Penn State Football 2011: Stephfon Green Likely Done, Where do Lions Turn?

According to ESPN.com, Penn State Nittany Lions running back Stephfon Green has probably played his last game in a Penn State uniform.

Green has not practiced with the team during preseason workouts due to disciplinary reasons. Currently he is not listed on the Penn State roster.

Heading into this season, Green was set to backup sophomore Silas Redd in the backfield. Even though Green saw the field in a secondary role his entire career, he is an electrifying presence when given the chance.

Green has run for over 1,000 yards on 224 attempts in his three-year career. He has also scored eight touchdowns during that span despite battling injuries and fumble issues.

The loss of Green does not put a dent in the starting lineup for Joe Paterno, but it does give the Nittany Lions one less playmaker on an offense looking to have a bounce-back year in 2011. Green's departure also means someone else will need to shoulder some of the load on the ground.

The leading candidate to replace Green as Redd's backup is senior Brandon Beachum. Beachum missed all of last season with a knee injury, but he does have 52 carries and two touchdowns previously in his career.

Beachum may not be the open-field playmaker Green can be, but he provides a bruising north-south runner compared to Redd's shifty running style.

Another possible candidate could be sophomore Curtis Dukes. Dukes is a massive presence in the backfield, and if Beachum's knee is an issue he could get a shot in goal-line situations.

All in all, the Nittany Lions offense will feel the loss of Green in their offense. He provided excitement and a home run threat every time he stepped onto the field.

If Redd has the sophomore season most college football fans are expecting, this should not be a problem. However, if Redd cannot break big plays for Paterno, the Nittany Lions will struggle for dangerous options out of the backfield.