Maurice Humphrey is a company guy.

He does what he's told by the coaching staff, even if it's something radical like switching from an offensive position to a defensive position.

He's always honest and humble about it.

On Saturday, when asked how he felt starting in place of the team's leading receiver Tony Johnson against the team's toughest opponent of the season, the redshirt freshman didn't hide anything.

"I'm not going to lie, I was real nervous," Humphrey said. "Coming in I had no idea I was going to play."

Against the Buckeyes, Humphrey had a career day.

He had seven catches for 64 yards as the Lions' leading receiver.

Before the season, nobody thought they would see Humphrey on the offensive side of the ball.

Coming out of spring practice, he was one of the most highly touted prospects heading into the regular season, only there was a twist.

At cornerback, that is.

But as the season progressed early on, Humphrey saw little action as he remained No. 2 on the depth chart behind starter Alan Zemaitis while the Penn State wide receivers struggled to haul in passes.

The coaching staff felt that the smart move would be to line up Humphrey as a wide receiver.

This would enable then to utilize his athleticism back on September 20 against Kent State.

A smart move it was.

Since then, Humphrey has established himself as arguably the Lions' top receiver.

In his rare chances, Humphrey has displaying sure hands and crafty moves on the field.

"In the beginning it was tough," Humphrey said. "I was doing a lot of defensive back things and trying to settle in at defensive back. Then they made the switch. Then I figured if that's where they need me, then that's where I'm going to play."

As far as where Humphrey will end up in the future, whether it be offense or defense, only time will tell.

However, he does have his preferences.

"If it was up to me, I'll go both ways," Humphrey said. "

I'll play a little offense and little defense. If they keep me on offense, I'll work twice as hard. If they move me to defense, I'll work twice as hard."

But like many other aspects of the Penn State football team this year, uncertainly flourishes with regards to Humphrey's future position plans.

Throughout the process of changing positions, Humphrey said Zemaitis has been one of the motivational factor for Humphrey.

Zemaitis was the player who hosted him on his recruiting visit back in 2001. Since then, the two have become very close.

At one point the two were fighting for the same position. Now they are going one-on-one every week on the practice field.

"It was kind of funny, because we were real good friends," Humphrey said.

"I'd get on him if he had a bad practice, then he's get on me if I had a bad practice. It was all fun and games. Now I'm on offense, so it's even worse now because he covers me."