There are two choices.

Believe the preseason magazines and pundits: Jimmy Kennedy is an All-American.

Believe the statistics: Jimmy Kennedy doesn't do much on the field.

And then there is the undeniable: Jimmy Kennedy loves to talk.

"I know I got my job done," he said after the loss to Iowa, a day that saw him make one solo tackle.

On the season, he's got 13 total tackles, eight of them solo. He hasn't broken through the line for a tackle for loss yet. Nor does he have a sack. He hasn't forced a fumble yet, either.

At times, he is invisible. Penn State faced a good running back in Fred Russell and failed to stop him from running up the middle. Against passing quarterbacks, Kennedy has rarely caused pressure.

Kennedy does get double-teamed now and again. But it's not like he is constantly fighting multiple blocks.

The bottom line is that the Nittany Lions expected more from him, a fact he has yet to acknowledge or perhaps, even realize.

After the Iowa game, he said he thought Penn State coach Joe Paterno should stop "running it," referring to his mouth. Paterno has stated numerous times that he is not sure if a leader has emerged.

"It's making some of the guys mad," Kennedy said. "We know who the leaders are."

Kennedy claimed to know who the leaders were back in July, before practice had even started.

Paterno prefers leaders who perform on a consistent basis. As much as Paterno awards seniority, it seems that his view of leadership is not based on how long you've been around.

"I think we have a lot of leaders," Paterno said. "I'm not going to single one out above the other."

But Kennedy has been the loudest of the bunch. He has challenged his team to play with "a passion" all year.

Certainly, Kennedy's down year cannot be attributed solely to some sort of mental lapse. The 6-foot-5, 316-pounder stayed at Penn State instead of entering the NFL draft, where he would have been a low-round pick. The motivation should be there.

"I'm still focused on winning with this team," he said last Saturday. "This doesn't change anything. We'll be alright."

During the offseason, Kennedy shed 22 pounds, a fact that worried Paterno, who thought it would make him a less-effective run stopper. Kennedy said it would make him faster.

The debate may still be raging. Kennedy has show quickness in chasing escaping quarterbacks. He has also been pushed around just enough that he can't get to the hole in time to meet the running back.

If ever there was such a thing as a "statement game," tomorrow could be it for Jimmy Kennedy. The basis of every good Wisconsin team is an offensive line made of guys who uproot trees. But this season's group has some inexperience.

Badgers tailback Anthony Davis was considered the best back in the conference before Maurice Clarett arrived at Ohio State. At the very least, Davis is an upgraded version of Russell.

Much of the responsibility will fall on Kennedy.

Choose to believe the stats and maybe you believe Kennedy is a bust.

Choose to believe the prognosticators and NFL scouts, and maybe you believe Kennedy still has promise.

Or, choose to believe the man himself: "I'll do my job the rest of the year, I know that much."