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hanced with the athleticism provided by two additional members of the Class of 2014: Apke and Amani Oruwariye. The original plan had been to redshirt Apke last year, but Keiser's season-end- ing injury forced Penn State to call on him as a true freshman. During winter work- outs, Apke added about 10 pounds and entered spring practice at 6-foot-1, 201 pounds. It should also be noted that dur- ing testing at the end of February, Apke was one of 7ve players who posted a 40- yard time of better than a 4.5 seconds. As for Oruwariye, Shoop said he is one of the more physically mature members of Penn State's Class of 2014. "He has the size and physical ability to play safe- ty," the defensive coordinator said, "and he athletically is good enough to play at cornerback. Amani will practice this spring at both safety positions and the boundary cornerback position." Even with redshirt sophomore Kasey Gaines announcing in late March that he plans to transfer, Allen, Lucas, Apke, Oruwariye, redshirt junior Malik Golden and redshirt sophomore Anthony Smith should provide the Nittany Lions with the type of depth they will need at both safety positions this spring before in- coming freshmen Jarvis Miller, Ayron Monroe and Johnny Petrishen arrive in late June. At middle linebacker, it's unlikely that any one player will be able to fully replace Hull, a 7rst-team All-Big Ten selection who led the conference in tackles with 140 and was also the inspirational leader of the Nittany Lions' defense in 2014. This spring, as many as 7ve players could get reps at the position. The list in- cludes redshirt juniors Ny- eem Wartman and Gary Wooten, senior Ben Kline and possibly Cabinda, a sophomore, and redshirt freshman Troy Reeder. Wartman may have the in- side track to take over Hull's starting job, while Cabinda and Reeder will most likely receive practice repetitions at all three line- backer positions in spring practice. Cabinda saw action in eight games as a true freshman last fall, contributing both at middle linebacker and at the Sam outside linebacker position as a backup to Brandon Bell. In fact, Cabinda started a game at outside linebacker af- ter Bell was forced out of action with a leg injury. He 7nished his debut season with 17 tackles and one tackle for loss. The reason Cabinda could be a factor at any of the three linebacker positions is that he boasts an impressive combina- tion of size and speed. He checked in at the beginning of spring practice at 6-1, 247 pounds, and he was one of 20 Penn State players to run a 4.59-second-or- better 40-yard time during winter workouts. Cabinda, Reeder and redshirt fresh- man Koa Farmer, who ran one of the 7ve fastest 40-yard times during the testing that Penn State did toward the end of winter workouts, will help provide the depth needed at all three linebacker po- sitions this spring, along with Bell, Kline, Wartman and Wooten. It also bears mentioning that Penn State has a strong group of linebacker prospects set to arrive this summer. The Class of 2015 additions are Manny Bowen, Jake Coop- er and Daiquan Kelly, all of whom are expected to enroll in late June. Along the defensive line, two redshirt freshmen – end Torrence Brown and tackle Antoine White – and two redshirt sophomores – Sickels and Cothren – will have a big impact on the way Penn State performs this fall. Sickels has added close to 20 pounds since the end of the 2014 regular season. Last November, he was listed at 6-4, 244 pounds, but he began spring practice at 262. Even at his previous weight, he showed 8ashes of great potential. Play- ing in six games last fall as a backup to SAFETY FIRST Allen lays a hit on Boston College run- ning back Jon Hill- man in the Pin- stripe Bowl. The freshman safety made a strong de- but for the Lions last season, finish- ing tied for third on the team with 58 tackles. Photo by Cameron Hart

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