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MIKE HULL The redshirt junior has taken over Michael Mauti���s Will outside linebacker position. He had an impressive spring testing session at the end of February, posting a 4.55-second 40-yard-dash time and, maybe even more impressive, a team-high bench press of 405 pounds. With his great combination of speed and strength, he has the potential to be a playmaker on defense just as Mauti was last fall. ADRIAN AMOS This isn���t much of a surprise. Amos is the most physical cornerback I���ve seen at Penn State in a decade. But what makes him all the more important is his versatility. He practiced at both cornerback and free safety during the first half of spring practice. JORDAN LUCAS This might be the biggest surprise of spring practice on defense to this point. Lucas was the firstteam cornerback opposite Amos during the first half of spring drills. It appears that defensive coordinator John Butler and safeties coach Anthony Midget like Lucas���s combination of size (6-0, 185 pounds) and speed. The battle for this position should be between Lucas and sophomore Da���Quan Davis (5-10, 164). Lucas���s size may give him an advantage. BRENT WILKERSON With Kyle Carter held out of contact work due to his wrist injury, Wilkerson reportedly had an outstanding first half of spring practice. BWI was told that he was ���catching everything that came his way.��� He showed great route-running ability, playmaking skill after the catch, and an overall ability that only furthers the idea that Penn State is absolutely loaded at tight end. The performance of these players leads me to believe that Penn State will enter the 2013 season with the top tight end class in the country. Wilkerson���s development helped make it possible for Garry Gilliam to move to offensive tackle. JESSE JAMES The 6-7, 258-pound sophomore tight end was the most impressive physical specimen on offense during the first half of spring practice. With 4.7-second 40-yard- dash speed, James is a phenomenon. He���s the most underrated player from Penn State���s Class of 2012. TY HOWLE With redshirt sophomore Angelo Mangiro missing the first week of spring practice because of a hamstring injury, the 6-0, 295pound Howle has taken control at the center position. Redshirt freshman Wendy Laurent now backs up Howle, with Mangiro moving over to left guard to back up Miles Dieffenbach. AKEEL LYNCH The 6-0, 214-pound redshirt freshman running back reportedly had an excellent winter workout session and first half of spring practice. He���s bigger than he was as a true freshman last season and reportedly ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash just before the start of spring practice. He brings an extra dimension at running back and gives Penn State a solid three-man rotation with Zach Zwinak and Bill Belton. Those are the players whom BWI has been told have stood out the most on offense and defense or have made the biggest improvement this spring. There have been a few others like left tackle Donovan Smith, who is an All-Big Ten candidate, linebacker Nyeem Wartman and redshirt freshman safety Malik Golden, who moved over from a wide receiver position on offense. But the big question here is still the quarterback battle between sophomore Steven Bench and juco transfer Tyler Ferguson. At this point, it���s unknown just how much progress Bench and Ferguson have made. Bench leads in leadership capability, and Ferguson might have better physical potential. But until one of those two players makes his move this spring, Penn State won���t know if it will have a legitimate chance to duplicate or improve upon last season���s 8-4 record. 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