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Penn State lands Maryland outside linebacker Zach Bradshaw

The commitments for the Class of 2013 continue to roll in at Penn State.

Bill O'Brien's first recruiting class is now up to 13 players, including two linebackers. (Laurence Kesterson/Staff file photo)
Bill O'Brien's first recruiting class is now up to 13 players, including two linebackers. (Laurence Kesterson/Staff file photo)Read more

THE COMMITMENTS for the class of 2013 continue to roll in at Penn State.

The Nittany Lions received a verbal commitment from outside linebacker Zach Bradshaw, from Damascus (Md.) High, according to recruiting websites.

Bradshaw, 6-3, 205, becomes the 13th junior to commit to Penn State. He cannot sign a letter of intent until February.

He is considered a three-star prospect by Scout.com and Rivals.com. Scout has him as the 67th best linebacker in the country in his class.

"I had a great opportunity, and it was the right choice, and I didn't want to let it slip away," Bradshaw told the Gazette in Gaithersburg, Md. "I'm so happy, this relieves a lot of stress, so I can just focus on playing football this fall."

Bradshaw and his family were on campus Sunday, making their second visit to the school. They largely wanted to meet linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden, who was out of town during their first visit.

"I like [Vanderlinden] a lot," Bradshaw said. "I like the campus a lot. It's a really big school, but in a pretty confined area. They run similar stuff to what I already do at Damascus with a 4-3 front and 90 percent of the time I would be outside of the box."

A number of schools were looking at him to play wide receiver and return kicks. He chose Penn State over South Carolina, Virginia and Northwestern. Interestingly, he said Virginia and Penn State were looking at him to play defense, while South Carolina and Northwestern had more interest in him on offense.

"Sitting down with the coaches and seeing what linebackers do has really impressed me," Bradshaw told the Gazette. "Physically I think I have a better chance at the [college] level on defense in some cases."

He becomes the second linebacker to commit, joining Brandon Bell, from Mays Landing, N.J.