Southeastern Pa. Football Notebook

Coatesville's Daquan Worley said he's still "firmly committed" to playing football at Penn State, but added that he is "waiting to see how things transpire" when it comes to the school's choice of a replacement for Bill O'Brien.

The 5-foot-10, 175-pound cornerback, who committed to the Nittany Lions last May, said he "was kind of disappointed" about learning that O'Brien had opted to leave the college ranks to take over the NFL's Houston Texans.

"I say that because of the coach he is and the type of guy he is," Worley said. "But he's a hot commodity right now. He has to make the best decision for him and his family."

Like Penn State's other commits for the Class of 2014, Worley, who also buoyed the Red Raiders as a running back and kick returner, cannot sign a binding letter of commitment until Feb. 5.

"I don't think anything has changed for Daquan," Coatesville coach Matt Ortega said. "Penn State has said it will move quickly when it comes to hiring a new coach. I guess we'll go from there when that happens."

Worley, a quick-footed senior, also had scholarship offers from Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Massachusetts, Old Dominion, and Pittsburgh. Georgia Tech, with its triple-option attack, considered him as a running back.

University of Miami coach Al Golden, the former Temple boss and Penn State assistant, is reportedly at the top of Penn State's wish list for its coaching vacancy.

It is also believed that the school's six-member search committee was targeting Vanderbilt's James Franklin, a Langhorne native who played quarterback at Neshaminy, and Tennessee Titans coach Mike Munchak.

"I don't really have a preference," said Worley, who helped the Red Raiders go 13-3 and advance to the PIAA Class AAAA state championship game in 2012. "I'm just waiting to see what Penn State does."

While things are being sorted out in State College, Worley has been staying in regular contact with two other Penn State recruits from the East Coast: Mark Allen, a running back from DeMatha Catholic (Md.), and Chris Godwin, a wide receiver from Middletown (Del.).

Worley is recovering from a torn right anterior cruciate ligament suffered while returning a punt in a 42-20 win over Ches-Mont League rival West Chester East in late October. He underwent surgery on Nov. 7.

Worley is receiving treatment, under the direction of Stephen Hopkins, at NovaCare Rehabilitation's Bala Cynwyd outpatient physical therapy center.

"It's going good," he said. "We're doing a lot of things, including squats and leg presses, to strengthen the knee. [Hopkins] is happy with the progress I'm making."

Worley, who rushed for 1,246 yards and 11 touchdowns in eight appearances last season, says he is scheduled to begin a running program in 3-4 weeks.

Morgenthaler to NAPS. Tyler Morgenthaler, who played offensive tackle and center for Downingtown East, is ticketed for the Naval Academy Preparatory School (NAPS) in Newport. R.I.

"It's always been a dream of mine to play football for Navy," the 6-1, 265-pound senior said. "I've been going to their camp since I was 8 years old."

With the Midshipmen, Morgenthaler, who transferred to East from Malvern Prep, is projected to be a center and possible long snapper.

His father, John, was a linebacker at Bishop Eustace (N.J) and Penn. His brother, Jack, starred in lacrosse at Malvern and is now a sophomore midfielder for Navy.

Extra points. Todd Jones, a 2013 graduate of St. Joseph's Prep now at the Hyde School in Woodstock, Ct., has committed to play at Coastal Carolina. He is a 6-2, 220-pound linebacker. ... St. Joe's Prep, which captured the PIAA Class AAAA state title, is in talks to open the 2014 campaign vs. St. Xavier (Oh.) at Villanova. The Hawks do not have two of last season's nonleague foes, North Penn and Class AAA champ Archbishop Wood, on their 2014 slate. ... West Catholic will visit North Penn in Week 2. ... Coatesville's Jay Stocker, a junior wide receiver and defensive back, has scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Rutgers and Syracuse, among others. Classmate Amir Ealey, a 6-4, 235-pound tight end, has an offer from Virginia. ... In Week 2 next season, Imhotep Charter may play St. Peter's Prep (N.J.) in the I-95 Classic. ... Imhotep senior defensive tackle Tyrone Barge is considering Coastal Carolina, Delaware State and New Hampshire, among others. Villanova and Rhose Island are other possibilities. ... Coatesville's Colin Raysor, a 6-6, 300-pound offensive tackle, will continue his career at Lafayette. .... Malvern Prep has four Division I-AA commits: running back Tyler Gallen (Delaware), tight end John Nassib (Delaware), linebacker Hunter Paulus (Stetson), and defensive back Jordan Majors (Cornell).