BlueWhiteIllustrated.com

May 30, 2008

Andy Elder
BlueWhiteIllustrated.com Assistant Editor

Note: This article appears in the latest issue of Blue White Illustrated, on newsstands now!

Throughout the storied annals of Penn State football history, the Nittany Lions have produced some memorable defensive linemen.

Glenn Ressler, Mike Reid, Randy Crowder, Mike Hartenstine, Bruce Clark, Matt Millen, Walker Lee Ashley, Lou Benfatti, Courtney Brown, Michael Haynes and Tamba Hali comprise just a partial list of Nittany Lion defensive linemen who have been named All-Americans.

At a place known as Linebacker U, consider this fact: throughout the years, 13 different players have been named All-American linebackers. Throughout that same time, 15 different defensive linemen have been bestowed the same honor.

"Penn State's known for linebackers, but there's been just as talented D linemen that have been here," said Sean Lee, the latest in a long line of All-American caliber linebackers at Penn State.

As is the case on most teams, those great Nittany Lion linebackers have starred by themselves or in tandem with another. So, too, have the defensive linemen.

This fall, however, Penn State might be on the verge of a defensive line zenith. That's saying something since just a few years ago, the Lions' collection of talent along the defensive front included Tamba Hali, Jason Alford and Ed Johnson, all of whom have made an impact in the NFL. Alford and Johnson made contributions on the last two Super Bowl winners.

"I think when Tamba (Hali), Jason Alford and Matt Rice and those guys played, we had individual talent, but we didn't have a lot of depth behind those guys. Those guys, when Tamba was here, they played a lot of football because we didn't have a second guy," defensive line coach Larry Johnson said.

"With this group of guys, we've got depth and we've got speed. It may not be the same talent level, but when you've got depth and speed, you can catch up on those kinds of things. I've been here 13 years and we've never been in a position that we have this much talent in one group as we have right now."

Last season, despite a pedestrian 9-4 record, the linemen contributed heavily to some pretty impressive defensive statistics, including:

- 2nd in the nation in sacks with 46

- tied for 3rd in the nation in fumbles recovered with 17

- 7th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing 17.5 points per game

- 7th in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 2.71 yards per carry and 93.8 yards per game

- 10th in the nation in tackles for loss with 102, an average of 7.85 per game

- 11th in the nation in total defense, allowing 308.23 yards per game

The good news for Nittany Nation is that of the eight linemen listed on the two-deep roster for the Alamo Bowl win over Texas A&M, only one won't return this year ? seldom-used defensive end Chris Rogers.

A couple other linemen who would be expected to be prominent parts of Johnson's rotation ? tackles Phil Taylor and Chris Baker ? are working through off-field issues but are expected to be available this fall.

"There's a lot of confidence. They're really together about what they want to do, what they want to accomplish this fall. It's really pretty exciting to see what's going to happen in the fall with those young guys," Johnson said.

"When they go on the field, you can tag team in and out. You can send four guys on and rotate four more guys and not lose a beat. I think, in college football if you can do that, you're really getting the job done. Being able to stop the run and rush the passer, I think we've got guys who can do that."

Not counting incoming freshmen, who may or may not be able to force their way into what figures to be a crowded rotation at all four positions, here's a look at the collection of talent at each position:

Left defensive end: senior Josh Gaines, redshirt freshman Eric Latimore, redshirt freshman Devon Still and redshirt junior [/db]Jerome Hayes[/db].

Left tackle: redshirt sophomore Ollie Ogbu, redshirt sophomore Tom McEowen, redshirt junior Chris Baker and Still.

Right tackle: redshirt sophomore Abe Koroma, junior Jared Odrick, redshirt freshman Chimaeze Okoli and junior Phil Taylor.

Right defensive end: redshirt junior Maurice Evans, redshirt sophomore Aaron Maybin and redshirt freshman Kevion Latham.

A lot can change over the summer months into fall drills, but at the end of the spring, Gaines and Evans were the projected starters at end with Odrick and Ogbu at the tackles.

"I think we have guys who can start anywhere. Anybody can step up and start anytime. That's why I'm looking forward to the season. We've got people rotating, it doesn't matter who we start, it's how we finish. With this team, that's how we want to go into the season," Gaines said.

But there is plenty of talent nipping at their heels and itching to move up the depth chart, a fact not lost on Gaines, the only senior among the 14 names listed above.

