Christian Hackenberg, the top-ranked pocket-passer quarterback in the ESPN 150, reiterated his commitment to Penn State on Saturday after speaking with Nittany Lions head coach Bill O'Brien -- as did several other players.
Among them was Adam Breneman, one of the higher ranked tight ends, who said the sentiment applies to several players.
"Yes, we are all 100 percent committed," Breneman said of himself, Hackenberg, Will Fuller (Philadelphia/Roman Catholic), offensive linemen Brendan Mahon (Randolph, N.J./Randolph) and Andrew Nelson (Hershey, Pa./Hershey), and defensive lineman Garrett Sickels (Little Silver, N.J./Red Bank Regional).
"Halfway through the day the six of us went up to coach O'Brien's office and told him we are going to stay committed," Hackenberg said, according to Pennlive.com. "We believe in coach O'Brien and his coaching staff."
The players' comments come in the wake of NCAA sanctions handed down against Penn State on Monday: 112 wins forfeited, the loss of numerous scholarships, a bowl ban during the next four years and a $60 million fine.
"Yeah, I'm 100 percent going there," Fuller said in a text to ESPN.
Hackenberg, the top-rated player headed to the Nittany Lions, No. 16 in the ESPN 150, also had positive things to say Saturday via Twitter.
"Love this 2013 class. @AdamBreneman87 @BigBabyMahon @Will_Fuller7 @DorianJ64 @GarrettSickels @ANelson59," Hackenberg wrote.
Penn State has 12 recruits in its 2013 signing class. Mahon is in the ESPN 300 and ranked No. 10 among guards. Sickels is ranked No. 33 among defensive ends, and Nelson is ranked No. 20 among tackles.
Fuller, 6-foot-1, 163 pounds, is ranked No. 130 at his position. The three-star receiver committed to Penn State on June 5. Earlier, he posted a message on Twitter about his renewed commitment.
"GREAT time at Penn State! Coach O'Brien made me remember why I committed in the 1st place. I'm 100% committed to the greatest college," Fuller wrote.
Offensive lineman Dorian Johnson (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon), the other player mentioned in Hackenberg's tweet, is ranked No. 27 in the ESPN 150 and No. 2 among offensive tackles. His high school coach, Aaron Krepps, said Tuesday that Johnson remained committed to Penn State at the time.