2009 Statistics

2010 OUTLOOK
Although Penn State will be breaking in a new QB, the depth chart skill positions appear to give the new guy a platform built for success. The candidates under center: Kevin Newsome is the sprinter and former captain of his high school track and field team; Matt McGloin is the Scranton native who threw for 5,485 career prep yards. Neither has played in a meaning fully collegiate situation. Tailback Evan Royster, who needs 482 yards to become Penn State's all-time leading rusher, will likely be the centerpiece of this offense and the Big Ten’s premier ball carrier next to Wisconsin’s John Clay. Senior Stefen Wisniewski, a first-team All-Big Ten center last season, is moving back to right guard, where he started in 2008. He is expected to anchor an offensive line that has a lot of talent but yet a lot of question marks heading into the summer. Penn State boasted the Big Ten's top offense for the last two seasons under now departed QB Daryll Clark. The young quarterbacks and a far-from-settled offensive line make it doubtful Penn State can maintain the sort of production they managed under Clark. All three of Penn State's 2009 starting linebackers, Sean Lee, Navorro Bowman and Josh Hull, were selected in the NFL Draft. The defensive line has three players with solid starting experience and this is where the defense will find early success. The veteran secondary also looks strong and could be the strength on this side of the ball. Joe Paterno won’t be looking over his shoulder anymore at Bobby Bowden in the race to be the all-time winningest coach in Division I-A college football history, but an absolute brutal schedule that includes road dates at Alabama, Iowa and Ohio State will surely be a source of growing pains for many of these younger players.