Six starting jobs are still up for grabs for this week's opener against Ohio, but the most notable aspect of Penn State's depth chart released Monday is the backup quarterback spot.
Redshirt sophomore Paul Jones was expected to be a shoo-in as senior Matt McGloin's backup, but coach Bill O'Brien may have other ideas. The depth chart lists Jones or true freshman Steven Bench as the second-string quarterback.
Bench was rated by Rivals as a three-star recruit out of Georgia, but he's only been with the team a couple of months, while Jones is in his third year with the program.
Whether the competition is still too close to call or if O'Brien is merely trying to light a fire under Jones is unclear. But O'Brien didn't pull any punches last week when talking about Jones' play in training camp.
"Paul needs to pick it up and do better," O'Brien said. "He's a great kid, I really enjoy coaching him. He's got to play more consistent, got to make better decisions."
Jones has yet to play a down in his college career. He redshirted in 2010 and missed last season because of academic issues.
SUBHD: Position battles
Two starting receiver spots remain open: redshirt sophomore Alex Kenney and senior Evan Lewis are competing for one, while junior Shawney Kersey and true freshman Trevor Williams are battling for another.
The other offensive competition is at right tackle, where senior Mike Farrell and junior Adam Gress are vying for the job.
On defense, redshirt freshman Deion Barnes is competing with senior Pete Massaro at defensive end. Massaro was dealing with a sore knee in training camp after missing the entire 2011 season with a left ACL tear.
Junior DaQuan Jones and senior James Terry are competing for a starting defensive tackle spot. In the secondary, junior Stephen Obeng-Agyapong and senior Jake Fagnano are competing for one safety job. Fagnano has been slowed by a hamstring injury.
Junior Alex Butterworth won the punting job, beating out redshirt freshman Matt Marcincin, and sophomore Sam Ficken is the place-kicker. The depth chart lists TBA on the kick return positions.
SUBHD: Local ties
Ohio coach Frank Solich was born in Johnstown in 1944 and recalled going to Fisherman's Paradise in Bellefonte as a kid with his dad, an avid fisherman. His family moved to Ohio when he was in sixth grade.
Asked if he was a Penn State fan as a kid, Solich said, "Yes, to some degree."
Solich replaced legendary Nebraska coach Tom Osborne in 1998 and went 58-19 in six seasons. He went 9-3 his last season with the Cornhuskers in 2003, then was famously fired by athletic director Steve Pederson, who's now at Pitt.
Solich can relate to O'Brien when it comes to succeeding a legendary coach, but not with all the extra baggage O'Brien has to deal with at Penn State.
"I think maybe there are a few similarities in what we both faced," Solich said. "Obviously he's got more challenges than most any football coach I can remember."
PSU first-team depth chart
OFFENSE
Left tackle
R-Fr.Donovan Smith (6-5, 316)
Left guard
So.Miles Dieffenbach (6-3, 300)
Center
Sr.Matt Stankiewitch (6-3, 301)
Right guard
Jr.John Urschel (6-3, 307)
Right tackle
Sr.Mike Farrell (6-6, 306) OR
Jr.Adam Gress (6-6, 311)
Tight end (Y)
Jr.Garry Gilliam (6-6, 262)
Tight end (F)
R-Fr.Kyle Carter (6-3, 247)
Quarterback
Sr.Matt McGloin (6-1, 201)
Tailback
So.Bill Belton (5-10, 202)
Fullback
Sr.Michael Zordich (6-1, 236)
Receiver
So.Allen Robinson (6-3, 201)
Receiver
Jr.Shawney Kersey (6-1, 197) OR
Fr.Trevor Williams (6-1, 186)
Receiver
So.Alex Kenney (6-0, 192) OR
Sr.Evan Lewis (5-10, 174)
DEFENSE
End
Sr.Sean Stanley (6-1, 243)
Tackle
Sr.Jordan Hill (6-1, 292)
Tackle
Jr.DaQuan Jones (6-3,324) OR
Sr.James Terry (6-3, 316)
End
R-Fr.Deion Barnes (6-4, 246) OR
Sr.Pete Massaro (6-4, 256)
Outside linebacker
Sr.Gerald Hodges (6-2, 237)
Middle linebacker
Jr.Glenn Carson (6-3, 235)
Outside linebacker
Sr.Michael Mauti (6-2, 232)
Cornerback
Sr.Stephon Morris (5-8, 186)
Strong safety
Jr.Stephen Obeng-Agyapong (5-10, 207) OR
Sr.Jake Fagnano (6-0, 201)
Free safety
Jr.Malcolm Willis (5-11, 209)
Right cornerback
So.Adrian Amos (6-0, 205)
SPECIAL TEAMS
Punter
Jr.Alex Butterworth (5-10, 206)
Kicker
So.Sam Ficken (6-3, 172)
Holder
Sr.Evan Lewis (5-10, 174)
Kick snapper
Jr.Emery Etter (6-1, 221)
Kickoff return
TBA
Punt return
TBA
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For scoreboard
PSU DEPTH CHART
PSU depth chart
Second and third teams
OFFENSE
Left Tackle
Jr.Nate Cadogan (6-5, 293)
Left Guard
Fr.Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 291)
R-Fr.Anthony Alosi (6-4, 287)
Center
Fr.Angelo Mangiro (6-3, 287)
Fr.Wendy Laurent (6-2. 278)
Right guard
Jr.Eric Shrive (6-6, 305)
Jr.Frank Figueroa (6-3, 308)
Right tackle
R-Fr.Kevin Blanchard (6-7, 311)
Tight end (Y)
Fr.Jesse James (6-7, 264)
Tight end (F)
Sr.Brian Irvin (6-3, 242)
Fr.Brent Wilkerson (6-3, 239)
Quarterback
So.Paul Jones (6-3, 258) OR
Fr.Steven Bench (6-2, 204)
Sr.Shane McGregor (6-1, 211)
Tailback
Sr.Derek Day (5-9, 193)
Fr.Akeel Lynch (6-0, 209) OR
So.Zach Zwinak (6-1, 232) OR
Jr.Curtis Dukes (6-1, 245)
Receiver
Fr.Eugene Lewis (6-1, 199) OR
Fr.Matt Zanellato (6-3, 198)
Receiver
Jr.Christian Kuntz (6-4, 218) OR
Jr.Brandon Moseby-Felder (6-2, 195)
Receiver
Fr.Malik Golden (6-1, 182) OR
Fr.Jonathan Warner (6-1, 198)
DEFENSE
End
So.C.J. Olaniyan (6-3, 248)
Tackle
So.Kyle Baublitz (6-5, 287)
Tackle
Fr.Austin Johnson (6-4, 297)
End
R-Fr.Anthony Zettel (6-5, 253)
Outside linebacker
So.Mike Hull (6-0, 233)
Middle linebacker
Sr.Michael Yancich (6-2, 240) OR
Fr.Nyeem Wartman (6-1, 236)
Outside linebacker
Fr.Ben Kline (6-2, 224)
Cornerback
So.Jesse Della Valle (6-1, 190)
Fr.Jordan Lucas (6-0, 188)
Safety
So.Ryan Keiser (6-1, 200)
Cornerback
Fr.Da'Quan Davis (5-10, 161)
