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First Posted: 11/10/2014 Just hours before Penn State&#8217;s biggest home game of the season, James Franklin had three VIPs with him on a tour around Beaver Stadium.
One of them was a senior quarterback from Indianapolis visiting Happy Valley for the first time. Two weeks later, Tommy Stevens joined the Nittany Lions.
Stevens gave a verbal commitment to Penn State on Monday evening, announcing that he had switched from Indiana on his Twitter account.
&#8220;After carefully weighing out my options, my family and I have decided that it is in my best interest to commit to Penn State,&#8221; Stevens wrote. &#8220;I want to thank all of the coaches that have recruited me throughout this whole process. I want to especially thank the Indiana staff. I fully beliece they are moving in the right direction and I wish them nothing but the best in the future.
&#8220;It was a tough decision to leave home, but I have to do what I feel like is best for me.&#8221;
Blue White Illustrated first reported Stevens&#8217; decision.
The 6-foot-4 signal-caller from Decatur Central High School began to consider his options last month when Penn State offered a scholarship. The Lions were in need of a quarterback for the 2015 signing class after losing Brandon Wimbush to Notre Dame in October.
Right at the top of the list was Stevens, who checks in as a three-star prospect on the 247Sports Composite rankings as the No. 18 dual threat quarterback in the country. He also has scholarship offers Nebraska, Michigan State, Iowa and N.C. State.
Stevens just finished his senior season with 2,733 total yards (1,871 passing, 842 rushing) and 26 total touchdowns (16, 10). Decatur Central went 8-3 on the season, losing on Friday in the Indiana Class 5A sectional championship round.
Coincidentally, Penn State&#8217;s last verbal commitment came shortly after their last Big Ten win. The Lions landed New Jersey safety/linebacker Daiquan Kelly after beating Rutgers. They outlasted Indiana 13-7 on Saturday in Bloomington before ultimately flipping the Hoosiers&#8217; quarterback recruit.
Stevens had taken an official visit to Penn State for the Ohio State game. He toured the stadium before kickoff with Franklin, offensive line commit Sterling Jenkins and offensive line target Matthew Burrell, who remains uncommitted.
He would become the Lions&#8217; fourth scholarship quarterback for the 2015 season behind Christian Hackenberg, Trace McSorley and Michael O&#8217;Connor. The latter two are in line to redshirt.
Stevens&#8217; pledge brings Penn State&#8217;s upcoming recruiting class back up to 19 players. The Lions had been at 20 before Wimbush left and a high school hazing scandal led to coaches pulling a scholarship offer to Myles Hartsfield.
After adding Stevens, the Lions&#8217; 2015 class ranks No. 11 in the country, according to the 247 Composite. Ohio State has recently jumped up to No. 8 to take over the top spot in the Big Ten.
Signing day is Feb. 4.
Below is Penn State&#8217;s updated recruiting map, which can be expanded by clicking on the full-screen icon in the upper right corner of the frame. Click on either of the other two categories in the box on the left side to reveal offers and see where Penn State is concentrating its recruiting efforts.
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