Ranking Penn State Football's Most Important Players for 2012

Penn State needs several players to maximize their performance in order to be successful this season.

Not every player, or starter, will play a vital role in Penn State's win-loss record. Just because a player sits atop the depth chart does not mean their performance will determine the outcome of Penn State contests.

Players have varying degrees of importance.

Star players must perform every Saturday. Other players must simply fill their position and make the plays they are supposed to make. Still, others are simply there because they have to be.

The Nittany Lions have players who fit every category this season.

The following players will play a major role in Penn State's 2012 season. If they do their jobs well, Penn State will be just fine.

10. Justin Brown

Justin Brown makes the list simply because he is Penn State's No. 1 receiver. He may not be counted on to do much (depending on Matt McGloin), but he must fill a big role when asked.

Brown is a big, athletic target capable of stretching the field vertically. He is Penn State's best receiver, and he still has considerable upside.

The Nittany Lions need Brown to be consistent when he is given the opportunity. McGloin will struggle, but Brown must capitalize on any chances Penn State has to gash an opposing defense.

Penn State has other targets with above-average size, but Brown brings the most speed of the bunch. He must improve his pass-catching, be more consistent and take the top off of the defense whenever possible.

9. Anthony Fera

Anthony Fera will start the season as Penn State's punter, and he could earn the kicking position eventually.

Fera's versatility paid off last year. He went 14-for-17 on field goals and averaged around 42 yards a punt. He was reliable and relatively consistent.

Penn State's offense is not supposed to be a juggernaut this season.

Fera must flip field position after bad Nittany Lion drives. He also has to make the easy field goals when the Nittany Lions come up just short on red-zone drives.

Making a few long field goals wouldn't hurt either. Penn State will need every point it can get this season. Fera must do his part.

Penn State will need consistency, more than anything, on special teams. Fera must fill its need.

8. Miles Dieffenbach

Miles Dieffenbach must make Fed-Ex-sized holes playing next to Matt Stankiewitch this season.

Dieffenbach is not at his natural position (center), but he has the skills to convert to a solid left guard. His best quality is his strength. That strength must to convert to blowing players off the line, getting to the second level and making room for Silas Redd.

Walling off defenders and letting Redd run is Penn State's ideal situation. This will take pressure off of Matt McGloin, allow the Nittany Lions to control the clock and play defense.

Dieffenbach will play a major hand in that. If he can control the line of scrimmage alongside Penn State's anchor, look for Penn State's offense to play better than expected.

If he can't, expect more of the same paltry production in Happy Valley.

7. Sean Stanley

Sean Stanley must generate a pass-rush from the edge for Penn State's pass defense.

Stanley had 4.5 sacks last season. That number needs to increase this year with a very inexperienced Penn State secondary playing behind him. Stanley and Pete Massaro need to pressure quarterbacks. 

The Nittany Lions will generate pressure with their linebackers, and Jordan Hill in the middle, but Stanley must do his part.

His 6'1'' stature gives him leverage on taller offensive tackles. He is capable of producing larger numbers this season with the return of Massaro.

Penn State's defense is going to be very good this season. A breakout year from Stanley could take them a step further.

6. Michael Mauti

Michael Mauti returns from a torn ACL this season, giving the Nittany Lions an added leader on a stacked defense.

He is one of Penn State's best all-around defenders. Mauti is cut from the mold of Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor and Sean Lee. Smarts, sharp instincts and sound tackling make him one a stalwart in the Nittany Lion front seven.

Gerald Hodges, Glenn Carson and Khairi Fortt are more than capable of holding their own, but Mauti brings incredible toughness and consistency.

Penn State's defense survived last season after losing Mauti against Eastern Michigan. They would this year as well, but Mauti adds a Bednarik Award candidate to the mix.

The Nittany Lion defense will need to bring their A-game each and every night if they want to compete against upper-echelon competition.

Mauti adds juice to an already explosive mixture of talent.

5. Malcolm Willis

Malcolm Willis will probably pair with Adrian Amos at the safety positions this season for the Nittany Lions. Amos played the position in high school, but this isn't high school anymore.

Willis needs to provide balance to Penn State's defense. He made two starts when Nick Sukay went down in 2011. That's two more than Amos.

Penn State's front seven is going to be good. That's set in stone.

The Nittany Lion secondary is a bit more up in the air. Willis cannot turn that around by himself, but he is has talent.

He plays well in the box because of his strength and athleticism. He seeks out the ball and tackles well.

In coverage, Willis needs to improve his instincts, but his athleticism allows him to keep up.

Penn State needs Willis to realize some of this ability. Production behind their sturdy front seven makes scoring points on the Penn State defense a frightening proposition.

4. Matt Stankiewitch

Matt Stankiewitch is the only returning starter from last year's offensive line.

That, along with being the team's center, make for a huge responsibility. Stankwiewitch must lead the Nittany Lion front line, block well both ways and remain healthy.

Penn State will rely on Stankiewitch to call out protections and make sure everyone is on the same page. He must embrace the leadership role this season.

The Nittany Lions traditionally face a lot of turnover on their offensive line. Just because it isn't foreign territory does not mean it will not be difficult. Learning a new offense, behind a new offensive line, will not be easy for Penn State's skill players.

Stankiewitch has the most experience and plays the most important position on the Nittany Lion offensive line.

That makes him extremely important for Penn State moving forward.

3. Silas Redd

Silas Redd is, without question, Penn State's most talented offensive player.

If this year is anything like last year, Redd must run well, or Penn State's offense will not budge. Redd is expected to carry his load, and then some.

Expect Redd to have another productive season. He is going to get the ball 20-25 times a game, and he could catch a few passes out of the backfield as well.

Redd's shiftiness in the open field creates much-needed excitement for the Nittany Lion offense. He is Penn State's only true home run threat.

The Nittany Lions need him to run for 1,500-plus yards and 10-plus touchdowns. Maybe Matt McGloin will take some pressure off of Redd, but I wouldn't bet on that.

Redd knows his responsibilities. He faced the same situation last season.

2. Jordan Hill

Jordan Hill must fill Devon Still's enormous shoes on the Penn State defensive line.

Hill will be relied upon to lead the run defense, disrupt the backfield and pick up a few sacks as well. He will spearhead Penn State's interior defense with his quick first step and explosive punch off the line of scrimmage.

The Nittany Lions will be an extremely talented defense again this season, but Hill needs to take another step forward. He had 40-plus tackles next to Still last year, but that number must climb.

Hill will have Da'Quan Jones playing next to him inside and taking up space. That will free up Hill to make plays rather than just take up space.

Penn State's front seven is talented, fast and versatile. Hill will need to perform to his full potential to keep the Nittany Lion run defense at an elite level.

1. Matt McGloin

Matt McGloin faces enormous pressure this season. Penn State fans are impatient, especially with his lackluster play.

Last year, McGloin threw more interceptions than touchdowns. He was less than encouraging, to say the least.

If Penn State wants to win this year, McGloin must be much better. He must learn Bill O'Brien's offense, adjust and make better decisions.

He has a mediocre arm. He must rely on short, underneath routes to open things up down the field. But he must avoid throwing into double coverage, making careless throws and missing open targets like he did last season.

The Nittany Lions have enough talent on this year's team to win nine or 10 games. McGloin will decide if they do that well, or better.

Either he does his job and Penn State's offense shows signs of life, or he underwhelms and Penn State's offense extends their stay in purgatory.