Ohio High School Football Linebacker Mike Zordich

Even though his senior year at Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio, he already knows where he will be attending college: Penn State. The inside linebacker gave the Big Ten school a verbal commitment on June 1. He stands six-foot-one inch, weighs 220 pounds, runs the forty in 4.7 seconds, benches 340 pounds, and squats 500 pounds. He carries a grade-point average of 3.65.

His father, Michael Zordich, was a safety for the NFL's Philadelphia Eagles and played defensive back at Penn State from 1982-1985 under Joe Paterno. Mike Zordich's mother is also a graduate of that university.

Scout.com counted amongst this athlete's strengths his lateral movement, toughness, and tackling technique, noting he is "an intense competitor" with "superior read and recognition skills," and he is a "solid, form tackler" that "uses his hands well to shed blocks." Rivals.com ranked him number 15 in its list of top 2008 linebacker prospects, and also made number 14 on the site's list of top Ohio recruits.

Off to join the Nittany Lions
As his father did before him, Zordich will become a Penn State football player under Coach Joe Paterno's tutelage. He had narrowed his choices down to Ohio State or Penn State but decided to go with his parents' alma mater. "(My parents) are real excited," he told BlueWhiteIllustrated.com. "They were real surprised because they thought I would go to Ohio State, but they are really excited for me."

All-around, Mike Zordich is satisfied with his choice of Happy Valley. "I really like the coaches, the players and how everyone gets along," he said. "We got great coaches, a great program and excellent tradition."

Before he made the verbal commitment to Penn State, Zordich had a lot to say about the football program there. "Penn State is a program I've been around my whole life, with my dad having played there. Penn State is a great school, and I think Joe Paterno is awesome and one of the greatest coaches in history," he said. "Coach Bradley, the defensive coordinator, is a great coach too. I just like the tradition that they have, and they always play great defense. Penn State is just a great school and a great program."

Other choices
Zordich was recruited by several Big Ten schools and received offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio State, and Michigan State. Oklahoma, LSU, and Syracuse also wanted the heavily recruited linebacker.