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Penn State loses another high-profile high school player

Offensive tackle Dorian Johnson of Belle Vernon, Pa., a four-star recruit, has informed Penn State coach Bill O'Brien that he has withdrawn his commitment for the freshman class of 2013.

Penn State has lost another of its high-profile commitments, with offensive tackle Dorian Johnson of Belle Vernon High School near Pittsburgh having informed head coach Bill O'Brien that he will look elsewhere.

The 6-foot-6, 285-pound Johnson, whom Rivals rated as a four-star recruit and No. 23 among offensive tackles in the freshman class of 2013, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review he called O'Brien on Tuesday night to inform him of his decision.

"It was a real short conversation," Johnson said. "He didn't really say much. He did say he respected my decision and wished me luck."

Johnson is the fifth member of Penn State's anticipated class of 2013 to withdraw his commitment to the school, as players weigh their options given the harsh sanctions handed down by the NCAA to the university in the wake of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Those penalties included a four-year bowl ban, scholarship reductions and a $60 million fine.

"I wasn't expecting all that," Johnson told the Tribune-Review about the Penn State penalties. "The top two things were the bowl ban and the scholarship offers."

Johnson said he will reconsider Pittsburgh and Ohio State, two of his original finalists, as well as Virginia Tech, according to the newspaper.

On Monday, wide receiver and linebacker Zach Bradshaw of Damascus, Md., notified O'Brien that he was decommitting. Bradshaw later committed to Virginia.

--Joe Juliano