From Wednesday’s Journal News:
When Penn State hired former New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien as the head coach of its football team earlier this month, it was handing him the keys to what once had been a highly-regarded program but was now one beset by sexual assault allegations against a former assistant coach, resulting in the ouster of legendary coach Joe Paterno, as well as the school’s president and athletic director.
Less than two weeks into his new job, O’Brien has signed his first recruit to help restore the program to its former glory: New Rochelle resident Jordan Lucas.
The Worcester Academy defensive back, who previously attended New Rochelle High School for four years, signed with Penn State on Monday morning, declining offers from Akron, Massachusets, Old Dominion and Temple.
“It’s a great football program and academic school with a great tradition,” Lucas said. “Coach O’Brien wants to hit the ground running and do big things, and I want to be a part of that.”
Lucas has been told that he will be given the chance to compete for Penn State’s starting safety position next season. He also played cornerback and running back at Worcester and New Rochelle — he was named the AA-South section Back of the Year in 2010 — and expects to get some chances to put his speed and athleticism to use in Penn State’s return game and special teams.
Of course, next year’s Nittany Lions are entering a situation that few, if any football teams have ever experienced. With Paterno gone, the name “Penn State” no longer carries the cachet that it once did. This, however, cannot be said for Lucas and his family.
“Penn State still has a great tradition, a great graduation rate and of the largest and most involved alumni,” Jordan’s father, Vincent Lucas said. “If anything, there will be more press next year. You don’t turn down a Penn State.
“Some people shy away from it. We don’t.”
Lucas had been on Penn State’s radar for a number of years. His father, along with Guy Fortt, the Regional Director of ForrSports, a company whose mission is to help put local student-athletes on radars of colleges throughout the country, and one that Jordan credits with helping him get noticed, had been in touch with Penn State. Fortt’s son, Khairi, is a sophomore running back for the Nittany Lions. But it wasn’t until O’Brien was hired that the Lucas’ began to hear from Penn State.
“For someone like that to come in and have that interest in you, it’s great, “ Vincent Lucas said. “Jordan gets to go to a great school and get a great education for free. You can’t beat that.
51 Comments
Congrats to the Lucas Family!
These are some great quotes!
”....Vincent Lucas said. “If anything, there will be more press next year. You don’t turn down a Penn State.
”...Vincent Lucas said. “Jordan gets to go to a great school and get a great education for free. You can’t beat that.
Awesome.
Living a dream is priceless,especially when the dream is reality.
JUST/ HAYWOOD
GREAT POST!!... HE WILL BE SPECIAL AT PENN STATE!!... CONGRATS GOOD LUCK
Very nice. Congrats to Jordan Lucas.
DA MOST HATED,
YOU HAVE TO BE VERY HAPPY,HE IS A GREAT PLAYER,I AM SO GLAD THAT HE IS NOT WAISTING HIS GOD GIVEN ABILITIES.
what a great accomplishment for this young man. I wish him the best of luck at PSU
I have been to a few Penn State Games at State College and it is a great venue and atmosphere –
I would think he would redshirt if that is possible – Congrats to him and this is great for our areas football-
HAYWOOD
iam very happy everytime a sec1 football player get free $$$ to get a higher education!!
i think jordan will do very well very fast!!.. he is a solid football player with a above avg. football IQ
iona power ….. i agree it’s great for our westchester county!!!
penn state is elite!!... not sure there have been many other kids from sec1 that have recieved a scholarship from a high level football college in recent years!!.. that alone speaks volumes of his ability!!!!... and there is a ton of talent in sec1 …. once again congrats to jordan
From a PSU perspective, I’d be wondering how the scandal is effective recruiting this year. It struck me that the 4 other offers Lucas had – 2 were 1AA and 2 were mid-major 1As – PSU was the only major 1A school to offer. If you were a PSU fan, you’d want to see PSU winning recruits over Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pitt, not Temple, Akron, UMASS, etc. I personally think Lucas can be a very solid player for PSU and could see the field sooner than many think.
r u joking. penn state is elite. lolllllllllll. the program is in ruins. They got not one top one hundred player. The team will win three games next year. guys r clueless
jo,
Penn State was a Top 25 program this year, so they certainly were elite this year. It does remain to be seen how the scandal effects the program going forward. I’d imagine this will be a rough recruiting year for them – good year for recruits like Lucas taking spots that might not have been available in other years. If PSU is Top 25-caliber again next year, I think O’Brien’s NFL pedigree will help attract recruits.