"I think about that all the time. You've got to come to practice ready to play. If you don't, you're gonna get passed. That's what coach J coaches. Whoever is most ready to play, that's who's gonna start," he said.

One projected starter who came to every practice in the spring ready to play to prevent from being passed was the star of the group ? Evans.

The redshirt junior earned first-team Big Ten honors last season after finishing sixth in the nation in forced fumbles (5), sixth in the nation in tackles for loss (21.5) and eighth in the nation in sacks (12.5).

"He's had a great spring; he really has. You would think a guy who had 12 1/2 sacks would walk back into the spring and kind of shut it down. He actually went to another level," Johnson said.

"I thought he had a great spring in evaluating him. I think Maurice is being consistent. When you get to the high notch, it's about being consistent now. That's the biggest challenge. It's about staying at the top and not going to the bottom again and just being a great pass rusher."

Another leader in this group is Gaines, who was voted one of the team's five captains.

"Maurice is like a quiet storm. He's quiet, very unassuming. In the lockerroom he's full of joy. He's got a lot of animation about him when he's in the lockerroom around the players. The players respect him, like Josh Gaines. He's becoming a leader for us right now in that group. The players look to him and Maurice Evans," Johnson said.

"It's kind of neat how those two mesh together. We really have done a great job of progressing. What you hope with guys in our system, from one year to the second year to the third year, is there will be a tremendous improvement. These guys have done a tremendous job of improving."

Considering Lee's ACL injury will keep him out of the lineup and the secondary lost starter Justin King to the NFL, improved defensive line play might be crucial to allowing the linebackers and secondary to grow and mesh as units.

"They're experienced. A lot of them, it was their first year last year. That really helps us in the secondary when the D line gets pressure on the quarterback. We don't have to cover as long and it gives us room, if we slip up or something, we know the D line is going to get pressure and hurry that quarterback," cornerback Lydell Sargeant said.

"Personally, it's big because in our scheme we play off, so once you're 6, 7, 8 yards off, a guy coming in who has to rush the quarterback helps us. The receivers have to get our of their routes faster. They do little things different where we can pick up and really see what they're doing."

For the linebackers, the defensive line can mean the difference between running free to the ball carrier or quarterback or watching as a back runs by or a receiver finds an open space to make a catch.

"They're a great group of kids to play behind. It's so exciting to just watch things unfold. As a linebacker, I get to see everything that happens in front of me. Those guys do a spectacular job," linebacker Josh Hull said.

"(They are) just blowin' up the offensive line and allowing me to flow free and get to the holes I need to to make plays without having any offensive linemen in my face. You can definitely tell. You can definitely tell they're doing a great job. It allows us to flow free and move left and right laterally and get where we need to be without a lot of garbage in our face."

When the defense is playing at optimum performance, the only face someone's getting in is the defensive line's in the quarterback's.

"Last year, of our 46 sacks, 25 of them were coverage sacks, with just four guys going, because we're fresh and we're rolling them through," defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "Having depth up front will be good for us."

And not so good, again this season, for the opposition.

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In addition to the story you just read, take a look at what else is featured in this week's issue of the magazine!

Phil's Corner

Blue White Illustrated publisher Phil Grosz takes a detailed look at the incredible amount of depth the Nittany Lions have as they enter the 2008 football season.

Very simply, this is a deep team with talent at all positions, he explains.

Lions Land Six

Blue White Illustrated recruiting analyst Sean Fitz breaks down the latest Nits to commit to the senior prep class of 2009.

Find out who committed and where each will eventually fit into the Lions' system!

Freshmen of Influence

Blue White Illustrated is proud to present its annual 'Freshman of Influence' special edition.

This year, the issue is featured as part of a special double-issue.

Learn about the names and faces that will dominate the Penn State landscape for the next four years in men's and women's basketball and wrestling.

You won't want to miss this one!

Recruiting coverage

Blue White Illustrated publisher Phil Grosz and Sean Fitz sit down to see where the Lions' recruiting class is headed when it comes to offensive recruits.

Everyone knows quarterbacks and wide receivers are a priority for the senior prep class of 2009. Now, take an in-depth look at the reasons why, and how the Penn State coaching staff plans to land the best class possible at each position.

In addition, Fitz wraps up the annual State College NIKE Camp that took place in mid-May.

Catching up with: Gregg Garrity

Get an inside look at former Penn Stater Gregg Garrity in a special Q&A session with BWI contributor and Penn State historian, Lou Prato.

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