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struggles. Due to manpower shortages at several positions, starting center Angelo Mangiro was called on to switch posi- tions and ended up starting games not only at his listed position but also at guard and tackle. By the time the season ended with a 24-17 loss to Georgia in the TaxSlayer Bowl, Penn State had used eight different starting combinations on the line. That's not a formula for success. The Lions allowed 39 sacks, and in addi- tion to their pass-protection issues, they failed to run the ball with any consisten- cy, finishing 12th in the Big Ten with an average of only 133.9 yards per game. Mangiro graduated in December, cre- ating a vacancy that will pit Laurent, an occasional starter, against McGovern, a freshman, and most likely Gaia, a fifth- year senior who had reportedly been moved to the position from guard. As a senior with eight starts on his re- sume, Laurent may appear to have the inside track for the first-team job. But that's not necessarily the case. Gaia and/or McGovern could pose a serious challenge. In 2014 and '15, Gaia started at right guard. There had been speculation dur- ing the winter that he might be moved back to defensive tackle, but that didn't turn out to be the case. With redshirt freshmen Ryan Bates and Steven Gonza- lez expected to push hard for playing time at both guard positions, switching Gaia to center seems like a logical move. Physically, the 286-pound Gaia seems better suited to the center position than guard. In addition, he knows the system well and has ample game experience, which means he should be able to handle the calls the center has to make at the line of scrimmage to adjust blocking schemes. As for McGovern, he, too, meets the physical specifications. And considering that he enrolled in January, he is very likely to push for playing time. "It's hard to play on the offensive line as a freshman, but the fact that [McGov- ern] is here six months early and that he's already a big, physical, strong guy and very intelligent gives him a shot." coach James Franklin said. With all due respect to the quarter- backs, this might be the best battle of the spring. TIGHT END SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS Brent Wilkerson (6-3, 243, Sr.), Mike Gesicki (6-6, 250, Jr.), Nick Bowers (6-4, 265, R- Fr.), Jonathan Holland (6-4, 238, R-Fr.), and Danny Dalton (6-4, 241, Fr.) OUTLOOK Penn State's tight ends un- derperformed last season. Between them, Gesicki, Wilkerson and Kyle Carter had only 33 catches for 299 yards, averaging 9.1 yards per catch with just one touchdown. That is probably going to change now that Joe Moorhead has settled into his role as the Lions' offensive coordina- tor. Indeed, for Moorhead's offense to operate at peak efficiency, it will be all but mandatory for the tight ends to emerge as more significant compo- nents in the passing game. That was certainly the case at Fordham. In Moorhead's final season as head coach of the Rams, six receivers had 30 or more catches, and two of those re- ceivers were tight ends. Gesicki, Bowers, Holland and Dalton all appear to have the size they will need in order to fit into Moorhead's spread offensive philosophy. The key this spring will be to find a way to get all five of Penn State's scholarship tight ends comfortable with the offense and more involved with the passing game. If Gesicki is able to improve his consis- tency as a pass catcher, he will be a perfect fit for Moorhead's system. But don't count out Bowers, Holland or Dalton. In last two seasons at Marshfield (Mass.) High, Dalton totaled 100 catches for 1,468 yards and 20 touchdowns. A January en- rollee, he'll be taking part in practice this spring, and he could be in the mix for playing time in the fall. STRONG SAFETY SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS Malik Golden (6-0, 205, Sr.), Jarvis Miller (6-2, P R E V I E W PHIL'S PROJECTED SPRING DEPTH CHART* OFFENSE WR Chris Godwin Saeed Blacknall Juwan Johnson WR DaeSean Hamilton Irvin Charles WR Brandon Polk DeAndre Thompkins RT Andrew Nelson Noah Beh/Sterling Jenkins RG Derek Dowrey Ryan Bates/Chasz Wright C Wendy Laurent Brian Gaia/Connor McGovern LG Brendan Mahon Steven Gonzalez LT Paris Palmer Chance Sorrell/Noah Beh TE Mike Gesicki/Brent Wilkerson Nick Bowers/Jonathan Holland Danny Dalton RB Saquon Barkley Andre Robinson/Mark Allen Johnathan Thomas QB Trace McSorley/Tommy Stevens Jake Zembiec DEFENSE DE Torrence Brown Curtis Cothran/Shareef Miller DT Parker Cothren Robert Windsor DT Antoine White Kamonte Carter DE Garrett Sickels Evan Schwan/Ryan Buchholz Kevin Givens OLB Brandon Bell Manny Bowen/Von Walker MLB Jason Cabinda Jake Cooper OLB Jake Cooper Jason Cabinda/Von Walker CB Grant Haley Christian Campbell Amani Oruwariye FS Marcus Allen Troy Apke/Koa Farmer Nick Scott SS Malik Golden Jarvis Miller/Ayron Monroe CB John Reid Garrett Taylor/Nick Scott * Depth chart applies only to spring practice; it does not include incoming freshmen

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