Hoops
Are serious questioning Lucas ability ( to play at p.s.) he is better then any db or rb step had in the past 15 yrs… Lol you are funny are you jealous that Penn state in there so call down year ( your words) they didn’t search for any stepinac boys!!! Lucas is a beast!!! And his success will prove it!!!! And for the record Penn state last yr when they where a top15 program came to check out Lucas!!! So he is not there b/c they cnt get players he is there b/c they wanted him last year but he had to take care some academic!!! So stop ating and trying to discredit the best db in westchester since ray rice!!... And since penn state is so desperate maybe the should offer you scholarship!!!...., you are unreal!!....unreal….. Always!!!!
New Ro #1 …... In westchester public or private!!!
Jo
Penn state is elite!!!! Last year and they will be elite this year!!..... There tradition is unreal and sending player too college to NFL is the norm!!! Lucas is in position to get top notch coaching from a NFL coach if Lucas is a Sunday player you can believe he will have the coaches to get him prepared!!!...... You gotta love that through out the whole country they seek out a sec1 football player!!! ....... To Lead them into the future!!!! Let’s goooooooooooo!!! New Ro!!!!
Hoops
......#jealoushater
Dnt worry I congratulated Lucas for you!!!!
PPR,
I’m not going to get into an argument with you at all, but where exactly do you see me being a ‘hater’ whatsoever or questioning Lucas’ ability? Bottom line is I DID NOT IN ANY WAY question Lucas’ ability. I actually agree Lucas is probably the best DB in Westchester/Rockland since Terry Baltimore/Ray Rice/Nigel Morris/Glen Lee/Courtney Greene…and it had been years before those 5 that I can think of a local DB as good as Lucas. I know you’re not big on ‘reading’, but maybe you noticed what I said in my first comment above,
“I personally think Lucas can be a very solid player for PSU and could see the field sooner than many think.”
That sounds like I was giving Lucas a lot of credit, saying I think he will be a solid player for them and will see the field sooner than many think. That sounds like a non-hater comment if there ever was one.
My comments that you apparently couldn’t comprehend were about PSU…nothing negative about Lucas at all. Judging from the article above, PSU was Lucas’ only major 1A offer. If I was a PSU fan – coming off the HUGE scandal at the school – I would’ve liked to see O’Brien’s first recruit turning down other major schools (i.e. Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, etc) in choosing PSU as a sign that they were still able to recruit against big time schools in the wake of the scandal. Thats all. You don’t need to try to read into and disect every comment I write to look for some perceived bias. I give all the credit in the world to Lucas’ coaches at New Ro and beyond and of course his family that helped make this accomplishment happen. It is RARE that a local player receives a scholarship offer from such a big-time school…maybe on average one kid a year gets a big-time offer. Congrats to Lucas and his family… I hope more local kids can follow him to PSU in the next few years.
Hoops
Your just spinning it!!.... Typical of you!!!... You never congratulated the player!!!... But you question why Penn state is the only major d1 school to offer him!!! That sound like jealousy to me!!! ”
It struck me that the 4 other offers Lucas had – 2 were 1AA and 2 were mid-major 1As – PSU was the only major 1A school to offer…......... What was the point of saying that other then you wanting to be ater!!... Once you realize you was sounding jealous you tried to clean it up!!! By saying he will get on the field sooner then we!!...
