Broderick Green to announce Wednesday

By Jared Trexler

Brian Norwood probably never envisioned making a last-minute trip to Little Rock, Arkansas. But come Wednesday, Nittany Lion faithful may be glad he did.

Four-star running back Broderick Green, a 6-1, 230-lb physical specimen with football genes and instincts, will reportedly announce his collegiate choice at a 1:25 p.m. (et) news conference on Wednesday, national signing day across the country.

Green ran for 2,042 yards and 23 touchdowns as a senior at Pulaski Academy. Yet, more important than his stats, Green would be a monumental get for a Nittany Lions team unsure at running back.

Who knows what to expect from Austin Scott next season, and no one is quite sure whether Rodney Kinlaw can handle the load for an entire campaign. Evan Royster and Brent Carter round out the backfield, but neither redshirt freshman seems ready to grab the job and run with it. That would leave Green with a good chance at valuable playing time, something USC -- the apparent front-runner until recently -- can't offer.

Green verbally committed to the Trojans on April 1, though he never ruled out the Nittany Lions.

This is what Scout.com had to say about Green:

Green has great size and speed for a big back. He's built like a tank, a powerful lower and upper body. Green has terrific leg drive and an even better stiff arm. He’s a bull running between the tackles and can take on anything in his way. On the outside, he has the speed to get in space. In the open field, he’s so tough to bring down and he can catch as well. He shows good balance and vision and has a nose for the end zone.

Scout.com also stated that Green will choose between Southern California, Ohio State and Penn State on Wednesday. However, a source close to the Penn State football program told The Phanatic Magazine on Tuesday that the choice is down to either Penn State or USC, but that things could change in the final 24 hours.

In a bizarre turn of events, Green went on an official recruiting visit over the weekend -- to Tulsa. We've been told not to make much of it, but it just demonstrates the volatile nature of the recruiting process.

The Phanatic Magazine will post the official announcement on Wednesday and have a complete review of the Nittany Lions' recruiting class in Thursday's edition.

Jared Trexler can be reached at jtrexler@phanaticmag.com