When asked about the reasons for the Penn State football team's turnaround last season, the first thing any fan would mention would be the play of quarterback Zack Mills.

After that they might talk about the playmaking ability of wide receiver Bryant Johnson or the improved running game.

As is always the case, the play of the offensive line would be an afterthought, but there is no doubt the dramatic turnaround in the line's play after the four straight losses that began the season was crucial to all of the above.

With five of the six players that started on the line throughout the year back on the roster, there is reason to believe that this season's version cannot help the offense be as explosive as it was in last season's turnaround

"They're all a year stronger and wiser," offensive coordinator Fran Ganter said.

"These guys have all been through the wars now, and we've seen a big difference in them in the Spring."

Left guard Greg Ransom is the only lineman gone from last year's squad that gave up just 12 sacks in the last seven games last season after yielding 19 in the first four. Along with seniors Gus Felder, Joe Iorio and Tyler Lenda and junior Chris McKelvy, who all started each of the last nine games of last season, the Lions also get tackle Matt Schmitt, who started the first two games before being sidelined with mononucleosis. He was back in action after two weeks off. Though he didn't start the rest of last season, he is expected to make a run at a starting job this Fall. Along with Schmitt, senior center Eric Rickenbach returns after sitting out last season with a torn ACL.

He started three games in the 2000 season and was expected to challenge senior Joe Iorio for the starting position before suffering the injury in preseason drills.

"He has really pushed himself, and is a mature kid," Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said at his press conference.

Even with all that experience returning, the coaches say no player has sewn up a position in Spring practice.

Among the younger players that have also impressed in challenging for starting spots this Spring were junior Damone Jones, sophomores Nick Marmo and Scott Davis, and redshirt freshmen Tyler Reed and E.Z. Smith.

"We're trying to put the best five lineman on the field," offensive line coach Dick Anderson said. "Just because Ransom is the only starter we lost and he was a left guard doesn't mean we're looking for the best left guard. Right now I still can't say who those best five are."

The unit that improved greatly because of their cohesiveness last season hasn't had a chance to become a complete unit yet in Spring practice. Left tackle Gus Felder is out of Spring practice because in order to gain eligibility to play this Fall, he has to graduate in the Summer.

The coaches are also moving the players that are in practice around to decide who the best five lineman, so much will change between tomorrow's Blue-White game and the Central Florida matchup Aug. 31.

"We like to get as much playing experience together as possible before the season starts," Iorio said. "It's a little difficult for us to get a feel of each other right now, and that makes it tough sometimes, but there's definitely enough time between now and next year to get everything together."