ESPN College Football Recruiting

Adrian Coxson credits his coach at Baltimore City College High School, George Petrides, with teaching him the finer points of football and with helping him to stay patient as he made the adjustment from Pop Warner star to eager high school freshman.

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William Colsher, For Nittany NetworkAdrian Coxson is one of the most versatile players in Penn State's recruiting class.

But one of Petrides' latest lessons is one that will stick with Coxson at every level of the game.

"You can always be a good athlete, but you also have to be a leader," Coxson said. "For a lot of athletes, it's always about them. But if you're good, you've got to make everybody around you good. That's how you become a better team."

The Penn State-bound wide receiver got a chance to put his leadership skills to use at the start of his senior season, when Petrides moved him to quarterback. The idea was to get the ball in the hands of the Knights' best player on every snap -- the offense includes large doses of the Wildcat formation -- and it's also taught Coxson about every position on the field during the team's 4-1 start.

"I've seen him helping other players out, getting more players involved in the offense," Petrides said. "He is a good leader."

Coxson, the No. 18-ranked wideout by ESPN's Scouts Inc., wanted the ball in his hands from the moment he entered Petrides' program as a talented but unseasoned freshman in 2006.

"I told him, 'Be patient,'" Petrides said. "'Your time will come, be ready for it.'"

Coxson proved more than ready for his go-to role in the offense last season, when he caught 40 passes for 987 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaged more than 23 yards per punt return, and became one of Maryland's most sought-after prospects. Tall (6-foot-2), strong and able to go up and get passes, Coxson was used all over the field even before he made the move to quarterback.

"He can run down anything," Petrides said. "And then, once he has the ball, he has the ability to make big plays. He's not afraid to go across the middle, and he wants the ball in key situations, which I like too."

Coxson's favorite player is Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowler Larry Fitzgerald, and he aggressively pursues passes the same way. His coach believes Coxson's biggest adjustment at the next level -- aside from catching the ball again instead of throwing it, of course -- will be dealing with more physical defenders.

States of Recruiting: Maryland

Adrian Coxson is just one of the heralded recruits in Maryland. Scouts Inc.'s Craig Haubert looks at the state's top prospects and how the FBS schools are faring in the recruiting battle. Story

• Prospects: Seniors | Juniors

"He's probably going to be facing bigger and stronger cornerbacks than he has in high school," Petrides said. "He has to learn to him get away from pressing on the line. He'll see more of that in college."

Coxson will get his education from the cornerbacks of the Big Ten. He said Penn State "has always been my favorite school," and a visit to sold-out Beaver Stadium for the 2007 Penn State-Ohio State game did little to change that. He also liked what he heard from former Penn State and current Detroit Lions wide receiver Bryant Johnson, who played for Petrides at Baltimore City College H.S. and talked with Coxson after one of the young receiver's games.

Coxson verbally committed to Penn State in April. Like most of the Nittany Lions' top prospects from the region, he was recruited by defensive line coach Larry Johnson. Coxson, who also holds offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan and Notre Dame, among others, says he remains solid in his commitment to Penn State but is considering taking a couple of visits to other schools. He won't say which ones, though.

"Just to be sure I'm making the right decision," he said. "Just to see everything."

The desire to compare and contrast schools, even if he's already made his decision, fits with what Coxson feels might be his defining characteristic -- he competes. In everything.

"The best part about playing the game is just to be competitive," he said. "It's better to win as a team than an individual. If the whole team's on the same page, that just makes football more fun."

Coxson missed last week's game after suffering a minor shoulder sprain -- the Knights lost 22-0 to Dunbar in his absence -- but intends to be back in the lineup for this week's game against Patterson. He doesn't like to stay away from the field too long.

"He would want the ball every time if he could get it," Petrides said. "Because he always feels like he could do something with it. And he really likes playing against the better teams."

Coxson is keeping a close eye on the rest of Penn State's Class of 2010, which includes his friend Paul Jones, a quarterback from Sto-Rox High School in McKees Rocks, Pa. The class is shaping up to be what many believe is the finest class that coach Joe Paterno has assembled in more than a decade. It's a group Coxson is excited to compete with and alongside.

"My class has the chance to be one of the greatest classes in the history of Penn State," Coxson said. "That's what I believe."

Jeff Rice is a senior writer for ESPN affiliate site Nittany Network.