State College Is the Place to Be
By Josh Barr
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, December 9, 2005; 1:24 AM
Suitland All-Met linebacker Navorro Bowman got in front of his classmates yesterday afternoon and announced he will accept a college football scholarship from Penn State.
Shortly thereafter, Bowman got on the phone with another of the Washington area's top prospects, Forestville lineman Antonio Logan-El, presumably to discuss Bowman's choice and Logan-El's evening appointment for his home visit from Penn State assistant coach Larry Johnson.
"I wish the best for him on that end," Bowman said. "He'll probably call me when it's over."
And perhaps Logan-El soon will decide to join Bowman -- and perhaps several other top local players -- in State College.
"I've got the sense that most of the good athletes in Prince George's County are going to choose Penn State University," Bowman said. "That's not a bad choice to make."
Gwynn Park lineman Phillip Taylor is believed to be very interested in Penn State. A little to the south, so is Lackey lineman J.B. Walton. Mount Hebron defensive end Aaron Maybin already committed to the Nittany Lions. And Quince Orchard linebacker Bani Gbadyu, who over the summer committed to Louisiana State, now is interested in Penn State.
"I didn't get to talk to Phil yet," Bowman said. "But I'm going to get his number and call him too."
There seems to be little question among local high school coaches that Penn State is the school of choice right now.
There also seems to be little question that the success of Penn State freshman Derrick Williams is helping the Nittany Lions recruit the Washington area.
"Derrick put Penn State in my eye," Bowman said. "He's the number one recruit and Penn State having the season they had last year [4-7 in 2004], why would he choose Penn State University? So I put them on my list and took that visit."
"Being that Derrick went up there, I wanted to see what they had to offer. I went up there and had a great time."
Williams, an All-Met last season at Eleanor Roosevelt who was considered the nation's top recruit, caught 22 passes and scored four touchdowns in seven games before breaking his arm and missing the rest of the season. As a team, after falling from the nation's elite, Penn State (10-1) is ranked third in the nation and will play Florida State in the Orange Bowl, part of the NCAA's Bowl Championship Series.
"Of course you can look at [this season's] wins and losses, but the one thing he did say is that Penn State is considered 'Linebacker U.' and that's his position," Suitland Coach Nick Lynch said. "He wants to go up there with the tradition they have and be in the mix. But I'm quite sure that winning helps."
