Penn State Football: Predicting 5 Breakout Players in 2012

Penn State's spring practice has passed, and the 2012 college football season is hurtling toward us. 

New seasons bring new star players to every campus. Players fill voids left by former starters, and others finally reach their full potential within a new role. 

The Nittany Lions will have their share of new contributors on both sides of the ball. The following five players are either filling a totally new role, have larger responsibilities or are finally ready to play to their capacity.

Here are five players who will break out for the Nittany Lions this season.

Alex Kenney, WR

Penn State will use a plethora of receiving options in several different roles this season.

Justin Brown will be the No. 1 receiver on the outside. Devon Smith would like to be the No. 2 receiver, but a pending drug charge leaves his status uncertain.

That leaves Shawney Kersey, Brandon Moseby-Felder, Allen Robinson and Alex Kenney to fight it out for depth and possible a starting role. 

Kenney will emerge from this group as the go-to option. He has exceptional quickness, good hands and breakaway speed in the open field. 

He will work wonders out of the slot with Brown and another, playing No. 1 and No. 2. 

Malcolm Willis, S

Malcolm Willis will handle starting responsibilities after Nick Sukay and Drew Astorino's departure.

Willis has some prior starting experience. Sukay missed games throughout his career, and Willis saw spot duty in his stead. However, starting full-time can be a different animal.

Expect Willis to have no trouble. He will have a big 2012 season and make Penn State fans ecstatic as the leader of the Nittany Lions secondary. 

Willis is solid in coverage because of his athleticism. He needs to work on diagnosing plays, but his instincts will improve with more experience. 

Willis is also a legitimate run supporter. 

The Nittany Lions need a leader to emerge on the back end of their defense. Willis will take care of business. 

Bill Belton, RB

Bill Belton has made a flawless transition from wide receiver to running back thus far. Belton had 50 yards on seven carries and a touchdown in the Blue-White game this spring. 

Bill O'Brien likes to use weapons all over the field. Belton may not ever have a set position, but he is a big-time threat with the ball in his hands. 

Belton played mostly Wildcat quarterback last season. He averaged 5 yards per carry. He is small, but has absurd quickness in the open field. 

Penn State's offensive coaches will enjoy using Belton's versatility and exceptional speed. Belton will score his fair share of touchdowns in a variety of ways this season.

Adrian Amos, DB

Adrian Amos saw time at cornerback last season but will play safety in 2012. He played safety in high school and will erupt this season playing next to Malcolm Willis. 

Amos saw small amounts of time last season when D'Anton Lynn was injured. He showed adequate ball skills and playmaking ability. He will be able to show those abilities even more at safety.

Moving to safety will allow Amos to show his ranginess and instincts.

He will show off his versatile skill set and become one of Penn State's best defensive players by the end of the season. 

Da'Quan Jones, DT

Da'Quan Jones will take advantage of Jordan Hill's talents this season and put together a formidable campaign. 

Hill did the same thing playing next to Devon Still last season. Still commanded a ton of attention, and Hill was able to use his explosiveness to exploit openings on the offensive line. 

Jones is not nearly as explosive as Hill, but he is still talented enough to exploit the same situation.

He has a 300-plus-pound frame big enough to control the point of attack. His size will complement Hill's first step perfectly.

Penn State's run defense figures to be great in 2011. Both defensive tackles will play a major role in that. 

Nittany Lions fans expect a big year from Hill, but they will not see Jones' breakout season coming.