If you was not ating you would have said that you cnt believe all these other d1 schools is missing out on a great football player!! You said I shouldn’t read between lines maybe you should read between your own lines!!! Maybe then you can see your true colors!!!
PPR,
You don’t read well. Don’t critique my posts again until you try Hooked on Phonics…it might work for you.
At 9:48 yesterday morning, my first post in its entirety was,
“what a great accomplishment for this young man. I wish him the best of luck at PSU”
My next post included,
“I personally think Lucas can be a very solid player for PSU and could see the field sooner than many think.”
Is that not congratulating the player? Don’t be ridiculous.
Hoops fan
Stepinac published their schedule for next year on their website- Very challenging league schedule with Xaverian, Holy Cross, Farrell ,St. Joseph, Iona and St. Anthony
http://stepinacfootball.vnsports.com/
HOOPS
you are dancing again!!... your 5:08pm post was out of jealousy then you went to try and clean it up towards the end!!.. your typical tactic!!...
and if you where not #beingahater… please explain why you said
. If you were a PSU fan, you’d want to see PSU winning recruits over Michigan, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Pitt,...... “not” Temple, Akron, UMASS, etc…... you where caught in your emotions… just be honest!!...
hoops
schedule new ro in your bye week!!...
Prince
Stepinac-WP will be the better matchup-
Now I would like to see New Rochelle-Iona next year-
I found out next year Iona could either be playing Monroe Woodbury, Poly Prep or St. Joes of Philly in their non league game
Do you think that Iona and New Rochelle return the most talent in the area next year or is North Rockland a little more talented than the Southern Westchester schools
Devaney just reported on twitter Iona possibly playing St Joes in montvale to on season
IONA
iona has the best talent returning in the whole westchester next year and new ro is 2nd north rockland has a few guys coming back but new ro bringing back
t holden ss /qb
w holden rb/cb
edney qb/fs
douglas c/t
ganley de/t
clarke lb/te
ceneus rb/cb
forest .. rb/lb soph….
i’m missing some1…..
they should make a nice run rockland has a few but lost enough to get beat next year
iona
if iona play st. joes that will be a good game for them… but i would rather them play new ro..
Prince
Forrest is going to be a beast- Ceneus should have a monster year- I believe it is St. Joes of Philly who beat St. Anthony a few years ago that is being looked at-
New Rochelle should win Section 1 because of the fact they bring back a gifted QB
If Iona plays St. Joseph of Montvale they will be in some trouble- NJ Catholics are just a level above the CHSFL AAA- This would be a very hard game for Iona
IONA
i agree forrest will be a beast next season ceneus will make all-section next year and watch out for clarke also edney will be better then this year at qb 1k passing and 1k running!!!
iona
i think iona will be special next year if all the pieces fall in place they have alot of returners if the new qb catches up with the returners look out!!.. will look something like 08’ team!! 2012 chsfl AAA champs
penn state will win no more than 18 games in the next four years and will not be in the top 25 once. They are not elite and havent been elite for a while. The person on here who is trying to say they are elite is a high school kid with no clue. Next subject please.
jo
Penn State is an elite program- Always has been and always will be- Any player getting a full ride to Penn State should be applauded- Stop being a hater
JO
you dn’t have a clue and you must be a elementary kid!!... p/state is a program thats elite in there down years in the past it was still a honor to be offered a scholarship!!!....
IONA
you are 100% correct only a #hater would speak out of his mouth like that!!
jo,
Three people on here have said Penn State is elite, not one person. None of the three of us are teenagers. Penn State was ranked in the Top 15 in the country this year, thats ‘elite’ in my opinion.
