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Lions' roster. "Joe called me near the end of the spring and said he was looking for a tough receiver who wasn't afraid to go over the middle," Weinman recalled. "Joe said a lot of kids wouldn't catch it across the middle, even in the pros. I said, Joe, I've got a guy for you. Richie was a great athlete and a great lacrosse player. He was a tough kid who had good hands and speed and he would do any- thing." Mauti, who was from East Meadow, N.Y., reported for preseason practice in the fall of 1974. Paterno made him a re- serve flanker and assigned him to return kickoffs. Unfortunately, after four kickoff returns and six offensive plays, he was sidelined by a severe knee injury early in the season and didn't earn a letter. The next year, in Penn State's opener against Temple, Mauti ran the opening kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown. He is still tied with three other players for the second-longest return in Penn State's record book. In addition, his career return average of 23.3 yards on 25 runbacks ranks 16th in school history. Mauti signed as a free agent with New Orleans and had a fine seven-year career with the Saints. He then spent one year with Washington before retiring. In the mid-1980s, Weinman steered wide receiver Mike Alexander to Penn State. After redshirting in 1986, Alexander was the team's second-leading pass catcher in '87 behind tailback Blair Thomas, finishing with 20 receptions for 286 yards. Long after Weinman retired, the last known Nassau player came to Penn State. Tackle Nerraw McCormack transferred in 2007, the same year another tackle, Ako Poti, transferred from the City College of San Francisco. In the fifth game of 2009, McCormack made the first start of his ca- reer at right tackle. One game later, Poti took over the position in his debut as starter and finished the season, including the 19-17 win over LSU in the Capital One Bowl. Finally, a note to readers: Keeping track of junior college transfers is challenging, and Penn State may have had more jucos than the players mentioned here. ■ No. 76 in Lou Prato's book Autographed copies available via louprato@comcast.net or through Lou Prato & Associates at 814-954-5171 Price: $16.95 plus shipping, handling and tax where applicable Also available with autograph: Lou's book We Are Penn State: The Remarkable Journey of the 2012 Nittany Lions Price: $19.95 plus shipping, handling and tax where applicable

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