For a Penn State team that just lost two starting defensive ends to graduation, the return of Pete Massaro is a welcome sight. Injuries are nothing new for the rising senior defensive end--he'll be playing next season having torn each ACL once. The right knee cost him the 2009 season, the left one the 2011 campaign. But in between, he showed glimpses of becoming a standout edge rusher in the mold of another #59, Aaron Maybin.

Finding playing time in Larry Johnson's deep rotation, Massaro racked up 37 tackles, 8 TFL, and 3.5 sacks--and all that while excelling in the classroom to the point of being named an Academic All-American. There will once again be a plethora of defensive ends vying for playing time, but Massaro's experience and senior leadership may be as much of a boon to this defense as his pass-rushing ability.

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