Still reeling from the news that Downingtown quarterback Pat Devlin was transferring elsewhere, Penn State football fans got a dose of good news Saturday from another Philadelphia-area talent who has changed his mind and decided to become a Nittany Lion.
Gerald Hodges, a 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety from Paulsboro, N.J., has given Penn State a verbal commitment, the Philadelphia Inquirer is reporting. Hodges originally had committed to Rutgers but visited Penn State for its game against Michigan and had since been weighing both schools.
"It was a really hard decision," Hodges told the Inquirer. "I had a really good relationship with Rutgers, but I just felt Penn State was the best fit."
Hodges, who reportedly will enroll in January, also had offers from Pitt, Tennessee, Boston College, Maryland, Iowa, West Virginia, Minnesota and Syracuse and is ranked a four-star prospect by both major national scouting services.
Some think he might eventually grow into a linebacker, and the player who has been part of four conference championship and two section championship teams also ran for more than 700 yards as a quarterback this season. He made 61 tackles and had one interception.
Hodges brings to 21 the number of commitments the Nittany Lions have for this recruiting class. Maryland defensive tackle Sean Stanley recently visited Nebraska but since has reaffirmed his pledge to Penn State.
