Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/155994
"We're just working hard to give the fans the best show we can. That hasn't changed. Whether we have the most depth we've ever had, or the least depth we've ever had, everybody is going to work hard every day to maximize their roles." Penn State's backup linebackers are preparing for the possibility that they will need to make significant contributions this season, ready or not. The two prime candidates are Wooten and Bell, and their names came up frequently at Penn State's preseason media day. "The guys behind us have definitely developed," Hull said. "Gary Wooten has looked good doing a lot of things that he didn't do all spring long. Also, Brandon Bell, a freshman, has been pretty impressive the first couple of days. He's just doing everything he's supposed to. He's picked up the playbook, and he's breaking down and making tackles whenever he's supposed to. Those guys are coming along." With the linebacker corps stuck in the unfamiliar spot of having the least depth on the team, the coaching staff is trying to innovate its way out of potential trouble. One contingency plan might be to use safeties Adrian Amos and Stephen ObengAgyapong as linebackers, or "big nickels," in certain situations. But beyond that, the coaches are staying mum on the potential scheme. Said Vanderlinden, "We're constantly planning for what-ifs. We've been working at this. It never stops, so you're constantly tinkering with the depth and personnel and schemes." With the season yet to begin, it's impossible to predict how well the Nittany Lions will weather their predicament at linebacker. But Carson is hopeful that Penn State will be able to bring its young players along quickly and build up the necessary depth. "These guys just really had to dig in this summer and put their heads down and go to work," he said. "I think that's a big reason why we're seeing those strides from the I spring." DEFENSE OFFENSE QUARTERBACK 18 Deion Barnes (6-4, 245, So.) 98 Anthony Zettel (6-5, 258, So.) RUNNING BACK LEFT TACKLE 28 Zach Zwinak (6-1, 240, Jr.) 1 Bill Belton (5-10, 205, Jr.) 22 Akeel Lynch (6-0, 211, Fr.) 91 DaQuan Jones (6-3, 318, Sr.) 53 Derek Dowrey (6-3, 303, Fr.) WIDE RECEIVER OR LEFT END 5 Tyler Ferguson (6-3, 213, So.) 14 Christian Hackenberg (6-4, 220, Fr.) 84 Kyle Baublitz (6-5, 281, Jr.) 99 Austin Johnson (6-4, 302, Fr.) 8 7 Allen Robinson (6-3, 210, Jr.) Eugene Lewis (6-1, 201, Fr.) WIDE RECEIVER 85 Brandon Moseby-Felder (6-2, 200, Sr.) 80 Matt Zanellato (6-3, 203, So.) TIGHT END – Y 18 Jesse James (6-7, 257, So.) 84 Matt Lehman (6-6, 262, Sr.) TIGHT END – F 87 Kyle Carter (6-3, 243, So.) 81 Adam Breneman (6-4, 235, Fr.) LEFT TACKLE 76 Donovan Smith (6-5, 327, So.) 77 Garry Gilliam (6-6, 305, Jr.) LEFT GUARD RIGHT TACKLE RIGHT END 86 C.J. Olaniyan (6-3, 244, Jr.) 94 Evan Schwan (6-6, 245, Fr.) OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 43 Mike Hull (6-0, 227, Jr.) 38 Ben Kline (6-2, 229, So.) INSIDE LINEBACKER 40 Glenn Carson (6-3, 235, Sr.) 8 Gary Wooten (6-2, 238, Fr.) OUTSIDE LINEBACKER 5 Nyeem Wartman (6-1, 241, Fr.) 30 Charles Idemudia (5-11, 237, Fr.) LEFT CORNERBACK 65 Miles Dieffenbach (6-3, 295, Jr.) 66 Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 304, So.) CENTER OR SAFETY 60 Ty Howle (6-0, 293, Sr.) 66 Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 304, So.) 55 Wendy Laurent 6-2, 283, Fr.) 1 Malcolm Willis (5-11, 205, Sr.) 23 Ryan Keiser (6-1, 205, Sr.) RIGHT GUARD OR 9 Jordan Lucas (6-0, 193, So.) 3 Da'Quan Davis (5-10, 164, So.) 16 Devin Pryor (5-10, 174, So.) 4 7 64 John Urschel (6-3, 300, Sr.) 66 Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 303, So.) 56 Anthony Alosi (6-4, 283, So.) RIGHT TACKLE SAFETY Adrian Amos (6-0, 215, Jr.) S. Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 205, Sr.) RIGHT CORNERBACK 10 Trevor Williams (6-1, 187, So.) 24 Anthony Smith (6-0, 186, Fr.) 58 Adam Gress (6-6, 320, Sr.) 75 Eric Shrive (6-6, 323, Sr.) SPECIAL TEAMS KICKER KICKOFF RETURNER 97 Sam Ficken (6-2, 184, Jr.) 45 Alex Butterworth (5-10, 206, Sr.) 1 15 22 19 HOLDER PUNT RETURNER PUNTER 23 Ryan Keiser (6-1, 205, Sr.) 45 Alex Butterwoth (5-10, 206, Sr.) Bill Belton (5-10, 205, Jr.) Alex Kenney (6-0, 195, Jr.) Akeel Lynch (6-0, 211, Fr.) Richy Anderson (5-11, 171, Fr.) 39 Jesse Della Valle (6-1, 190, Jr.) 19 Richy Anderson (5-11, 175, Fr.)