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Nitt Picks Will Not Be Drafted In The First Round

All kinds of good stuff floating around The Internets today, so let's flag a few stories for the people who are stuck at work (hi!) on the Friday after Christmas.

It's been a successful year for the Nittany Lions on the field, but a very quiet year for them elsewhere:

Despite those hurdles, Bowman took over at one starting linebacker spot four games into this season and has remained there.

"I've matured a lot," he said. "I notice a lot of things that I don't do now. I appreciate my family just always being there for me. Just Joe (Paterno) and the Penn State family also just helping me out and leading me on the right path."

Paterno has noticed the growth of Bowman, on and off the field.

"He's become very solid," Paterno said. "And when he lost his dad, I think that was a shock to him and kind of made him think twice about his obligation to his family and some things."

Other Penn State defenders who have benefited from second chances are end Maurice Evans and tackle Abe Koroma. The pair still faces misdemeanor marijuana possession charges from a Sept. 2 incident at their apartment. Each sat out three games, returned for the Illinois game, and contributed to a highly-rated defense.

Evans, a junior who before this season had been promoted for All-America honors based on his 12.5 sacks from last season, started the opener but has been a backup since, registering 31 tackles and 4.5 sacks.

"I tried to come back and be a force like I was before," Evans said. "Things didn't work out that way, but I'm happy with the progress now from the beginning of the season."

Koroma, a redshirt sophomore, also was a first-game starter but has been a backup since. He finished the regular season with 24 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

"I'm happy where I'm at right now, where the team's at right now," Koroma said. "I'm blessed."

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It would be a bit foolish to say that the 11-1 record is directly due to the improved citizenry of the Penn State players, but it certainly could not have hurt.  And hey, we know Maurice Evans will be back, right?  As for Aaron Maybin, well...

Star-divide

When you go from having 12 tackles - total - in 2007 to 12 sacks, 19 tackles for losses and three forced fumbles the following season, maybe the worst thing you can do is wonder why and how it all happened.

"I don't know. I try not to think about it," the serendipitous Maybin said when asked about his dizzying ascent from a possible rotation-type guy on Penn State's defensive line to its most acclaimed star. "In any case, that's really not something I can control now. Things happen for a reason."

As is the case with run-stuffing junior defensive tackle Jared Odrick, Maybin, a 6-4, 247-pounder from Ellicott City, Md., is contemplating an early jump to the NFL. Each has filed paperwork with the league to assess his draft prospects, although Maybin said his only focus for now is on fifth-ranked Southern California (11-1), which takes on No. 6 Penn State (11-1) in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day.

"I'm really not concerned about it," Maybin said of the NFL evaluation of his potential for going high in the draft, should he choose to come out. "I probably won't get the report until after the Rose Bowl, anyway."

Okay, nothing set in stone there.  I think we all agree that Maybin would be foolish to come back if he was truly projected as a top ten pick.  Whether he would actually be drafted that soon is still open for debate.

ESPN.com recently ran a nationwide poll about who would win the Rose Bowl.  You likely know the results by now -- 49 48 states picked USC.  The Penn State players were bemused:

"I'm glad we got one state," [A.Q.] Shipley said. "It's obviously disappointing that 49 other states don't think we've got a shot."

Defensive end Josh Gaines, watching on the Penn State campus, ordinarily doesn't worry about such things. He made an exception this time.

"I immediately jumped up," he said. "I got a little excited."

Then he called teammate Jared Odrick.

"I was actually writing a paper, and I didn't see it," Odrick said. "I think it kind of caught me off-guard during the conversation. I was eight pages deep in a paper."

...

"We've developed a black eye for the past couple years," Shipley said. "I was talking to James Laurinaitis from Ohio State, and if we win both of our games, [The Big Ten conference is] back on the map. It's going to be a challenge, but we both think we can do it."

 

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I'm sure we'll get into recruiting once the Rose Bowl is in the books, but the Pocono Record has a nice rundown (they're highly underrated for PSU coverage, in my opinion), including news of a possible second quarterback, the ongoing saga of five-star LB Jelani Jenkins, and wide receiver Justin Brown of Delaware.

Finally, we know that athletes from every bowl-eligible team receive an armful of goodies.  The Rose Bowl swag:

The Rose Bowl ranked among the middle of the pack, giving each player a Sony DVD camcorder, a Fossil watch, an Ogio backpack, a New Era 59Fifty fitted cap, a plaque, an autographed football and a one-year subscription to ESPN the Magazine.

Not too bad.  Who autographs the football, anyway?

Elsewhere:  USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian says Aaron Maybin is "the best [pass] rusher we've ever seen."  Joe Paterno still isn't sure whether he'll coach from the sideline or the press box.  David Jones takes a fun look at the first USC-Penn State Rose Bowl in 1922.  The apparent star of the Rose Bowl Parade?  A 49-foot tall robot from Japan.  Oh, and miniature donkeys from Indiana.  Both terrifying in their own ways.

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Heavy Underdogs

I’m glad we’re such big underdogs, actually, because I think it’ll help our players to play loosely and with a chip on their shoulders. Shipley’s reaction to the national doubt about PSU’s chances is very encouraging. Now let’s use this extra bit of motivation (as if we didn’t have enough already just from playing in the Rose Bowl for the first time since the 1994 season) to go beat the “world-beaters”!

