Video: Penn State didn't sign any players from Philadelphia. Instead, Rutgers had success in Philly. The Inquirer's Joe Juliano and Rick O'Brien talk more about it with CineSport's Brian Clark.

Penn State defensive coordinator Ted Roof talks about the Nittany Lions' 2012 recruiting class at a press availability on National Signing Day.

(Video by Joe McIntyre/The Philadephia Inquirer)

Penn State completed national signing day with no surprises, with 19 players submitting signed letters of intent to become part of the Nittany Lions’ freshman Class of 2012.

Penn State received letters from every player who was expected to sign. No player made a last-minute change of heart toward another school, and the Nittany Lions did not hear from anyone who made a sudden decision to go to Penn State.

The Lions ended up signing five defensive linemen, four wide receivers, three defensive backs, two offensive linemen, two tight ends, one linebacker, one running back and one quarterback.

The quarterback is 6-foot-2, 200-pound Steven Bench of Cairo, Ga. Bench, who carried a 3.86 grade-point average, is a quarterback “who’s very accurate and can process information quickly," according to running backs coach and recruiting coordinator Charles London.

Bench, who originally had committed to Rice, was someone new head coach Bill O’Brien went after quickly after he was hired. The move turned out to be a good one after St. Joseph’s Prep quarterback Skyler Mornhinweg decided against Penn State earlier this week and in favor of Florida.

O’Brien, still the offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots, is expected to take a break from Super Bowl preparations later this afternoon to discuss the new freshman class.

The class included eight players who committed to Penn State after O’Brien took over. Ten of the players committed while Joe Paterno still was head coach, and one gave his word to interim head coach Tom Bradley during the TicketCity Bowl.

The recruiting class had been considered 46th in the nation by both Rivals and Scout, two recruiting web sites, and in the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. The Lions lost six commitments after the arrest of former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky on child sex abuse charges triggered national outrage.

Five players in the Class of 2012 hail from Maryland, more than any other state. Pennsylvania has four players and New Jersey three. Six states – Connecticut, Georgia, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington – and one Canadian province – Ontario – each have one.

Penn State signed two Philadelphia-area prospects, both defensive linemen – Jamil Pollard of West Deptford High School and Austin Johnson from St. Augustine Prep.

The most recent players from those high schools to star at Penn State were Anthony Scirotto (West Deptford) and Jack Crawford (St. Augustine).

The signees also include wide receiver Jonathan Warner, the son of former Nittany Lions All-American running back Curt Warner. Tight end Jesse James of Glassport, Pa., already has enrolled at Penn State.

The release of signees as their letters of intent arrive is a new twist for Penn State. Former head coach Joe Paterno never commented on his new players on national signing day, and officials waited until late in the day to release the full list.

--Joe Juliano

Signed letters of intent are arriving at the Penn State football office as the Nittany Lions welcome members of the freshman Class of 2012.

As of noon Wednesday, Penn State has announced the names of 12 players who faxed their official letters of intent on national signing day.

In addition, recruiting web sites Fight On State and Blue White Illustrated have identified two more signees – defensive tackle Jamil Pollard from Westville, N.J., and wide receiver Eugene Lewis from Plymouth, Pa.

Those confirmed by Penn State as already being in the fold are: quarterback Steven Bench of Bainbridge, Ga.; defensive lineman Brian Gaia of Pasadena, Md.; wide receiver Malik Golden of Hartford, Conn.; defensive back Jake Kiley of Plymouth, N.H.; offensive lineman Wendy Laurent of Hamilton, N.J.; defensive back Jordan Lucas of New Rochelle, N.Y.; defensive lineman Evan Schwan of Harrisburg; offensive lineman Anthony Stanko of Howland, Ohio; wide receiver Jonathan Warner of Camas, Wash.;  linebacker Nyeem Wartman of Jessup, Pa.; tight end Brent Wilkerson of Clinton, Md.; and wide receiver Trevor Williams of Nottingham, Md.

Penn State also announced the earlier signing of tight end Jesse James of Glassport, Pa., who enrolled last month at the university.

According to recruiting web sites Scout and Rivals, in addition to Pollard and Lewis, the Nittany Lions should be expecting four more letters to be coming in.

The release of signees as their letters of intent arrive is a new twist for Penn State. Former head coach Joe Paterno never commented on his new players on national signing day, and officials waited until late in the day before releasing the full list.

