It's not usual for freshmen to get the opportunity to start, but rather the player who has paid his dues in the program.

It's the Penn State football way. But it's starting to change.

David Costlow, a fifth-year senior center, fits into the Penn State mold of waiting your turn. Costlow has spent the previous three years in the shadow of center Joe Iorio, and with Iorio graduating, he finally has his chance.

He said that he is going to do everything in his ability to make sure that he starts.

Costlow said that the past few seasons on the bench have not been easy for him.

"It's definitely been tough," Costlow said. "You come here and you want to play as soon as possible. Every year you try to prepare yourself and put yourself in a position to play. Things didn't work out the way I wanted to. But you can't get discouraged."

Unlike Costlow, safety Calvin Lowry graduated a semester earlier from high school in order to get to Penn State last spring.

As a true freshman, Lowry started in two games before suffering a season-ending injury, when he broke his right tibia in the Big Ten opener against Iowa.

Lowry said that he's back to 100 percent.

"I'm moving around and doing a mix of everything," Lowry said. "I've been practicing and battling with everyone."

Lowry started against both Nebraska and Louisiana Tech at Hero, and in the first four games he had 14 tackles -- six were solo -- and broke up one pass.

He was the only true freshman to start for Penn State last season on either side of the ball.

There have been questions about Lowry possibly moving to cornerback with the return of Yaacov Yisrael to the secondary, but Lowry said that he has not practiced at cornerback in spring practice, but at both safety positions.

"It's positive because [the safeties] have been battling with one another," Lowry said. "We're making one another and the defense better."

Lowry's two career starts are two more than Costlow has. Costlow said that he has learned a lot from his time behind Iorio.

"Joe exhibited a great attitude and great leadership in the huddle," Costlow said. "His work ethic on the field, he left everything on the field, it's a great characteristic to have."

Penn State football coach Joe Paterno said that Costlow is not one of the offensive linemen he needs to challenge in practice. Costlow said he is becoming more and more comfortable with both quarterbacks.

"I have a good connection with both Zack [Mills] and Mike [Robinson]," Costlow said. "I'm gaining confidence as the year goes on."

Costlow might follow the Penn State model of waiting his turn but, like players at most other programs in the country, Lowry is breaking that mold.