Let's Go State!

by Gopher Broke on Dec 26, 2008 12:35 PM EST reply actions  

49 States?

Looks more like 48 on that map, with the powerhouse of Delaware siding with us.

by mrb5091 on Dec 26, 2008 12:51 PM EST reply actions  

It's a gratuitous thank you

for the Pat Devlin handling.

pax et amor

by jtothep on Dec 27, 2008 3:32 PM EST up reply actions  

Devlin's late vote

probably put us over the top. I heard we won 3-2 down there.

'People are about as happy as they decide they want to be'

by Pete the Streak on Dec 27, 2008 5:13 PM EST up reply actions  

Maualuga...

Yeah, the nation is just eating up all the “oh-my-god-usc-is-so-amazing-and-will-beat-penn-state-no-problem” just like they did with the SEC last season and early this year. Just look at what Rey Maualuga told the LA Times this week…

“If we’ve got everything locked down in practice and everyone does their assignments, we should have no problem with the running quarterback,” said Maualuga, who has a team-best 73 tackles. Maualuga said that based on what he had seen of Clark on film, he rated him ahead of Illinois quarterback Juice Williams. In the 2008 Rose Bowl, the Trojans controlled Williams and won, 49-17."

He’s a smart one, I tell ya…

by Mike Pettigano on Dec 26, 2008 1:07 PM EST reply actions  

Well...

…where do most people get their info from? From the teeeevveeeee and the internets. Who are on those mediums? USC lovers.

I was having dinner with my relatives and a cousin asked me whether I REALLY think PSU has a chance. I said yes. I said what makes you think they don’t. He said USC is heavily favored. He said Sanchez and McKnight and Maualuga are some of the best players in the nation. I asked if he knew any Penn State players by name. He said he only knew who Joe Paterno was.

I said exactly.

by Mr. Rosewater on Dec 26, 2008 1:42 PM EST reply actions  

Yeah that Sanchez...

he’s a real all-timer for sure.

by jimbo2psu on Dec 26, 2008 2:15 PM EST up reply actions  

The Dirty One

He won’t know what hit him. Sanchez will be on his back and the PSU defense will be the talk of college football.

by PSUROLLS on Dec 26, 2008 11:44 PM EST up reply actions  

Yes, more please, more

Hopefully, there will be more and more of these stories. I think the Nittany Lions will have the chip on their shoulder they need.

Blogging about D.C. Baseball since April '04. Penn State alum. Also partial to the Washington Capitals, New York Yankees and Yale football.

by WFY on Dec 26, 2008 1:48 PM EST reply actions  

Personally...

I don’t think they need a chip on their shoulders. Our guys can play with anybody this year…

by pennst92 on Dec 26, 2008 6:07 PM EST reply actions  

As we saw...

in the heartbreaker that was Iowa, only the coaching and bad weather can hold this team back. Pretty sure one of them won’t be present at the rose bowl…

I was out in the trenches, which enables me to paint such a powerful picture, like Apocalypse Now.-Cormega

by OMEGAMAN on Dec 26, 2008 8:15 PM EST reply actions  

What is Nitt Picks Draft status?

They’ve really blossomed and had a great season, can’t imagine the NFL would pass on such talent! ;)

by psu1313 on Dec 27, 2008 10:07 AM EST reply actions  

Apparently

the phrase, “I swear, officer, she looked like she was 20!” is still viewed as a no-no to the NFL big wigs…

by IcersGuy on Dec 28, 2008 11:23 PM EST up reply actions  

Coaches playing the expectations game...
USC Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian says Aaron Maybin is “the best [pass] rusher we’ve ever seen.”

You ever wonder if the coaches do this with reverse psychology in mind? I always wondered that, because if you see some coaches speak they play the best team or best qb or best D-line seemingly every week. Now I’m not saying USC doesnt think Maybin is good but I always think there is a little hyperbole in coach speak.

"For every moment of triumph, for every instance of beauty, many souls must be trampled"- Hunter S. Thompson

by phishead_psu on Dec 27, 2008 9:40 PM EST reply actions  

The Autographed Ball

It’s actually signed by the current USC team, since so many of them are going in the first round of the draft, the door-prize committee felt they wanted to give all of the players a souvenir they could sell on eBay, since it’s obviously going to be worth a fortune in the near future.

by dawsonPSU10 on Dec 28, 2008 1:21 AM EST reply actions  

87 fiesta bowl

off the subject, but the 87 fiesta bowl will be on espn classic this afternoon at 3 o’clock. the 83 sugar bowl comes on shortly i think at 11 o’clock.
   Enjoy

by 31rulesall on Dec 28, 2008 10:38 AM EST reply actions  

It’s actually signed by the current USC team

The autographed ball is signed by the current USC team?

So they’ll get a ball with a bunch of X’s on it?

by CDRS on Dec 29, 2008 12:53 PM EST reply actions  

"...but sheriff...

I ckant write…ckant read neither. Just place your mark on it son…“X”…"

" We need MORE cowbell !"

by BlueWhiteLife on Dec 29, 2008 1:37 PM EST up reply actions  

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