--Joe Juliano

The Penn State football coaching staff increased by two on Monday, with one assistant spot still open.

Head coach Bill O'Brien announced the hirings of Jim Bernhardt as the Nittany Lions’ special assistant to the head coach and director of player development, and Craig Fitzgerald as the strength and conditioning director.

Bernhardt served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Brown from 1990-92 while O’Brien was a linebacker and defensive end with the Bears. In 1993, Bernhardt was Brown’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach.

From 1994-2003, the Long Island native coached high schools in central Florida, which included Bishop Moore, Seminole and Dr. Phillips High Schools.

Since then, Bernhardt has served as the director of football operations at UCF in 2004, followed by a stint as the Golden Knights’ running backs coach from 2005-06, before later returning to his hometown to coach Long Beach (N.Y.) High School in 2008.

Fitzgerald joins the Lions after serving as the director of football strength and conditioning for three years at South Carolina alongside Lions’ secondary coach John Butler.

Fitzgerald worked at Maryland from 2000-05 as an assistant director of strength and conditioning. From 2003-04, he worked with O’Brien when the Lions’ head coach handled the Terps’ running backs.

The Philadelphia native is a certified strength and conditioning specialist through the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the Collegiate Strength & Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA).  He replaces former Lions’ strength and conditioning coaches John Thomas and Jeremy Scott.

Fitzgerald and Bernhardt join a Lions staff that includes: Butler, defensive line coach Larry Johnson, running backs coach Charles London, wide receivers coach Stan Hixon, offensive line coach Mac McWhorter, defensive coordinator Ted Roof, tight ends coach John Strollo and linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden.

The NCAA limits all head coaches to nine assistants and neither Bernhardt nor Fitzgerald count against O’Brien’s cap.

Before he becomes full-time with the Lions, O’Brien will continue to coach the New England Patriots’ offense until the conclusion of the Super Bowl against the New York Giants, which takes place this Sunday.

Kirk Ferentz knew early in his career at Upper St. Clair High School near Pittsburgh that he wanted to be a football coach, and he felt one of the best coaches to try to emulate was Joe Paterno.

So you can imagine how strange it was for him to attend his first Big Ten meeting as the new head coach at Iowa in 1999 and actually sit in the same room as his idol.

“You were just being in the room sort of on the same level, but hardly on the same level in some ways if you know what I mean,” Ferentz said earlier this week. “I don’t know what his age was then but what struck me was his passion, his enthusiasm, his energy to what it was he was doing. It was really inspirational.”

Ferentz said the memories of Paterno at his first Big Ten meeting was what he recalled first on Sunday after he heard of the coach’s death from lung cancer at the age of 85.

When it came time for him to be on the sideline opposite Paterno for the first time later in 1999, Ferentz said, “You just tried to block that part of it out.

“I’m not sure I ever envisioned myself being a head coach in the Big Ten,” he said. “To find yourself in a league with coach Paterno, that was quite a thrill.”

Apparently, Paterno's presence inspired Ferentz. His Hawkeyes were 8-3 against the Nittany Lions.

Ferentz said after his family moved from Michigan to Pittsburgh when he was in the third grade, he became a devotee of the show “TV Quarterbacks,” which was carried on PBS stations throughout Pennsylvania and featured Paterno talking about Penn State football.

“I watched that show fairly religiously,” he said. “I really wanted to go there but the only problem was, he didn’t win 409 games by recruiting small, slow guys.”

Ferentz also has a family connection to Penn State. His father-in-law, Jerry Hart, knew Paterno from their days growing up in Brooklyn. Hart’s son, Kevin, who was Ferentz’s best friend in high school and now is his brother-in-law, played for Paterno in 1976.

Asked about how college football will be without Paterno coaching or observing the sport, Ferentz replied, “I would suggest it will be very different.

“The thing I thought about Sunday was, I had the good fortune of coaching in the same conference as him now for the past 13 years,” he said. “I think he’s one of the greatest coaches of all-time in all sports in college – for that matter, probably all sports, period. But certainly, the impact to collegiate athletics is immeasurable.”

--Joe Juliano

The Inquirer's Joe Juliano checks from State College after his one-on-one interview with new Nittany Lions football coach Bill O'Brien.

