The Posluszny family used to be big on the blue and white of Penn State. Now, the Poslusznys will turn to blue and gold.

David Posluszny, a junior football player at Hopewell High School, made a verbal commitment to Notre Dame Thursday night. Recruited to play linebacker, Posluszny made his decision after visiting Notre Dame Wednesday.

Posluszny (6 feet 2, 215 pounds) is the younger brother of former Penn State star linebacker Paul Posluszny. David had scholarship offers from about a dozen colleges, including Pitt, West Virginia, Louisville, Wisconsin and Georgia Tech. Penn State was interested but did not offer a scholarship. Penn State apparently wanted to evaluate David Posluszny more because he missed much of last season with a separated right shoulder.

"I think if I had visited Penn State, I would've gotten an offer," Posluszny said. "Penn State is a great school. I just think Notre Dame is the best place for me."

David Posluszny said his brother, Paul, was "excited" about his decision.

"Him going to Penn State played no part in this decision at all," David Posluszny said. "If I went to Penn State, it would be a special and unique thing with two brothers playing there. But overall, I just felt Notre Dame was the right place for me."

Posluszny has visited Notre Dame five times in the past year. He and another brother, Stan, were in South Bend three days ago.

"Going into the trip, I knew Notre Dame was pretty much the top choice," Posluszny said. "Walking around campus, meeting the players and talking to the coaches, I knew that's where I wanted to go."

Posluszny played outside linebacker at Hopewell last season before the shoulder injury in the third game. Weeks later, he came back in a limited role, "but it just made [the shoulder] worse," Posluszny said.

This is the second year in a row Notre Dame has landed a WPIAL player. The other is Hampton senior running back/linebacker Steve Paskorz.

"I like everything about Notre Dame. I can't think of one negative," said Posluszny, who also has played defensive back and fullback at Hopewell. "At Notre Dame, you get an Ivy League-type education. Every year, you're competing for a national championship. So I really don't think you can beat that."