For the first time in the Bill O’Brien era, Penn State fans will get a chance to see what kind of football they can expect this fall come Saturday at the annual Blue-White Game in Beaver Stadium.
While there are plenty of new faces, new plays and a new scoring format, here are five players you should keep an eye on in the Nittany Lions’ final scrimmage of the spring practice period.
Adrian Amos (No. 4): Having played in seven games last season, Amos isn’t exactly a new name, but he’ll be called on significantly more to help anchor the Nittany Lions’ secondary with senior Stephon Morris after the loss of D’Anton Lynn and Drew Astorino to graduation. Amos accumulated 13 tackles last season and wowed Beaver Stadium with an impressive interception against Indiana State in the 2011 season opener.
Bill Belton (No. 5): With Silas Redd limited in order to nurse a few practice-related injuries, Belton will likely be the featured back only a few weeks after making the switch to the position. While Redd is still expected to get the bulk of the carries in the fall, Belton provides the Nittany Lions with a runner who can catch balls out of the backfield. You won’t see Belton in on third down very often, but his skills could be on full display this Saturday.
Jesse James (No. 18): A tall, athletic talent, James might just win the starting spot this season. With the importance of the tight end position in O’Brien’s offense, there shouldn’t be any shortage of opportunities to see what James has to offer. James is the only early enrollee among the 2012 recruiting class.
Adam Gress (No. 58): Outside of the quarterback position, no unit has been under more scrutiny by Penn State fans than the offensive line. Gress is looking to silence the critics and help solidify a line that is quickly buying into new coach Mac McWhorter’s system. Gress is expected to start at tackle this year, and may even protect the quarterback’s blind side on the left side.
Paul Jones (No. 7): Between a two-touchdown performance in his Nittany Lion debut at the Blue-White Game two years ago and his ongoing academic issues, Jones’s story has become something of folklore. With his grades in order this spring, Jones is making the most of the opportunity and has impressed at quaretrback. A strong arm could help him take the leading spot in the race for the starting nod but only if he can learn the system. This weekend is a big one for Jones and could very decide which two quarterbacks head in to fall on the top of O’Brien’s list.
