As Penn State prepares to bring in a talented recruiting class highlighted by quarterback Christian Hackenberg, the future of the program continues to get brighter.
Along with Hackenberg, other top recruits such as tight end Adam Breneman and quarterback Tyler Ferguson will be looking to make impacts early on in their college careers.
For the Lions to continue this rebuilding process after being hampered with NCAA sanctions, coach Bill O'Brien will need to bring in another solid recruiting class in 2014.
With national signing day only two days away, O'Brien will need to start working on the next recruiting class beginning next week.
Out of Bethel Park Senior High School in Pennsylvania, Mike Grimm is a prime example of in-state talent that O'Brien can't let slip through his fingers.
Standing at 6'6" and weighing in at over 300 pounds, Grimm is a massive offensive lineman who can help a line that will lose more than one starter after the 2013 season.
With Donovan Smith set at tackle and incoming freshman Brendan Mahon likely to contribute in his freshman season, Grimm can be a solid addition to a large front seven at Penn State.
It will be imperative that O'Brien builds a strong line to block for the young Hackenberg, and Grimm would fit into that mold.
From Gateway High School in Monroeville, Pa., Nicholson is a 6'2" safety who plays both wide receiver and safety for his high school team.
Nicholson is one of the top defensive backs in the 2014 class, and if O'Brien can get the safety to commit to Penn State, it would be a major addition.
O'Brien will need to replace both of these experienced safeties, meaning Nicholson will have a chance to play as a true freshman.
O'Brien was forced to use fullbacks Michael Zordich and Zach Zwinak as running backs while Bill Belton and Derek Day were injured.
Although the 2013 season has a strong contingent of Zwinak, Belton and Akeel Lynch in top spots at running back, adding a home-run threat never hurts.
Blanding is a 5-star recruit according to Rivals.com, and the 6'2", 195-pound defensive back runs a 4.55 40-yard dash.
The current junior at Bayside High School already has offers from Notre Dame, Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson and other schools.
As was mentioned before, Penn State will have serious needs at the safety position after next year, and Blanding would have the opportunity to start during his freshman year.
Bringing in a top talent such as Blanding would be a big step in the right direction for O'Brien and the Nittany Lions.
The defensive tackle is currently being sought out by Alabama, Michigan, Ohio State and South Carolina, along with numerous other Top 25 programs.
Jordan Hill finished his senior year at Penn State in 2012, and the Lions don't exactly have a premier defensive tackle to fill in his place.
Weighing in at over 245 pounds and standing at 6'5", Hand's 4.60 40-yard dash speed is only one indicator of what he can bring to a pass rush.
Although bringing Hand in to play in Happy Valley won't be the easiest task, O'Brien has from this past year that he is up for a challenge.
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