West Deptford High School’s Jamil Pollard became the first player to verbally commit to Penn State since news of the sexual abuse scandal broke in early November. Pollard, a defensive tackle, announced his decision Thursday night.

Rivals.com ranks Pollard a four-star recruit, while scout.com gave him three stars. Pollard, who is listed at 6-foot-4 and 280 pounds, chose Penn State over Boston College, according to multiple reports.

Pollard originally committed to Penn State in the spring, but the school pulled his scholarship offer over the summer for academic reasons.

“Penn State could get back in the picture, but they felt he hadn’t made the progress they were looking for,” West Deptford coach Clyde Folsom told the Inquirer in July. “They didn’t feel they could hold the scholarship."

The addition of Pollard brings Penn State’s verbal commitments to 14, but some of those recruits have been making visits to other schools in wake of the scandal. Penn State has already lost three of its verbal commitments in defensive lineman Tommy Schutt, who committed to Ohio State, and offensive lineman Joey O’Connor and tight end J.P. Holtz.

--Jake Kaplan