(Video by Laurence Kesterson/Staff Photographer)

For the past two days, Big Ten football coaches have issued statements on the death of former Penn State coach Joe Paterno. Here are some highlights of what the coaches had to say:

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer

“I am deeply saddened to learn about the passing of coach Joe Paterno. He was a man who I have deep respect for as a human being, as a husband and father, as a leader and as a football coach. I was very fortunate to have been able to develop a personal relationship with him, especially over the course of the last several years, and it is something that I will always cherish.

“My prayers and thoughts go out to his wife, Sue, and to their family, and also to the family he had at Penn State University. We have lost a remarkable person and someone who affected the lives of so many people in so many positive ways. His presence will be dearly missed. His legacy as a coach, as a winner and as a champion will carry on forever.”

Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald

"The legacy of Joe Paterno will be long lasting -- not only as a football coach and mentor, but as a family man. For 62 years, coach Paterno poured his heart and soul into a football program and university, helping countless young men reach their dreams and goals on the football field before moving on to successful careers and lives as adults. It's hard to fathom the impact that coach Paterno has had on college football and at Penn State. His insight and wisdom will be missed. We at Northwestern send our condolences to Sue and the Paterno family."

Minnesota head coach Jerry Kill

“He coached for 60 years with more than 100 players per year. Think about how many lives he touched, how many good things he has done. From my family to the Paterno family, our prayers go out to them. It's a sad day for football, but a good day for the man upstairs.

“I would tell people not to forget what that guy has done. To coach for 60 years in one place, that just won't ever happen again. I didn't get to coach against him. But I got to coach in the Big Ten, sit next to him at a meeting and have my picture taken with him. That's something I will never forget.”

Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini

"My condolences go out to coach Paterno’s family and the Penn State community. I have so much respect for what coach Paterno accomplished at Penn State both on and off the field. He wasn’t just a legendary coach, but a class individual and his record speaks for itself. I had the honor of getting a few chances to spend time with him since we joined the Big Ten, and those were special opportunities for me as a relatively young head coach in this profession."

Michigan head coach Brady Hoke

"I am certainly saddened by the news [Sunday] of coach Paterno's passing. College football has lost one of its greatest, a coaching icon. Even though I was just an assistant when our teams faced one another, I feel honored to have shared the field with Joe. His players' love for him, it shows how he touched their lives and it tells who he was as a man. He will be missed. His mark on Penn State and college football will never be forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Joe's family and friends and the entire Penn State community."

Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema

"Coach Paterno obviously did so many wonderful things for a number of years, not only with the success of his teams on the field but the number of lives he shaped. I hope people remember his lifetime achievements. From day one, when I joined the head coaching ranks and was fortunate enough to cross paths with him at coaches meetings and various functions, he was always very engaging and complimentary of the way we did things at Wisconsin and how we played. I enjoyed competing with him at every level. Our Badger football family sends our condolences and deepest sympathies to the Penn State community and the Paterno family."

Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio

"Joe dedicated his life to Penn State and college football. He had unparalleled success during his 46 seasons as the head coach at Penn State. Joe was a major player who helped revolutionize the game of college football. In his six-plus decades at Penn State, he influenced and impacted countless numbers of players and people at a championship level. Over the past five years, my wife and I have had the privilege of spending time with both Joe and his wife Sue. We appreciated and enjoyed the time spent at our various functions together and will forever remember him as a steward of our profession."

--Joe McIntyre

Funeral services for former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno will be private but two viewings will be held for the public to pay its respects, as well as a public memorial service Thursday at the Bryce Jordan Center on campus.

Viewings will be held for the veteran coach, who died Sunday, from 1 p.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday and from 8 a.m. to noon Wednesday. The viewings will be held at the Pasquerilla Spirtual Center, near the intersection of Curtin Road and Allen St. on campus.

Private funeral services will take place at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Pasquerilla Spiritual Center. A procession will leave the center at approximately 3 p.m., heading east on Curtin Road past Beaver Stadium, and later heading back westbound through downtown State College on College Ave. Burial will be private.

Thursday’s service, “A Memorial for Joe,” will begin at 2 p.m. at the Jordan Center. Tickets are required for admission. Tickets, which are limited to two per person, can be obtained starting at 10 a.m. Tuesday at www.gopsusports.com/tickets. Those who order online must print their tickets out at home.

Tickets also are available over the telephone beginning at 10 a.m. Tuesday by calling 1-800-NITTANY (648-8269).

Information on parking for the viewings and memorial service can be found at www.gopsusports.com.

--Joe Juliano