Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Penn State Could Have Used a Pair of USC Guys

FanHouse's lead-up to college football's signing day makes like Charles Dickens and looks at the Ghosts of Recruiting -- past, present and future. In the Ghosts of Recruiting Present, we document prominent recruiting makes and misses that changed programs

Penn State had a magical 2008, directing one of the best offenses in school history, matched with an absolutely ferocious and underrated defense. The Nittany Lions won the Big 10 crown and made the Rose Bowl for just the third time in school history. Problem is they ran into a USC buzzsaw, and got solidly whipped during a second quarter outburst that put the game out of reach by halftime. Things might have been different with a pair of players that escaped their clutches and ended up at USC.

In recruiting battles that went down to the wire, USC beat out Penn State for New York wide receiver Vidal Hazelton and Arkansas tailback Broderick Green several years ago.

Hazelton, potentially, is a first-round pick type receiver, with an excellent frame and solid speed and the ability to play several different receiver spots. He's been unhealthy his three seasons at Troy, but put together a solid sophomore outing in 2007 finishing third on the team in receptions (50), yards (540) and touchdowns (4). Injuries held him out for pretty much all of 2008 as he finished with just six catches for 38 yards.

Green is a monster bowling ball of a back, at well over 240 pounds and well over six feet tall. USC had several entrenched backs, so Green redshirted in 2007 before rising to 4th on the depth chart. He still tallied 32 carries for 168 yards (5.3 average) and three touchdowns, including a 121 yard effort against Washington State.

Problem is, both never rose to star status with the abundance of talent at Troy. Both left the program before the 2008 season was over, citing family health issues but clearly playing time played a critical role in their departure.

Make no mistake though, both are excellent football players who in a different situation end up starring at USC and who can both play anywhere. Like, say, Penn State.

In the Rose Bowl, USC was able to snuff out Penn State's ground game once the Nittany Lions' star back, Evan Royster left the game with an injury. Green is an incredibly physical, pounding back with decent speed who would have been a unique challenge for the USC defense had he been on the opposite side of the field.

Hazelton would have been a matchup challenge as well. Penn State's more diminutive fleet of receivers in combination were excellent this year, but there was no sturdy, taller player to contrast with their skills, no Batman to their Robin. Hazelton is that kind of player.

I'm not saying Penn State beats USC with those two in the game, but they're certainly a better team and perhaps rewrite that final score a bit. Oh, and beat Iowa while they were at it, perhaps setting them up in the BCS Championship game.

Be sure to check out the entire Ghosts of Recruiting series leading up to college football's national letter of intent day

Previously in Ghosts of Recruiting

Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Pac-10 Also-Rans Washington and UCLA
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Big 12 Slumpers Colorado and Texas A&M
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Former Masters Miami and Florida State
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Aging, Embattled Warriors Pitt and Syracuse
Ghosts of Recruiting Past: Virginia and Michigan State Rounds Things Out

Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Steve Slaton, Maryland Terrapin?
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Ryan Perilloux is Drama for All
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Houston Nutt, Reality Show
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Texas Whiffs on the Rodgers Brothers
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Bill Callahan Really Wanted Josh Freeman
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Tebow, Snead, McCoy Recruiting Love Triangle
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: Pat White Was Destined To Play Quarterback
Ghosts of Recruiting Present: USC's 'Pick Your Poison' Misses