Blue White Illustrated

to say that one system of training is better than the other, but I believe that when you go from one lifting regime for years and years and switch things as dynamically as we have, that's always good for a person. Just to switch your routine – different types of lifting, different types of speed work – I've seen the dividends." McWhorter has been pleased, too – Tim Owen LAYING IT ON THE LINE Urschel, left, graduated last month with a 4.0 GPA in math. De- spite his football responsibilities, he needed only three years to get his diploma. "I'm a math major, and I'm good at math," he said. "If I were an English major, I'd proba- bly be struggling right now." Urschel will be one of four new starters on the offensive line. He emerged from spring practice atop the depth chart at right guard. graduation of four starters, the estab- lishment of a state-of-the-art strength training regimen and the hiring of long- time Texas assistant Mac McWhorter as the Nittany Lions' new offensive line coach, Urschel emerged as the first- team right guard during spring prac- tice. He was also named the winner of the Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award, which recognizes a junior play- er who displays a strong commitment to academics, athletic training and community service. It seemed quite clear by the end of spring drills that he had made an im- pression on head coach Bill O'Brien. And if there were any lingering doubts, they were put to rest when the Penn State Coaches Caravan stopped last month in Buffalo, not far from Urschel's home in Williamsville, N.Y. Asked about the former Canisius High standout, O'Brien gushed. "This is why you take a job like this," he said. "You get to be around kids like John Urschel. You're talking about an excellent football player, but so much more than that. Four point zero GPA in math, and the guy's going to go on to play pro football, more than likely. At the same time, he's going to have a very successful life after his football ca- reer is over. He's had a tremendous spring. To me, he's one of the best play- ers on our team right now, the way I evaluate our team. I'm talking about every position." The strength training program has made a big difference for Urschel. Af- ter playing at about 290 pounds last season, the 6-foot-3 lineman said he's up to 298 now. "It's like night and day," he said. "Not John Beale W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M J U N E 2 8 , 2 0 1 2 35 not just with Urschel's development but with everyone's. Shortly after O'Brien lured McWhorter out of retirement in January, the Lions' new head coach hired Craig Fitzgerald as strength coach. McWhorter knew he had only one returning starter at his disposal – fifth-year senior center Matt Stankiewitch – and he also knew that the returning players needed to make some gains in the weight room in or- der for the Lions to equal or better their performance from last season, when the team finished eighth in the Big Ten in rushing (165.4 yards a carry) and surrendered a league-low 14 sacks. "There were a lot of younger kids in the program trying to get those posi- tions," McWhorter said following the Blue-White Game in April. "They weren't as strong as the four kids who left. So, yes, I was concerned with the strength level because it was less than I had been accustomed to. I have been really impressed in the three for Rimington Trophy Penn State's Matt Stankiewitch Stankiewitch to vie has been named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy, pre- sented to the nation's top center. A fifth-year senior this fall, Stankiewitch is on the initial list of 50 candi- dates. Penn State All-Ameri- can A.Q. Ship- ley won the Rimington Trophy in 2008. A starter in every game last months that we've been here; they have made nice gains throughout. I'm real- ly pleased with the strength program." Strength coach Craig Fitzgerald is continuing to put the Nittany Lions through their paces as spring gives way to summer. Players have been running the hills behind Medlar Field and jumping around in a nearby sand pit. Urschel said he's been pitted against his fellow linemen in the uphill runs, including guard Miles Dieffenbach and tackle Donovan Smith. "It's fun," he said. "I'd say one of the best things about Fitz's workout is that he really pushes competition. We're constantly competing against each other. On the hill, it's you against an- other guy, trying to see who can get up there first." Urschel isn't taking it easy in the classroom, either. He's already begun work on a master's degree in math – he preferred that option to getting a second undergraduate degree in anoth- er discipline – and wants to enroll in a Ph.D. program eventually. After his football career is over, he'll move on into teaching or maybe research. Urschel's passion for math is obvious. The T-shirt he wore to a recent inter- view, for example, didn't have a Nittany Lion logo or a swoosh anywhere to be SEE URSCHEL, PAGE 37 unit's only returning starter. A former standout at Blue Moun- tain High in Orwigsburg, Pa., Stankiewitch led the Nittany Li- ons in snaps played last year with 966, including 97 plays in the victory at Indiana. Stankiewitch earned Dean's STANKIEWITCH season, Stankiewitch will anchor the offensive line and is the List and Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2011 and is one of the squad's premier students. He en- tered the spring semester with a 3.41 cumulative grade point aver- age and is a potential Capital One/CoSIDA Academic All-Ameri- ca candidate. Stankiewitch is on schedule to graduate in Decem- ber with degrees in management and advertising/public relations. The 2012 recipient will be hon- ored at the Rimington Trophy banquet Jan. 12 at the Rococo Theatre in Lincoln, Neb.

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