UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Mike Hull hopes to be the next player from Western Pennsylvania to carry on the strong linebacker tradition at Penn State.

Hull, a 6-foot, 220-pounder from Canon-McMillan High School, is rated the No. 1 middle linebacker by Scout.com, but he expects to play the weakside spot with the Nittany Lions.

"There's a lot of tradition to uphold," said Hull, one of five WPIAL players in Penn State's 2010 recruiting class of 20. "Sean [Lee] and Paul [Posluszny], those are the two guys from Western Pennsylvania I grew up and watched in middle school and in high school. Those two are my idols."

Penn State not only lost its top three linebackers from last season, it lost its three leading tacklers as well. Lee (Upper St. Clair), Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull are all headed to the NFL Scouting Combine later this month.

Meanwhile, Hull, Khairi Fortt (6-2, 221) and Dakota Royer (6-3, 220) are among the new group of linebackers bidding to become future stars for the Lions.

Hull is ranked the 26th-best player overall in the country by Scout.com, which rates Royer (Manheim, Pa.) the seventh-best player in the state. Rivals.com ranks Fortt (Stamford, Conn.) as the 49th-best player overall.

Penn State's 2010 class is regarded as the best in the Big Ten Conference by both recruiting services. Scout.com rated the Lions' class ninth nationally, while Rivals.com had them 12th.

Fortt and Royer are among seven players who graduated from high school early and enrolled in spring semester classes. Hull will be among the 13 June arrivals who signed binding letters of intent Wednesday.

"The [coaches] told me I definitely wasn't going to be redshirted as a freshman," Hull said. "I don't know if that means I will play on special teams, on defense or both.

"I think if I have a good preseason camp once I get there this summer, I will have a chance to play a little at linebacker next season."

Hull, who made a verbal commitment to Penn State Nov. 22, 2008, averaged 100 tackles during his four seasons at Canon-McMillan. He is a two-time, first-team Class AAAA all-state linebacker. He was a standout at the U.S. All-American Bowl and received MVP honors for Team USA in last weekend's international all-star game.

"If there's one kid in this talented class who can come in and play right away, it's Mike Hull," said Bob Lichtenfels, recruiting analyst for Scout.com. "I can eventually see him being a three-year starter, a captain and an All-American. He's special.

"He comes into Penn State probably better than Sean Lee was at this same point."

Hull's father, Tom, is a Uniontown grad who played linebacker for Penn State coach Joe Paterno in the early 1970s and spent two years in the NFL. His uncle, John, also played linebacker for the Lions during the same period.

"My dad has taught me a lot over the years," Hull said. "It's a real advantage to have someone like him who has played in the NFL. He has taught me a lot of little things over the years that most people wouldn't think to tell their kids."

In addition to Hull, three other linemen from WPIAL schools -- Miles Dieffenbach (Fox Chapel), Tom Ricketts (North Allegheny) and Luke Graham (Penn-Trafford) -- committed to the Lions Wednesday. A fifth WPIAL recruit, quarterback Paul Jones (Sto-Rox), was an early enrollee in January.

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