The Penn State football has added a dynamic skill player to its 2011 recruiting class.
Bill Belton, a 5-foot-10, 185-pounder from Winslow Township High School, committed to the Nittany Lions recruiting coordinator Mike McQueary during a visit to his home in Acto Monday evening.
"We talked about my future,'' Belton said. "I think the world of him. He's a good guy.''
A quarterback in high school, Belton projects as a slot receiver in college. Although he does not possess top-end speed, he's received high marks for his outstanding body control and elusiveness that has made some compare him with former Florida star and current Minnesota Viking Percy Harvin, who he said is his favorite player.
Those abilities translated into making him one of the more dangerous offensive threats in all of New Jersey. A Group III first-team all-state player and the Cherry Hill Courier-Post player of the year, Belton completed 148 of 241 passes for 2,167 yards and 21 touchdowns while also rushing for 1,003 yards and 13 scores on 161 carries as Winslow Township went 7-4 his senior year. That made him the first player in New Jersey history to reach 2,000 yards passing and 1,000 yards rushing in consecutive seasons.
He finished his career with 4,472 yards passing and 2,195 yards on the ground, totaling 74 TDs, although he played receiver his sophomore year.
Belton said he received scholarship offers from approximately 20 colleges, including Oregon, Florida and Nebraska. He originally committed to Pittsburgh but reopened his recruitment when Dave Wannstedt stepped down as coach of the Panthers.
He eventually chose Penn State, his favorite college growing up, over West Virginia.
"Everything happens for a reason,'' he said.
