twitter, natch.
Just made the most important decision staying the course staying true to my commitment
— Brendan Mahon (@BigBabyMahon) July 28, 2012#pennstate
Finally, Hershey PA product Andrew Nelson is ranked the no. 20 OT in the nation.
Of the rest of Penn State's 2013 recruiting class, Boston College offered four other players -- three-star ILB Brandon Bell (Mays Landing, NJ), three-star WR Zach Bradshaw (Damascus, MD), three-star ATH Zayd Issah (Harrisburg, PA) and four-star OT Dorian Johnson (Belle Vernon, PA).
It hasn't been all good news for Penn State on the recruiting trail as three former Nittany Lions have already moved to the ACC. North Carolina has landed both Dajaun Drennon and Greg Webb, while Tom O'Brien and N.C. State have landed safety Tim Buckley, a preferred walk-on with the Nittany Lions.