Penn State Football: 10 Presents the Nittany Lions Hope to Find Under the Tree

The Penn State Nittany Lions have had their ups and downs this season.

Penn State boasted a great defense but failed to muster up a respectable offense for much of the season. Despite their offensive woes the Nittany Lions snagged nine victories.

On top of their miserable offense, Penn State had to deal with scandal and the firing of their legendary coach Joe Paterno. This has certainly been an interesting season in Happy Valley.

Heading into the holiday season, Penn State probably has some things they wish they had.

Whether it be realistic or not, here are 10 gifts the Nittany Lions hope to find under their tree:

Stick 'Um for Justin Brown

Justin Brown has the makeup to be an impact wide receiver for Penn State.

However, quarterback woes and inconsistent hands seem to be holding Brown back.

Sure, it is mostly the Penn State quarterback situation but time and time again Brown seemed to struggle with catchable passes thrown his way.

Brown has the body at 6'3'' to replace Derek Moye next season, but if he wants to be a legitimate primary target he will need to hold onto the easy passes.

Catching a few tough passes wouldn't hurt either.

Healthy Knees for Michael Mauti

Michael Mauti has missed most of the last two seasons with ACL injuries.

Mauti is arguably Penn State's most talented defensive player—when he is healthy.

The Nittany Lion defense did a wonderful job of managing the loss of Mauti this season. However, his presence on the field adds a major playmaker back into the Penn State fold.

He is a sure tackler and possesses great instincts when it comes to reading and diagnosing plays.

Penn State faithful hope to see Mauti back on the field next season, for the entire season.

A Proven Head Coach

The 2012 college football season will be the first full season without Joe Paterno on the Penn State sidelines.

Penn State would like to see another proven name roaming their sidelines in his absence.

The Nittany Lion football tradition is rich and proud. They must nail down a reputable name if they wish to keep things that way.

Penn State has reportedly spoken to Bo Pelini, Brian Norwood and Tom Clements. Larry Johnson and Tom Bradley are also being considered for the job.

No matter how you cut it, Penn State needs to find a coach sooner rather than later. Time is certainly of the essence.

A Quarterback

Penn State has needed a quarterback since Kerry Collins graduated in 1997.

Heading into 2012, that situation doesn't appear to be changing.

Matt McGloin will, more than likely, enter the season as the starter. Given his less-than-exciting numbers, that isn't necessarily a good thing.

McGloin is a former walk-on known for his small stature and erratic decision making. Unless that changes, Penn State's offense could be in for another long season.

Before next season starts McGloin hopes to get a chance to prove his value in the Ticketcity Bowl against Houston. That's if he is healthy after suffering a seizure during a scrap with wide receiver Curtis Drake.

Another Year of Eligibility for Devon Still

Devon Still was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was also a finalist for the Bednarik Award.

Sadly, Still is a senior.

He racked up 44 tackles this season, 14.5 of which were for a loss. Still also had 4.5 sacks.

Still was the biggest impact player on a stellar Nittany Lion defense. He and Jordan Hill wreaked havoc on the interior line of opposing offenses. Their ability to penetrate the interior of opposing offensive lines was a major contributor to Penn State's stout defensive numbers.

Losing his explosiveness and ability to eat up blocks will be a detriment to the Penn State defense next season.

Gerald Hodges' Clone

Gerald Hodges had a breakout year with the loss of fellow linebacker Michael Mauti to injury.

Hodges tallied 88 tackles, over four sacks and an interception.

His speed and agility in the open field make him a threat to make a play anywhere. He is a sure tackler and proved that as the season rolled along.

Hodges is only a junior. He will enter his senior season with big expectations both as a player, and a leader.

If Mauti can stay healthy next season, he and Hodges should form a dynamic duo at "Linebacker U."

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Letters of Intent

The scandal surrounding Penn State and the pending coaching situation could have recruits on the fence heading into the offseason.

In college football, nothing is more vital than a team's recruiting haul.

If the Nittany Lions cannot keep their recruits committed, it will hurt their team in the future.

Penn State has a few noteworthy recruits they must hold onto. Eugene Lewis could see the field early on next season. Armani Reeves could also vie for time in the secondary.

Heralded recruit Tommy Schutt has already moved on to Ohio State followed shortly by blue-chip recruit Noah Spence. Losing these two recruits deals a major blow to morale this offseason.

If Penn State cannot lock down this year's class it could set a few somber years in motion.

Happiness in Happy Valley

Penn State's No. 1 wish would be happiness. That's not something a sports team normally needs, but Penn State is an obvious exception this season.

The sexual abuse allegations surrounding former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and the subsequent firing of Joe Paterno has put a troubling spin on an otherwise successful season.

Despite any shortcomings among Penn State coaches or administrators, the Penn State players shouldn't have to shoulder that load.

They didn't ask for it, nor did they contribute to it.

Penn State will not be the same until the dust settles...if it ever does.

For right now, Nittany Lion players and current coaches would love to see happiness amidst the haze in Happy Valley.

Health for Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno refractured his pelvis, and began chemotherapy treatments, in what seemed like moments after he left the Penn State sidelines.

Simply, Penn State faithful would like to see Paterno given good health this holiday season.

Regardless of the current situation surrounding Penn State, Paterno is a coaching legend. His achievements are unrivaled, and he led the Penn State program with integrity.

Paterno has fallen on tough times in the last few months.

Hopefully things can start looking up for the sports icon.

Team Unity

Matt McGloin and Curtis Drake got into an altercation in practice last week.

The circumstances don't necessarily matter. Either way, the Nittany Lions must find a way to come together in these final weeks.

Penn State is hoping to find some love for each other under their tree this holiday season. Amid all of the scandal, Nittany Lion players need to come together and rise above it.

The Nittany Lions do not need any more distractions heading into their bowl matchup against Houston. Let's hope this situation is totally resolved, and McGloin is healthy come Ticketcity time.