Penn State Football: Nittany Lions Add Another to Class of 2013

Parker Cothren, a 6-foot-5, 265-pound defensive linemen out of Hazel Green, Ala. verbally committed to Penn State Tuesday night, according to multiple recruiting websites.

Cothren, a one-time Purdue verbal commitment, is rated a three-star prospect by Rivals.com and comes to the Nittany Lions as verbal commitment No. 13 for the class of 2013. He held offers from Purdue and North Carolina before finally landing with the staff in Happy Valley.

As a member of the 2013 recruiting class, Cothren represents one of only 15 scholarships that Bill O’Brien and his staff are allowed to offer as part of the NCAA sanctions until 2017. The Nittany Lions will not be able to offer the allotted 25 scholarships and have a roster of 85 student-athletes until 2018.

Cothren’s commitment is not binding until he signs a letter of intent in February.