PPR,
I was hoping the break since the end of football season would’ve helped your reading comprehension skills…apparently, it hasn’t. I have no idea why you are trying to pick a fight based on nothing. Let’s just chalk this nonsense up your lack of readiing ability and move on. I am thrilled for Lucas getting a PSU scholarship. As I said above, PSU is an ‘elite’ program…it is a tremendous accomplishment for a local kid to get a major 1A scholarship offer. Maybe on average one kid a year or less gets a “major” offer.Re-read my posts above without your over-sensitive nonsense and you’ll realize I said nothing that would be even slightly considered ‘negative’. I also agree with you that it is good for local football on the whole to have more kids getting offers…though it probably would’ve benefitted Westchester football a bit more had he signed out of HS rather than from a prep school just from an awareness perspective, but it still is good nonetheless.
As far as my comments about PSU’s potential recruiting issues after their scandal, you’d have to be oblivious to think that LOTS of PSU fans aren’t watching O’Brien’s recruiting very closely to see what kind of kids they can sign this year and early next year. My comments were not taking anything away from Lucas AT ALL. The fact that Lucas had four other offers, 2 from 1AAs and 2 from mid-major 1As is a FACT, not a matter of opinion. Whatever Lucas’ other offers were takes ABSOLUTELY NOTHING away from his accomplishment of signing with PSU. No one remembers what other offers a kid had…they remember where he signed! Last I heard, Ray Rice only had two 1A offers at RB, but he ended up being a Heisman contender and a Pro Bowler – no one cares that he only had two 1A offers!!!
IonaPower,
Thanks for posting Step’s schedule. Brutal as expected! Xaverian and Farrell at home and Holy Cross, St Anthonys and Iona on the road…ouch! Kellenberg and SJBS should be winnable games, but clearly won’t be layups either. It will be interesting to see who Step schedules in week 1 – they don’t have the loaded team coming back next year that they’ve had the last two years.
PPR and IonaPower,
I agree that Iona is loaded on paper…I think they will be excellent next year. New Ro also has a lot coming back, led by Edney. I expect Iona and New Ro to be the top two teams next year. I’d be shocked if No Rock beat New Ro again next year – new Ro should have a big advantage in athletes again. Step should be an interesting team – they don’t have a stud coming back at RB for the first time in about 7 years, since probably entering Slowley’s Soph or Jr year. I’m hoping one of the Soph or Jr RB’s for Step emerges as a go-to back. I think Hoffer will have a big year spreading the ball around to a bevy of quick, talented backs and receivers.
Hoops Fan
Stepinac has a few good running backs coming up from the lower JV and Frosh levels-They will be competitive next year-
I know Prince will disagree but the league is loaded next year- Xaverian and Holy Cross bring back of speed- Holy Cross had about 7 sophs last year – They will be very explosive- Xaverian with the QB and RB back will be a high scoring team- Chaminade has a lot of talent back next year plus they won the JV Championship last year- the Staten Island teams will rebound – Plus you have Holy Trinity bring back a QB who has multiple D1 offers-
The league will be tough next year
hoops
i believe new ro will look to seek some revenge on north rock and jjef!!.... and also reclaim there throne as sec1 champs!!... they will have to fill some holes on offense but i think ther defense will be very solid next year and should be better then this year b/c they will have alot of defensive veterans i believe this year caldararo and evans wher ther only two defensive veterans
as far as the psu!!.. comment most of psu sec1 fans just started 36 hrs ago so none of us is wishing for them to beat out recruits from michigan or ohio state!!.. we just thankful that they are planning on using a sec1 player to beat ohio, michgan and whoever will be on ther roster!!... the next 4yrs!!... even though you claim not to see your under handing in your post!!... it’s ok b/c everyone that read seen it for you!!... and maybe one day you will see it!!
iona
i heard that one of step jv running backs has transferred out!!... maybe hoops can confirm!!.. i believe it was johnson a former stepinac rb little brother!!!! if true they gonna miss him (very good player) with nice size his brother also was a very good rb for stepinac few years!!...
