Penn State LB target Phil Picciotti narrows list to 12 schools
Penn State has made it no secret that they expect to keep the best Pennsylvania prospects in-state for college. However, linebacker Phil Picciotti won’t be an easy pull, and that was clear Wednesday with the announcement of his top 12 schools.
A three-star prospect, Picciotti announced on his Twitter feed that, in addition to Penn State, his top schools are Auburn, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Oklahoma, South Carolina, USC, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin.
A native of Perkasie, Picciotti is in the midst of visiting six schools in a little over a month. He began that tour two weekends ago, seeing Michigan and Michigan State, March 18-19. Picciotti is now set to travel to Oklahoma this weekend, April 2. He’ll then see Nebraska, April 9, Penn State, April 16, and Wisconsin, April 23.
Related: Texas WR Kyle Parker recaps weekend trip to Penn State
After logging a pick for Penn State in On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine back in November, the Nittany Lions have since been considered the heavy favorite. However, that was before former defensive coordinator Brent Pry moved to Virginia Tech. Penn State remains a strong contender, but they don’t feel like the favorite they once were.
Picciotti is currently ranked No. 437 nationally according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He also ranks as the nation’s 47th-ranked linebacker and ninth-ranked prospect in Pennsylvania.
In addition to Picciotti, Penn State remains heavily involved with a handful of other linebacker prospects across the country. At the outside linebacker positions, Tony Rojas, from Fairfax, Va., and Ta’Mere Robinson, from Pittsburgh, remain high on the staff’s board. At the middle linebacker position, which is where Picciotti would likely play, Penn State is involved with a few players. Virginia native Jordan Hall, who plays at IMG Academy in Florida, remains in steady contact with the staff. The same can be said about Josiah Trotter, another Pennsylvania native.
