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One of PA’s hottest prospects visiting Penn State University this weekend

From left, Warwick High School senior tight end Hayden Rucci, a Wisconsin commit, and sophomore offensive lineman Nolan Rucci. Nolan visits Penn State University Football this weekend. (Photo courtesy of Penn Live)

The recruit who might be the hottest heading into this weekend’s big Ohio State-Penn State showdown has a name Nittany Lions’ fans know well.

Rucci.

Todd Rucci is a former Penn State, turned New England Patriots offensive lineman, and a season ticket holder.

His son, Warwick sophomore offensive tackle Nolan Rucci, will be at the game as part of a recruiting visit.

And Nolan will be coming to town absolutely on fire in recruiting circles.

The 6-foot-8, 265-pound tackle added an offer from Virginia Thursday.

And, in the past couple weeks, he’s added Pitt, West Virginia, Michigan State, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Wisconsin to his list.

It’s been a much different process, Todd said, than when he was recruited back in 1988.

Then, he said, he picked up five offers, all in November or December of his senior year, and had to make a decision in February.

But this isn’t foreign to the family.

Todd’s oldest son, Hayden, is a senior tight end at Warwick and a Wisconsin commit.

“He had two years to make a decision if he wanted it,” Rucci said. “Nolan is in the same boat. The upside is, I didn’t have a lot of time to spend with coaching staffs, but they do. One thing we are really, focused on is making sure we are talking to these schools — you know, we are not really, big on the camps and the dog and pony shows. When we go to schools, we really want to sit down with coaches, and figure out what they’re about.”

Todd said Nolan has a good jump on that after tagging along with Hayden on his recruiting visits.

Nolan’s sudden spurt of offers may have been spurred on by his decision to sit out lacrosse during the spring.

Todd’s wife, Stacy Rucci, said her son ate his way through the spring and gained about 30 pounds.

And, Todd said, his son is a “smart kid,” — he boasts a 4.2 GPA — and takes well to coaching.

But, while his parents were Penn State athletes, Nolan won’t be leaned on to become a Nittany Lions.

“(Wisconsin) was Hayden’s decision,” Rucci said. “No one in my family went to Penn State before I did, and no one in Stacy’s family went to Penn State before she did.

“We tell him, ‘Don’t go somewhere because we want you to,'” he continued. “We are going to the practices or talking to coaches. Hayden found a really, great spot for himself at Wisconsin, and that let Nolan get exposed to a lot of coaches and programs.

“So, we’ll sit back and watch. We’ll have front-row seats, and we’ll guide him, but we will have no influence over his decision.”

Still, with the big game and their youngest son getting looked at as a recruit, too, this will be a big weekend for the Rucci family.

“It’s fun,” Rucci said. “Anytime you get an inside look at what’s going on … my sons spent a lot of time at Penn State growing up, and they’ve seen some great games up there.

“It’s just exciting to get back up, and to have a little more time to focus with Nolan. We’re just going to let the coaches recruit him, see how they interact, how he takes it, and if he likes what he hears and they like him. It’s like dating.

“Worst-case scenario, it’s a great game, the weather will be great, and it’ll be fun.”

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