Dominique Easley had a laundry list of BCS schools after him, programs that seldom ventured into the five boroughs for prospects.
There was Michigan and Florida and Tennessee, Miami and Oregon.
The chiseled 6-foot-3, 255-pound Curtis standout liked all the football powers after him, all 18 of which offered full scholarships. But he didn’t want to simply go to the biggest name. He wanted a place where others like him had achieved success.
So after visiting Penn State over the weekend with his father, David, attending the fifth-ranked Nittany Lions’ 31-6 victory over Temple, he verbally committed to legendary coach Joe Paterno, who has made a recent habit of drawing the best talent from New York City.
“I just had a good feeling about Penn State,” said Easley, considered the state’s best prospect. “It feels really good to be part of that family.”
He will join three New Yorkers: defensive tackle Ollie Ogbu, a Staten Island product like Easley, from St. Joseph by the Sea, running back Stephfon Green and safety Stephen Obeng-Agyapong, both formerly of John F. Kennedy. Nittany Lions players Shaine Thompson and Nerraw McCormack are also Kennedy alums.
“They recruit New York City kids and have success with New York City kids,” Curtis coach Pete Gambardella said. “It’s a reason he felt he could fit in.”
Easley said he was sold by the combination of academics and athletics, the ability to gain two degrees in four years. He plans to study psychology and communications. The other places he visited mostly talked about football; Penn State introduced him to its academic coach. It was less about his physical attributes and more about him as a person and student.
“That really set it off,” he said. “They talked about me becoming a man there.”
The electric atmosphere surrounding the noon kickoff struck a chord with Easley. When he arrived on campus at 9 a.m. there was bumper-to-bumper traffic. Tailgating parties surrounded Beaver Stadium. Easley was met with a sea of blue inside. He pictured himself on the field, in front of the rabid home fans.
“That was big-time; he wasn’t even on the field and his adrenaline was flowing,” David Easley said. “He was ready to get out there.”
The opportunities the Big 10 school can offer is why he chose to play in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions are a national title contender every year, and face the likes of Ohio State and Michigan.
“You win the Big 10, you’re playing in a BCS bowl,” Gambardella said. “That’s a big draw.”
A three-year starter at Curtis, Easley leads the city in sacks with seven and has also compiled a team-high 25 tackles in leading the Warriors to a 3-1 record. He helped them reach the city final as a sophomore and led them to an 8-1 mark last fall and No. 2 seed in the citywide playoffs. Overpowering, quick and agile, he was selected to the Under Armour All-American game, set to be televised on ESPN Jan. 2, 2010 in Orlando, Fla. He was ranked 51st in his class by ESPNU.com.
The attention took its toll. Easley’s cell phone wouldn’t stop ringing, college coaches trying to sell Easley on their school. He was flattered, naturally, the interest almost overwhelming. But, he said, it was a relief for it to be over.
“I’m happy he made a great decision,” Gambardella said. “But I’m more happy that he can relax a little bit and just concentrate on his senior year of school and senior year of football.”
