Penn State scores another elite running back from Virginia

The Nittany Lions have won over a national Top 5 running back from Virginia for the second straight year.

North Stafford's Devyn Ford picked Penn State Friday afternoon over Virginia Tech and a host of others.

Ford (5-foot-11, 195 pounds) is rated as the nation's No. 3 running back by the industry-generated 247Sports Composite. Rivals.com ranks him even higher, as a five-star talent and the nation's top running back.

He visited Penn State and Virginia Tech in April. His scholarship offer list includes Ohio State, Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, Michigan, Notre Dame, Texas and USC.

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He's following good friend and former Stafford teammate Nana Asiedu to Penn State. Asiedu was a four-star offensive tackle who picked the Lions last year and arrives on campus next month.

And, once again, coach James Franklin has secured arguably the nation's top running back from Virginia. Last year, Ricky Slade of Woodbridge — the No. 2 all-purpose back in the country by Rivals.com — committed to the Lions. 

Slade (5-9, 185) also arrives in June and many expect him to vault into the No. 2 depth chart spot behind starter Miles Sanders. 

Meanwhile, the Lions are in the midst of a potential epic recruiting run even after Friday's miss on New Jersey's top player, defensive lineman Antonio Alfano. He picked Alabama.

The surge actually began Thursday evening with the verbal commitment of Lackawanna College's Jaquan Bricker, the top-rated junior college safety in the country.

The Lions also appear in good shape to land five-star Virginia linebacker Brandon Smith and four-star Connecticut safety Tyler Rudolph Monday evening.

After that, Penn State-favorite Cam'Ron Kelly, a four-star safety from Virginia, is set to make his choice public June 8.