Blue White Illustrated

T H E 2 0 1 7 S E A S O N Some players are so versatile that they can play multiple positions. For example, sophomore Kevin Givens is big enough at 287 pounds to play defensive tackle or even nose guard, but he has the athleti- cism of a defensive end. "The thing peo- ple don't know about Kevin is that he's so good in the run game because he plays with such great leverage," Spencer said. "He's so powerful. I mean, if you've ever tapped on his back, it's like hitting a wall. He's going to hurt your hand. I have to go see [trainer] Tim Bream every time I tap on him on that back because it bruises up my knuckles." Buchholz, who stands 6-6, 280 pounds, "can move around like a cat," Spencer said, although it was unknown as of mid-No- vember when he would be back in action. Buchholz's primary replacement against Ohio State was Shaka Toney, a redshirt freshman who has been "excep- tionally productive" in his debut season, Spencer said. Even before the Nittany Lions' visit to Columbus, the 6-3, 233- pound Toney was playing a bigger role than many observers might have thought given his size. But as Spencer acknowl- edged, there are limitations that come into play when a player doesn't fit the physical specifications of a particular po- sition. "I think you have to be as strategic as possible," he said. "I'm not putting Shaka Toney in on the goal line. I don't care who knows that. I'm not doing it." At the conclusion of the season, three of Spencer's defensive linemen will exhaust their eligibility, while three redshirting players will join the active rotation. Set to graduate are senior defensive tackles Curtis Cothran, Parker Cothren and Tyrell Chavis. Set to join the ranks are Corey Bolds and Fred Hansard, both of whom were recruited to play defensive tackle. Then there is Damion Barber, who might just grow into the position before long. "Every time I see him he's eating, so he's 270 pounds right now," Spencer said. "He's a really, really good athlete. Clearly, he came in a little bit later than the other guys, so the learning curve, we're still working on that in terms of the transition, but I'm very happy and excited about him." Asked if Barber fits the mold of someone like Givens or Buchholz, who could eventually play two or more positions along the defensive front, Spencer replied, "I think so." Bolds and Hansard, meanwhile, are learning under their more-expe- rienced teammates and biding their time until they're called upon to contribute. "Corey Bolds and Fred Hansard are clearly guys who were highly recruited, and both of those guys are progressing well," Spencer said. "When you've got three seniors who are pretty good, the two [Cothren/Cothran] brothers, when you get guys like that in front of you, it helps expedite the learning curve because they see how those guys are. Then you've got Kevin Givens and Robert Windsor, who are redshirt sophomores. [The freshmen] look up to those guys. It's about that pack mentality. I don't just coach them. The other guys coach them, and I'm really ex- cited about those three individuals com- ing in the future." ■ TEAM MEETING Givens and Miller converge on Michigan quarter- back John O'Korn. The Nittany Lions finished with seven sacks in their 42-13 victory over the Wolver- ines. Photo by Bill Anderson

• Cover