ORLANDO, Fla. -- Put him in street clothes, and Kyle Brady certainly looks ready for the National Football League. The 6-foot-6, 256-pound tight end stands somewhat like Paul Bunyan among an average group of citizens.

But the questions arise between the lines. Certainly, the New Cumberland native has the skills -- his bone-crunching blocks left Big Ten defenders gasping for air, and his soft hands corralled their share of clutch catches during Penn State's 10-2 season.

Yet the mind runs amok when one thinks of Brady returning for one more year in blue and white. The marrow contracts a chill when one thinks of the damage Brady's sculptured physique could wreak.

And the thoughts are certainly enticing for Brady, who caught a seven-yard touchdown pass in Penn State's 31-13 victory over Tennessee in the CompUSA Florida Citrus Bowl.

"Having the opportunity to come back and play on a team like this is going to be tempting," he said.

At times, he was overshadowed by Penn State's other offensive weapons. But Brady became a major factor in the Lion offense late in the season, finishing with 26 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns. That despite being held, shoved and pushed -- anything to keep the man down.

So he made a habit of sneaking downfield with stealth, slipping into the seams that defenders left behind. Take the Citrus Bowl, for example. Quarterback Kerry Collins looked right, and found Brady dragging left without a defender in sight. It was the same play that burned Tennessee two years ago in the 1992 Fiesta Bowl.

"It's kind of a trick play, but Kyle does it better than anybody around," Collins said, "so it was a good call."

And it gave Penn State a 24-13 lead, stunning Volunteer fans who expected their squad to cover an 11-point spread with ease.

"We knew as a team how much talent we had," Brady said. "We wanted to get some respect."

Brady finished the day with just one catch --but of course, it was a big one. Nothing new for this silent assassin.

And that's not a bad way to end a career -- if it is the end. For now, Brady is giving no hints.

"I'm going to evaluate my options, talk to a few people, and make the decision from there," he said.