Penn State Football: 10 Underclassmen to Watch Next Season

The Penn State Nittany Lions have several open spots to fill on both sides of the ball during the offseason.

Many of these roles will be filled by returning upperclassmen, while some vacated spots will go to surprise underclassmen.

The Nittany Lions had talented freshman waiting in the wings last season.

Linebacker Mike Hull, offensive tackle Donovan Smith and defensive lineman Anthony Alosi will all battle for more playing time next season. Incoming freshman will also push for spots on the Nittany Lion depth chart.

Juniors and seniors may be well-known at this point among Penn State fans, but underclassmen will have the advantage of time.

Time to mature, and time to learn the new schemes brought to Penn State by Bill O'Brien and his coaching staff.

Here are 10 underclassmen to keep an eye on next season:

Akeel Lynch, RB

Akeel Lynch will not start next season, but he will have a chance to play a valuable backup role in the Penn State offense.

He is not a well-known prospect but the late addition to Penn State's 2012 class is a name worth knowing.

Lynch is a big body and uses it well. He is a north-south runner and loves to carve out space in between the tackles, but do not let his size fool you.

He can burn you in the open field as well.

Curtis Dukes enters next season as Silas Redd's primary backup but expect Lynch to push him for snaps.

Eugene Lewis, WR

Eugene Lewis is one of the few impact players Penn State landed in their 2012 recruiting class.

He has a chance to compete for playing time at wide receiver from day one next season.

Lewis does not possess elite speed, but he excels in the open field. He sets up blockers well, and knows how to make defenders miss.

What he lacks in straight-ahead speed he makes up for in football speed.

Bill O'Brien will be looking for playmakers next season. Lewis is not a name familiar to Penn State fans yet, but it will not take long for this kid to make his mark.

If he does not start next season he will play an exciting role in Penn State's new offense.

C.J. Olaniyan, DE

C.J. Olaniyan could be a pass-rush specialist in 2012.

He has a small frame for a down lineman, but he does not have the pure speed of a stand-up linebacker.

Either way, he is a nice mix of speed and size and must be used in his third season in Happy Valley.

Penn State's secondary is undergoing changes after losing four starters from last year's unit. The best way to counteract faulty coverage is by pressuring the quarterback.

The Nittany Lions will use a rotation of players to apply pressure to the opposing team's backfield. Look for Olaniyan to turn a few heads starting in spring practice.

Donovan Smith, OT

Donovan Smith has the opportunity to start in 2012. Unless Mike Farrell or Adam Gress bump over from the left side, he will.

His gargantuan frame and quick feet will make the true sophomore a formidable presence in whatever role he winds up playing.

Penn State is losing four of their five offensive line starters from 2011. New faces must emerge, and the Nittany Lions would love to see a young player fill the void.

Smith could become a starter and have three full seasons to learn the new offense.

He is a work in progress but, then again, so is the rest of the offensive line.

Anthony Alosi, DL

Penn State loses Devon Still, Eric Lattimore and Jack Crawford off their 2011 defensive line. New starters are in place, but depth could become an issue.

Anthony Alosi could be relied upon to shore up that need. He has the size to play inside or outside, and still has room to mature the rest of his game.

Sean Stanley and Pete Massaro are expected to start at defensive end next season. Behind them are young and inexperienced question marks.

Jordan Hill is a solid starter at defensive tackle with DaQuan Jones and James Terry battling it out for the No. 2 role on the interior.

Expect Alosi to be a leader in the rotation of backups at all defensive line spots. His versatility will be appreciated.

Bill Belton, Athlete

Bill Belton may not have a definable position next season, but he will certainly see plenty of playing time.

He is exactly the type of weapon Bill O'Brien loves to use in his offense because of his speed and versatility. He is a dynamic playmaker with home run ability in the open field.

If O'Brien decides to keep the Wildcat formation in the playbook for next season, Belton could be the man running the show.

He also could line up in the backfield,  but will primarily see time split out side or in the slot.

Belton is an electric player no matter how you cut it. It is just a matter of finding the best way to use his skill set.

Allen Robinson, WR

Allen Robinson's lanky 6'3'' frame could be a nice addition to Penn State's receiving corps next season.

He caught three balls last season, but expect that number to increase in Bill O'Brien's pass-first offensive playbook.

Derek Moye has graduated, and someone will need to emerge as Penn State's go-to target. Robinson will probably not take that big of a step, but he will be in the receiving fold.

Robinson is just a sophomore and could become a reliable target with the right coaching and maturation.

He has the frame. He just needs to bring the rest of the package along with it.

Mike Hull, LB

Mike Hull appeared in six games last season and will appear in more next season.

Hull is a playmaker, and diagnoses plays very well despite his inexperience.

The loss of Nathan Stupar leaved snaps up for grabs on defense. Hull will be a leading contender vying for those snaps.

Penn State is known as "Linebacker U" for a reason. Hull is yet another instinctive presence on Penn State's long list of tackling greats at linebacker.

Adrian Amos, CB

Adrian Amos saw limited duty as a freshman in 2011. He participated in seven contests and picked up one interception.

Amos' role will expand next season with the loss of Penn State's No. 1 cornerback D'Anton Lynn and Chaz Powell.

He is a big body on the perimeter, and should battle Derrick Thomas and Mike Wallace for time as Penn State's No. 2 corner behind Stephon Morris.

The experience Amos gained last season will pay major dividends in his larger role next season. If he improves his ball skills over the offseason, he could have a breakout year.

Paul Jones, QB

Paul Jones is talented enough to start behind center for the Nittany Lions from day one. The question lies in his head, not his physical abilities.

Jones was academically ineligible for the entire 2011 season. With a new coaching staff in Happy Valley he will have a fresh chance to earn trust among his superiors.

If he can keep his head on straight Jones is an interesting player. He is only a sophomore and will have plenty of time to learn O'Brien's complicated schemes.

He has the arm, body and mobility needed to run a spread attack. If he can become a student of the game, and put his team first, he will make many Nittany Lion fans very happy.

If he can not do that, then forget I ever wrote this.