Squib Kicks: Sean Lee Ain’t Got Time To Bleed

When it comes to linebackers, Penn State fans will always view Paul Pozluszny as an all-time great for his role in rehabilitating the program a few years ago. Still, Sean Lee’s personal rehab is quickly becoming the stuff of legend:

With three weeks to kill lying down, slouching over a throbbing knee and no appetite, Sean Lee had ample opportunity to mope. But then he stumbled upon unexpected inspiration while watching television.

For some reason one night, Lee lingered on the channel where a minister was talking about his battle with cancer. Penn State’s all-conference linebacker was struck by the minister’s declaration that he wanted to be a public example of recovery.

”Maybe I was just fishing for something, or maybe I was meant to see it,” Lee said. ”But I decided that that’s how I wanted to attack this knee.”

At some point, we’ll learn that Lee’s rehab includes saving kittens from burning buildings and carrying old ladies across the street. And nobody will be surprised.

On the recruiting side, Penn State received a commitment from Trinity H.S. running back Christian Kuntz, who projects as a wide receiver / safety prospect in college. Midstate newspaper accounts abound (BSD has an opinion, too), but your money quotes are:

“My dad and I searched the internet looking at UConn and Penn State’s rosters and where they are in terms of depth at wide receiver. Penn State doesn’t look like they have much (coming back) and me coming in as a freshman that’s going to be a huge advantage for me to hopefully play four years for them.”

And this doozy, which is making more than a few Nittany Lion fans squirm:

“I liked the coaches, and I think it’s an up-and coming program,” he said, adding that “I really do believe better days for Penn State are coming.”

The York Daily Record calls Kuntz, “the first pure receiver prospect” of this class. If you believe that, a high school running back is now Penn State’s first pure receiver prospect. So, yeah. Awesome.

Back on the Curtis Dukes front, the Watertown Daily Times has it covered:

Dukes said he likes what he’s seen from legendary Nittany Lions coach Joe Paterno.

“We met and talked,” Dukes said. “He’s a real down-to-earth guy. We hit it off pretty good.”

Dukes, though, said he received no assurances regarding playing time.

“They don’t promise me those types of things,” Dukes said. “I expect to earn my way onto the field.”

A relatively interesting trend is developing — the further away a prospect is from Pennsylvania, the less they seem to care about Joe Paterno’s contract status.

Sporting News provides an Oregon State preview, if you’re into that sort of thing. Nothing groundbreaking there. The Sporting News and Phil Steele have a very different outlook for Penn State’s 2008 season, however:

The Sporting News lineup had Illinois in the Rose Bowl, Michigan in the Outback Bowl, Michigan State in the Insight Bowl, Penn State in the Champs Sports Bowl and Northwestern in the Motor City Bowl.

Phil Steele, which had Michigan, instead of Purdue, in the Alamo Bowl, had Penn State in the Rose Bowl, Iowa in the Outback Bowl, Northwestern in the Insight Bowl, Illinois in the Champs Sports Bowl and Michigan State in the Motor City Bowl.

The Mifflin Streak legal saga winds down. A former Penn State student is in the running to be the next Miss America.