Penn State looking for another strong perfomance by Devon Smith

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - When Penn State encouraged its wide receivers to step up in the absence of injured 6-foot-5 star Derek Moye, it probably didn't think one of the bigger contributors would be 5-7 Devon Smith.

Smith is one of the fastest players on the team, with a best time of 4.23 seconds in the 40-yard dash. But he wasn't considered a reliable route runner, and his hands weren't the best. Besides, it seemed too risky to send a 157-pound receiver over the middle as a defender sought to separate him from the football.

But the junior from White Plains, Md., opened a lot of eyes last week at Northwestern with career highs of six catches and 110 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown pass from Matt McGloin, in a victory that moved the Nittany Lions into the Associated Press Top 25 at No. 21.

Now, with the Lions (7-1, 4-0 Big Ten) beginning a difficult, four-game closing stretch Saturday against Illinois (6-2, 2-2) at Beaver Stadium, they need Smith to continue to play at his level of a week ago so opposing defenses can't roll their coverage toward Justin Brown, their No. 1 receiver in Moye's absence.

"It's just basically stepping up and being a leader," said Smith, a former Maryland high school sprint champion. "I didn't play well against Alabama and I was kicking myself. The coaches still believed in me and told me to pick it up, and that's what I've been trying to do."

Smith also has impressed with his blocking and toughness despite his size. Surely, Joe Paterno knows how tough he is.

It was Smith who collided with Paterno early in preseason practice, leaving the 84-year-old coach with injuries to his right shoulder, right leg, and pelvis and forcing him to spend much of his time during games in the press box.

"I know how tough he can block," Paterno said with a laugh.

"He can run. Speed's a big thing. He's had his struggles. He's not a natural. He's had to work hard with his hands, timing, body control, so that he can put himself in a position to make the catch. To his credit, he's done that."

Smith ranks third on the Lions with 16 catches, and his 18.6-yard average is first. Moye, who still has a team-high 28 receptions and 485 yards, will miss his third straight game with a broken bone in his left foot but should be back for the Lions' next contest in two weeks against Nebraska.

As Paterno attempts to move into sole possession of first place among Division I coaches, and second among coaches at all levels, with his 409th career victory, he hasn't answered the weekly question about which quarterback will be throwing to Smith.

McGloin played every snap in his first start of the season. He threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns and, better yet for Penn State, didn't turn the ball over.

Rob Bolden, who started the first seven games, never got off the bench last week. If postgame statements made by Paterno and his son, Jay, the quarterbacks coach, are accurate, Bolden will be Saturday's starter. But the elder Paterno would not confirm that at his weekly teleconference.

Asked his feeling about who the team wants to start at quarterback, offensive tackle Chima Okoli replied: "I'm in favor of winning football games.

"Whatever it's going to take to get that done, I support that 100 percent," Okoli said. "McGloin played great, and I told him that. Whoever gets it done, that's who we're behind."

Illinois, losers of back-to-back games after a 6-0 start, has two of the best players in the nation at their positions in wide receiver A.J. Jenkins and defensive end Whitney Mercilus. Jenkins has caught 62 passes for 987 yards and seven touchdowns, while Mercilus has 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase has passed for 1,624 yards and 11 touchdowns, and leads the Fighting Illini in rushing with 412 yards.

"You don't just stare at any one part of their game," Paterno said. "You've got to be ready for a good, solid, all-around squad. We've got to play a better football game than we've played all year."

When: Saturday at 3:30 p.m., Beaver Stadium, State College

TV/Radio: 6ABC; WNTP-AM (990), WNPV-AM (1440)

Records: Illinois, 6-2 overall, 2-2 Big Ten; Penn State, 7-1, 4-0, ranked No. 21 by AP.

Coaches: Illinois, Ron Zook (seventh season, 34-47); Penn State, Joe Paterno (46th season, 408-136-3).

Series: Penn State holds a 14-4 lead in the series, having last won, 35-17, in 2009 at Champaign. The Fighting Illini took last year's matchup, 33-13, at Beaver Stadium.

Betting line: Penn State by 5.

THINGS TO WATCH

With a freak fall snowstorm expected, both teams will have to be strong in the trenches. A key will be whether the Penn State offensive line (a Big Ten-best seven sacks allowed) can protect its quarterback from the front seven of Illinois (a conference-high 27 sacks).

The game features arguably the two best defensive linemen in the Big Ten - the Illini's Whitney Mercilus (Big Ten-leading 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss) and Penn State's Devon Still (12 tackles for loss).

The Lions have an advantage on special teams. The Fighting Illini rank 118th in FBS in kickoff returns, 116th in punt returns, 100th in defending kickoffs and 102d in net punting. Comparing kickers, Penn State's Anthony Fera (nine) and Illinois' Derek Dimke (10) have combined for 19 straight field goals.

Stephfon Green, who returned to the Nittany Lions with the overwhelming support of his teammates, took over the No. 2 tailback spot from Curtis Dukes last week and is likely to be in that spot again.

With 62 receptions and nearly a 16-yards-per-catch average, Illinois wide receiver A.J. Jenkins is capable of the big play at any time. He has four catches of 50 or more yards; Penn State as a team has two.

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW

The Lions have 18 turnovers and 21 sacks, already topping their numbers for the entire 2010 season in both categories. Their front four has teamed for 15 of the sacks.

Both the Lions and the Fighting Illini have allowed 815 yards rushing in eight games (101.9-yard average).

The Penn State defense has been ferocious right after halftime, allowing just nine total points in the third quarter.

The Illini are 4-18 against ranked teams under Ron Zook. However, one came this season over Arizona State.

Although the Lions have been playing better in the red zone lately, they are still under 50 percent in TDs scored (16 in 34 trips).

- Joe Juliano

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Fans traveling to Penn State's game against Illinois should be advised that a winter-storm warning is in effect for the State College area until 10 p.m. Saturday. Four to eight inches of snow are forecast to fall during a storm that was scheduled to begin around dawn.

The heavy, wet snow, accompanied by winds that could gust to or above 25 m.p.h., is expected to make the roads slippery and visibility difficult. In addition, motorists should watch out for debris caused by branches snapping under the weight of the snow and perhaps downed power lines as well.

Temperatures are expected to be slightly above freezing during the game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m.

Penn State officials said 2,500 or more parking spaces in grass lots around Beaver Stadium could be lost because of muddy conditions and advised fans to carpool. Free shuttle buses will be running from off-site lots.

Parking updates are available at www.gopsusports.com or on Twitter at #PSUparking.

- Joe Juliano