Prince, this is serious sick talent!!! Most should be playing collge some day.
t holden ss /qb
w holden rb/cb
edney qb/fs
douglas c/t
ganley de/t
clarke lb/te
ceneus rb/cb
forest .. rb/lb soph
If New Ro does not win the Section, it will tell us how strong AA is AGAIN in 2012!!!! Though Iona Power might not agree!! – just kidding.
penn state did not finish is the top twenty five this year. its not where u start. its where u finish. Once again you teenagers are lost
JO
IF THEY DIDN’T WHO CARES!!... WE NEVER SAID WERE THEY FINISH WE SAID THEY WHERE A TOP 25 TEAM!!... BE IT WHEN THEY STARTED OR WHEN THEY FINISHED!!..... IT STILL DOES NOT TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT IT’S A ELITE PROGRAM!... TOP NOTCH FOOTBALL!!!... IT’S A PROGRAM THAT HAS NATIONAL CHIP!!.... I BET YOUR TEAM DN’T HAVE ANY!!.... ONCE AGAIN ELEMENTARY CHILD YOU DN’T HAVE A CLUE!
Just a fact January 21st, 2012 at 12:04 am
Prince, this is serious sick talent!!! Most should be playing collge some day.
t holden ss /qb
w holden rb/cb
edney qb/fs
douglas c/t
ganley de/t
clarke lb/te
ceneus rb/cb
forest .. rb/lb soph
I THINK ALL OF THEM ARE COLLEGE PLAYERS AND CAN GET SOME KIND OF FREE $$$$ TO PLAY
jo
Penn State is a Big 10 School- THAT IS BIG TIME FOOTBALL- Even a recruit going to the last place school in the Big 10 is still considered BIg time football!!
Big 10=BCS Bowl eligibilty=Big Time
How can anyone in their right mind try and knock getting recruited by Penn State???
lolololololol
hahhahaaha
is there any other symbol to laugh on this(computer) ????
oh, for got the the double smiley
or
8)
JUST
HE MUST BE MAD…... THAT IT DIDN’T HAPPEN FOR HIM!!...
8)
I don’t get it either. Penn St has a ton of NFL players, Pro Bowlers, National Championships, Top 25 finishes – that equals ‘elite’. Yes, PSU is not LSU or Alabama or Oklahoma at the moment, but they are still a top team and a contender for the Big 10 title every year!
It is possible that the scandal hurts the program a bit – I think everyone is expecting that, even PSU fans – but I think O’Brien is in a good position to get them back on top sooner rather than later.
R.I.P
JO PA ….........
LUCAS WILL BE FOREVER ETCHED IN THE P/STATE HISTORY BEFORE HE EVER TOUCH THE FIELD!!... HE IS THE 1ST RECRUIT TO SIGN OR COMMIT IN THE POST JO PA ERA. TRADITION NEVER DIES!!!!....
“LUCAS WILL BE FOREVER ETCHED IN THE P/STATE HISTORY BEFORE HE EVER TOUCH THE FIELD!!... HE IS THE 1ST RECRUIT TO SIGN OR COMMIT IN THE POST JO PA ERA. TRADITION NEVER DIES!!!!....”
Prince, well said.
“R.I.P
JO PA ….........”
Just h-ate these news people can’t even let the scandal rest for one day.
Sad people.
Under the Small World category, it’s weird how things work out sometimes. When Kermit Buggs was recruiting Section 1 for Penn St., they passed on Lucas. Then O’Brein gets the job. He was the OC at Duke when Oregon DL Coach Jerry Azzinaro was the DC at Duke. New Rochelle A New Rochelle Assistant Coach played for Azzinaro in college. He called Azzinaro and asked him if he would call O’Brien and have him take a look at Lucas’ film. He did, and the next thing you know O’Brien falls in love with Lucas and offers. I really think in big time college football recruiting, it’s who you know, in order to get films looked at by the right people. I wish more coaches in Section 1 had connections like that so more of our players would get big time looks!
Deandre Jones step jv rb has transferred back home to ketcham
should have a great jr year and adds another weapon to ketchams promising offense
younger brother of dwayne jones former step rb (Iona,Pace)
size,vision,speed,speed and more speed
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