Youngstown State @ Penn State preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 16, 2006 ) Youngstown State 3, Penn State 37

There are big holes for Penn State to fill in 2010, starting at quarterback.

Head coach Joe Paterno said Wednesday that freshman Robert Bolden will get the start when the 14th-ranked Nittany Lions host Youngstown State Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Bolden will be the first freshman quarterback to start the season for Penn State in Paterno's 45 years.

Paterno says sophomores Kevin Newsome and Matt McGloin, the other two candidates in a close quarterback competition, are likely to play Saturday as well.
.
Bolden has been impressive since enrolling early in school. Newsome was Darryl Clark’s backup last year, and McGloin played limited minutes as the No. 3.

While it may not be absolutely necessary for Penn State to have a clear-cut starter for Youngstown State Saturday, Paterno would like to have a better feel for who it will be heading into the Sept. 11 matchup against top-ranked Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

But quarterback isn’t the only question mark for 2010 for the Nittany Lions, who went 11-2 in 2009 with a roster full of NFL draftees. Starting linebackers Sean Lee (Cowboys), Navorro Bowman (49ers) and Josh Hull (Rams) are gone, as is Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Jared Odrick (Dolphins). Despite the departures, Paterno feels the linebacker position will be a strength.

Seven starters are back on offense, but there also are uncertainties on the line, which is thin and inexperienced. However, receivers Derek Moye and Graham Zug, who combined for 94 catches, 1,385 yards and 13 TDs last year, are back, as is running back Evan Royster (1,169 yards, six TDs last year).

Penn State enters the opener with some injuries, including tight end Andrew Szczerba (back) and backup tailback Stephfon Green (neck).

Youngstown State (6-5 in 2009) of the Missouri Valley Conference, which won four national Division I-AA titles under Ohio State coach Jim Tressell, has a few questions of its own for the opener. Thin at offensive skill positions, the Penguins will start a quarterback, Kurt Hess, who will take his first college snaps Saturday, and a running back, Jermaine Cook, who only has 20 career carries.