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Thursday, June 19, 2008 Oxon Hill receiver Penn State-bound Oxon Hill wide reciever makes early college decision by Kevin Hilgers | Staff Writer
Oxon Hill rising senior Brandon Felder (left) verbally committed to Penn State University last month after scoring 11 touchdowns last season, and being selected the Gazette-Star All-County first team.
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One meeting with legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno was enough to help Oxon Hill High School wide receiver Brandon Felder make his college plans.
The Gazette-Star All-County First-Team selection and rising senior committed to the Nittany Lions in late May, persuaded by a visit to a camp in State College, Pa., earlier that month. Felder said he had offers from several upper-level NCAA Division I schools, including Baylor, Boston College, Illinois, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Syracuse and West Virginia. But meeting the coach, who is entering his 43rd season at Penn State, and his staff helped him make up his mind.
‘‘It’s an old-fashioned team with JoePa,” Felder said. ‘‘He’s a legend, if he’s been in the game that long and he’s still doing it.”
The verbal commitment is not binding, but Felder said he would not visit any other schools before he makes his decision official on signing day in early February. Felder said it still remains to be seen where he will fit in on the team as a freshman in 2009, but coaches told him he would not be redshirted.
Oxon Hill coach Kevin Wolfolk said Penn State is a good fit for Felder to step in and get playing time quickly at a renowned program. He also said other players have helped pave the way for county standouts to reach the program. Derrick Williams, a 2005 graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt, was one of the team’s top receivers last season.
‘‘I think it’s a great choice,” Wolfolk said. ‘‘Penn State has one of the best football traditions in the country. They’ve got a great campus. It’s a good academic school.”
Felder amassed 942 yards and recorded five games of 100 yards or more and 11 touchdowns last season for the Clippers, who reached the Class 4A South Region playoffs. He also garnered attention as an overall athlete in April, when he had the highest composite score at the Maryland Junior Combine in Baltimore.
‘‘It put me on the map I guess,” Felder said. ‘‘Everybody wanted to meet me.”
He also put his school on the map, Wolfolk said. The coach said he received many calls from Division I coaches this spring, which brought recruiting attention to more than just Felder.
‘‘He caused quite a buzz on the Oxon Hill campus for much of the month of May,” Wolfolk said. ‘‘It was a great recruiting year for Oxon Hill.”
E-mail Kevin Hilgers at khilgers@gazette.net.
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