Featured News
August 27, 2007
Penn State Preview
By Apparao Prattipati
Last year the Lions won all the games that they were supposed to win (with one exception), and lost all of the games that they were supposed to lose (again, with one exception). So just how important was that win over Tennessee on New Years Day for a team that returns almost all of the key players? The opening five weeks will answer that question for Penn State.
Anthony Morelli returns for his senior season oozing confidence. But just how well that translates to on-field production remains to be seen as he was largely average in his first year as a starter. He’ll have to be better if the Lions want to win the Big Ten title. Austin Scott brings big game experience as Tony Hunt’s replacement, and while he won’t wear down defenses like Hunt did, he should be able to put up good numbers behind an offensive line that has the potential to be very good. The strength of this offense is at wide reciever where the Lions return their top five players and a potential game breaker in a slimmed down, souped up Derrick Williams.
Linebacker U is as good as ever, and the Lions boast what might be the best back seven in America (based on the dangerous assumption that Anthony Scriotto is eligible). Dan Connor, who switched to his natural middle linebacker position, is the focal point of the defense. His sidekicks are no slouches either in the underrated Sean Lee and the athletic Navarro Bowman. Justin King will try to make his mark as the best corner in America, while AJ Wallace will inherit the other corner spot. The weak point of this defense is at the defensive line, where the Lions are talented but untested.
Penn State is an intriguing team and could be a dark horse contender for the National Championship. They get Iowa, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, and Ohio State all at home which leaves...Michigan. There’s no reason Penn State shouldn’t be in a BCS game with their talent and favorable schedule.
Preseason Big Ten Honors
First Team Big Ten - Offense
QB – Chad Henne - Michigan
RB – Mike Hart - Michigan
WR – Dorien Bryant - Purdue
WR – Mario Manningham - Michigan
TE – Travis Beckhum - Wisconsin
LT – Jake Long - Michigan
LG – Martin O’Donnell - Illinois
C – A.Q. Shipley – Penn State
RG – Jordan Grimes – Purdue
RT – Kirk Barton – Ohio State
Playmaker – Derrick Williams – Penn State
First Team Big Ten – Defense
DE – Vernon Gholston – Ohio State
DE – Willie VanDeSteeg – Minnesota
DT – John Gill – Northwestern
DT – Terrance Taylor – Michigan
LB – Dan Connor – Penn State
LB – James Laurinitis – Ohio State
LB – Mike Klinkenborg - Iowa
CB – Justin King – Penn State
CB – Malcolm Jenkins – Ohio State
S – Anthony Scriotto – Penn State
S – Otis Wiley – Michigan State
PR/KR – Brandon Saine– Ohio State
Offensive Player of the Year – Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan
Defensive Player of the Year – Justin King, CB, Penn State
Coach of the Year – Ron Zook, Illinois
Breakout Performer of the Year – Chris “Boobie” Wells, Ohio State
Freshman of the Year – Aurellius “Regis” Benn
Mr. Excitement – Derrick Williams, Penn State
Highest Drafted Player - Jake Long, Michigan
Your Comments
Please keep your comments clean and on topic.
