Penn State Football: Grading Each Unit, Spring Edition

Penn State opened spring practice on March 26th.

The Nittany Lions are working hard in preparation for their annual Blue-White Game on April 21st. The game will be broadcast by the Big Ten Network at 2 p.m. ET.

Penn State's players and coaches are treating this spring like every other. They must get ready for next season, and iron out any kinks before the season opener against Ohio.

Certain personnel groups are considered sure things heading into the Blue-White Game.

Others are major question marks. How these units respond will go a long way in determining Penn State's success this upcoming season.

Let's grade each unit based on their current situation, and take a look at what to expect in this year's Blue-White Game.

Quarterbacks

Penn State's quarterback situation has tread water this spring. None of the prospective starters have distanced themselves from the others, and that is worrisome.

Matt McGloin enters the Blue-White Game as the experienced veteran. Rob Bolden is the fallen blue-chip prospect. Paul Jones is the mysterious, exciting unknown Nittany Lion fans are drooling over despite complete inexperience.

Bill O'Brien would like to see all three quarterbacks improve their decision making and accuracy, according to Joe Juliano of Philly.com.

The story remains the same behind center. No need to rehash the same depressing situation.

Penn State needs a quarterback. They need someone to want to play quarterback enough to go out and win the position.

Fans attending the Blue-White Game will fix their gaze behind center and look for any signs of hope.

Grade: D+

Running Backs

Penn State's running back situation is currently thin, but still home to Penn State's best player.

Silas Redd is ready for a breakout year in 2012. Redd ran for over 1,000 yards in 2011 and seven touchdowns. He will lead Penn State's offense in his junior season.

The situation behind Redd is a question mark at this point. Curtis Dukes is sitting out the spring to focus on academics. That leaves Derek Day as Redd's backup. Day is inexperienced to say the least, but this spring will help that fact.

Bill Belton is receiving snaps in the backfield, but is still learning the position. Freshman Akeel Lynch will receive a lot of attention this summer, but is not on the Nittany Lion field just yet.

Penn State's running back situation will be fine this season because of Redd's dynamic presence. Dukes is a proven backup and should not be hurt by his spring absence. Day and Lynch will provide solid depth, and Belton will be a change of pace similar to Stephfon Green in 2011.

Grade: B

Wide Receivers

Penn State's receiving corps has been in a state of flux this spring.

Projected No. 2 wideout Devon Smith will miss the rest of spring practice with a foot injury. Bill Belton has moved to running back and Curtis Drake has moved to cornerback.

That leaves Penn State with Justin Brown, Allen Robinson, Brandon Moseby-Felder and Shawney Kersey split out wide this spring. All four are very capable and will benefit from the added experience.

Brown is the clear-cut choice for Penn State's No. 1 wideout. Moseby-Felder and Kersey will vie for the No. 2 spot with Smith sitting out.

The Nittany Lions still have an unknown commodity in Eugene Lewis. Lewis is Penn State's best incoming freshman and could earn himself playing time as the season progresses.

Penn State's receivers are not incredibly experienced but they are incredibly fast. With some seasoning this could be a breakout group in 2012.

This grade will be on the low end for now, but there is room for optimism once the group is intact.

Grade: C+

Offensive Line

Penn State's offensive line is extremely inexperienced, but meshing together this spring.

Matt Stankiewitch is the only returning starter at center. John Urschel and Miles Dieffenbach will flank him at guard while Adam Gress and Mike Farrell man the tackle positions.

Donovan Smith is also in the mix at both tackle spots.

Mac McWhorter has a great reputation for building solid units and developing offensive linemen. He certainly has his work cut out for him in his first year on the Penn State sidelines.

Stankiewitch will anchor the middle. The rest of this unit will be better than expected for an inexperienced group.

The grade will stay low for now, but this group can only get better.

Grade: C-

Defensive Line

Penn State's defensive line returns two starters from 2011, and one starter from their 2010 squad.

Sean Stanley and Jordan Hill return from last year's starters, and Pete Massaro is healthy after tearing his ACL last spring.

The largest weight has fallen on Hill's broad shoulders. He is charged with replacing 2011 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year Devon Still in the middle of the Nittany Lion defensive line.

Next to Hill will be either Da'Quan Jones or James Terry. Jones appears to have the inside track to start, but both players will see their share of playing time.

Stanley and Massaro will man the edges. Stanley had a solid 2011 campaign and is being looked to for leadership this season. Massaro led the team in sacks in 2010, and is expected to add a pass rush to Penn State's defense in 2012.

The Blue-White Game will give Jones and Terry a chance to fight it out for the final starting spot up front. This unit is ready to be disruptive next season.

Grade: B+

Linebackers

Penn State's linebackers will be the focal point of their defense as usual. Every major contributor returns from last season.

Michael Mauti will be back in the mix, as well. Mauti missed most of 2011 with an ACL tear. Mauti will not participate in contact drills this spring, but is expected to be ready for the upcoming season.

Gerald Hodges, Glenn Carson and Khairi Fortt all return too. Fortt is sitting out spring practices with a knee injury, but the other two are playing on the first team.

With Fortt and Mauti nursing themselves back to health this spring, other linebackers have gotten experience. James Van Fleet, Michael Yancich, Mike Hull and Ben Kline will be ready to go this season because of the experience they have gained this spring.

Hodges and Carson will be fun to watch in the Blue-White Game. The young linebackers should catch some attention as well.

Grade: A-

Secondary

Penn State's secondary will be inexperienced in 2012, but talented nonetheless.

Adrian Amos, Stephon Morris, Derrick Thomas and Mike Wallace all return at cornerback. Amos and Morris are expected to start the Blue-White Game. Thomas and Wallace will man the nickel and dime spots. 

Curtis Drake moved to cornerback from wide receiver this spring. He will bring a ton of speed and athleticism to the Nittany Lion secondary.

The starting safeties heading into the Blue-White Game are Malcolm Willis and Stephen Obeng-Agyapong. Ryan Keiser and Jacob Fagnano will also fight for playing time on April 21st.

The facts are the same with this unit heading into the Blue-White Game. Drake could be a solid addition, but he is still inexperienced.

The Blue-White Game will add more clarity to the safety position, and settle any battles for time at corner.

Grade: B-