Penn State Recruiting: Jake Waters Selects Kansas State

Highly-touted junior college quarterback Jake Waters is heading to Manhattan, Kan.

The Iowa Western Community College signal-caller announced his decision to commit to Kansas State at a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

"I really liked both schools and I connected with both coaching staffs. And I could see myself playing at both, but, at the end of the day, what I felt in my gut. ... I had a long talk with the Lord last night and, just in my gut, that this is the best thing for me as a student and a player, so I just went with that," Waters said at the news conference.

Waters is rated a four-star prospect by 247 Sports and a three-star prospect by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. He's ranked the No. 18 overall and No. 1 pro-style quarterback prospect by 247 as well.

Before his announcement, Waters had scholarship offers on the table from Akron, Florida Atlantic, Houston, Kansas State, North Carolina State and Penn State, though ultimately the decision came down to the Nittany Lions and Wildcats. Penn State coach Bill O'Brien was in Iowa to make his final pitch this week and came close, according to Waters, but the quarterback's decision still went the other way.

"Just the other day, I told the coaches I was pretty much leaning there," Waters said. "I just thought it over again and something clicked. God just showed me a sign that K-State was the place for me."

Waters' decision leaves Penn State with one quarterback, Steven Bench, on scholarship for next season. High school prospect Christian Hackenberg is committed to Bill O'Brien's 2013 recruiting class, but can't sign his letter of intent until February.

Bench completed 2-of-8 passes for 12 yards in limited playing time this past season. He signed with the Lions in February as a member of the 2012 recruiting class. At the time of his signing, the Cairo, Ga. native was rated a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.