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early touchdowns, creating a hole from which the Lions couldn't escape. But there were some mitigating factors that a:ernoon, the most sig- ni8cant of which was the absence of out- side linebacker Nyeem Wartman due to an arm injury. "We missed him a lot be- cause he's a big part of our defense," senior middle linebacker Mike Hull said. "He's great in pass coverage and he takes away most seam throws, which you don't really recognize until he's not in there." There were other factors working against the defense in that game. Those two early touchdowns? Both occurred a:er lapses on o9ense and special teams that handed the Wildcats excellent 8eld position. They also scored a defensive touchdown in that game, and a subsequent fum- ble by Hackenberg gave them the ball at the Lions' 15-yard line. So even though the team su9ered a disheartening loss, the defense's culpability was limited. Hull 8nished with 16 tackles in that game, including a touchdown-saving stop on a fake 8eld goal attempt. That bears mentioning, because even though the Nit- tany Lions may have a no-name identity, they do have one of the Big Ten's statistical leaders in Hull. Through 8ve games, the 8:h-year senior was leading the Big Ten with an average of 10.6 tackles per game. With six games to go in the season, it would be premature to put this defense in the pantheon of all-time Penn State greats. For one thing, the Nittany Lions will face four of the Big Ten's six high- est-scoring o9enses – Michigan State, Ohio State, Maryland and Indiana – in the second half of the season. What's more, the bar has been set awfully high. During their 1986 national championship season, the Lions surrendered only 63.9 rushing yards per game and 2.0 yards per attempt. In 1978, a season in which they fell just short of the national crown, they gave up only 49.9 yards per game rushing and 137 yards passing. Opponents com- pleted only 43.9 percent of their passes against Penn State that year. So while it may be unfair to compare teams from di9erent eras given how the game has evolved in the past two decades, it does seem reasonable to put those defenses – and a few of their predecessors – in a category all their own. But no matter how this defense closes out the season, the future certainly looks bright. Pry's premonition about recruiting – that the new coaching staff 's Penn State affiliation would open doors all over the country – is coming true. After the staff arrived in January, it held on to two blue-chip linebackers who had been recruited by Bill O'Brien – Troy Reeder and Jason Cabinda – while adding a third: Koa Farmer of Lake View Terrace, Calif. The Lions have also recruited a couple of three-star prospects in Manny Bowen of Barnegat, N.J., and Jake Cooper of Warminster, Pa., both of whom are set to sign this coming February. They did lose out on a four-star linebacker when Josh Barajas switched his verbal com- mitment from Penn State to Notre Dame in May, but after seeing how this year's three starters –Hull, Wartman and Bran- don Bell – have shined under the guidance of Pry and defensive coordinator Bob Shoop, the Nittany Lions shouldn't have much trouble getting the attention of ambitious young prospects. Pry grew up admiring Penn State and says he's eager "to play a part in returning it to its glory." If this year's performance is any indication, that process is already well under way. ■ EVERYBODY'S ALL- AMERICAN Conlan, a two-time All- American, spear- headed PSU's great defenses of 1985 and '86. Photo courtesy of Penn State Athletic Com- munications

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