With Chaz Powell's recent announcement that he will head to State College for the fall of 2007, York County has its first NCAA Division I-A commitment since York High's Knowledge Timmons.

The Susquehannock High School standout also gives Penn State its first York-area product since Timmons went up to Mount Nittany.

Around here, we all know about the exploits of Powell, but what about the rest of Penn State's early commitments?

Not surprisingly -- after last year's Orange Bowl run -- the Lions are doing themselves right in their 2007 recruiting quest. Powell's commitment was the sixth of what is now an early list of seven seniors-to-be.

Bob Lichtenfels, the East region recruiting expert for Scout.com, likes what he sees so far from Joe Paterno's staff. Lichtenfels is in his fourth year analyzing high school football prospects after eight years coaching at Blairsville and United in Pennsylvania's District 6. The former coach was quick to note that five of the seven PSU commitments -- Powell excluded -- are ranked in the top 35 in the nation at their positions.

Lichtenfels offered his thoughts on each of the seven future Nits:

--- Nick Sukay, safety, Greensburg Central Catholic (6-feet, 3-inches, 205 pounds) -- "Sukay is the kind of kid that could play everywhere," he said. "He's listed at safety, but he could play outside linebacker, he could play offense. He's got the body to do anything."

--- Ryan Breen, punter, Clarkston, Mich. (6-2, 185) -- "Michigan has its eye on a punter that is going to be a junior, so that's why this kid didn't get offered by them," he said. "Penn State obviously sees a weakness it would like to fill."

--- Jon Ditto, tight end, Gateway (6-4, 221) -- "Ditto could play flex or H-back or defense," he said. "He plays very aggressive on defense, but he's laid back on offense."

--- Nathan Stupar, linebacker, State College (6-2, 220) -- "I really like Stupar," he said. "He's a blood-and-guts kid. He'll give you everything he has."

--- Chris Colasanti, linebacker, Bloomfield, Mich. (6-2, 235) -- "He's another kid like Stupar that'll leave it
all out there. Any time you can get a four-star guy from Michigan that all those Big Ten schools are all over, you've done well."

--- Josh Marks, offensive lineman, Southern Columbia (6-4, 285) -- "He's the big question mark of the group. Lineman is the hardest position to judge. He could be an NFL draft pick or he could be the next Joel Holler. It's a crapshoot."

As far as the hometown kid goes, Lichtenfels said that he will sneak up on Penn State fans.

"He's a tremendous athlete," he said. "People don't know his upside, but they're starting to see it. But keep an eye on this kid, he's special."

Lichtenfels also said that while some people were surprised to see Powell's offers rocket from just Connecticut to a number of powerhouses, he wasn't. Based on which coaches are recruiting a player, he said that you can tell quite a bit.

"When (Connecticut coach) Randy Edsall got after him, I had an idea of his potential," Lichtenfels said. "Certain guys have a keen eye for talent, and Edsall (a Susquehannock High School grad) is very good at what he does. After awhile, everybody knew (about Powell). He just needed a bigger stage."

Well, now Chaz and six other teenagers will have one of the biggest stages in the country come 2007.

No pressure, right?

-- Colin Chmielewski is a sports writer for The York Dispatch. He can be reached at cchmielewski@yorkdispatch.com.