Penn State gets verbal from Samoa DE/LB

Amani Purcell (6-5, 250/DE&LB) from Leone High in Pago Pago, American Samoa verbally committed to Penn State last night, becoming the 10th commitment to Penn State's Class of 2007.

Assistant coach Brian Norwood apparently arrived in Pago Pago last Thursday. Though right now is currently a dead period, Norwood would not be in violation as long as he does not contact Purcell or have a face-to-face meeting.

Leone coach Oakland Salave'a told BWI yesterday that Penn State started to learn about Purcell when the Lions began recruiting Carson, Calif. offensive lineman Matt Malele, who is a friend of Purcell. Former Nittany Lion fullback Tim Manoa, a native of American Samoa who lettered at PSU in the mid-1980s, also brought Purcell to the Lions attention.

Salave'a said that Purcell has 4.5 second 40-yard dash speed and 10.9 second 100 meter speed. Penn State recruited him as an outside linebacker and defensive end.

Purcell visited Penn State on Jan. 24. He also visited Hawaii, Utah and Colorado. Oklahoma, USC, UCLA, Oregon and Tennessee also offered him a scholarship.

We plan to interview Salave'a again this afternoon for more details on Purcell and his recruitment. There is a six hour difference between the U.S. East Coast and Pago Pago, so we plan to call at 2 p.m. EST, which is 8 a.m. locally