There's no complacency in spring practice. That may be one of the only positives for a team working it's way out the Big Ten conference basement after a 4-7 season (2-6 Big Ten).

"That's not Penn State football the way it's supposed to be," outside linebacker Paul Posluszny said Friday, prior to afternoon practice.

Posluszny anchors a defense returning nine of 11 starters from a year ago, a defense that held all opponents to less than 21 points each game all season long.

This veteran group is still hungry.

"We have to remember that last year we were 4-7," Posluszny said. "We weren't that special."

The few new add-ons to this year's defense include some fresh faces and also some recognizable returnees, like first-team safety Chris Harrell.

If Harrell looks familiar, he should. He's the No. 27 laying out Louisiana Tech's Tramissian Davis in the still-popular Lions' "Gladiator" video, featuring the 2002 Capital One Bowl version of the Lions that is aired before all home games.

That's the hit that makes the Beaver Stadium crowd go "Ooh," every time it's played.

Harrell missed all of the 2004 season as a medical redshirt due to an neck injury, and the 2005 campaign will be his one last blast in blue and white.

"I'm 100 percent. Ever since the spring started, everything's been full go," Harrell said. "Once I had football taken away from me, just to come back, it just gave me a whole new outlook on the game and how much it meant to me."

Harrell said he has slimmed down some body fat and bulked up 10 more pounds of straight muscle.

"He's a lot bigger. He causes a presence," cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "When someone comes across the field, you're going to feel his presence.

"All he needed was that first hit, and he got it. He's gonna ball like never before."

Football family

Not only is complacency a foreign word for the Lions, but the last few losing seasons have also fostered a team-together attitude that's carried into this spring practice.

"I'm not surprised we won the last two games last year," Zemaitis said, referring to Penn State's final two games against Indiana and Michigan State. "Our team is so tight right now because of the things we've gone through."

Zemaitis tested NFL waters, but decided to stick it out for his swan song in State College -- one last year with his "boys."

Zemaitis and his Penn State brethren have also taken the new kids on the block, wide receiver Derrick Williams and cornerback Justin King, under their respective wings.

"We go against each other everyday," Zemaitis said about Williams. The two can be seen talking, joking and jostling after every route run.

"Teams are not going to know what to expect from them. It's fun to watch in spring practice," Zemaitis continued. "They are incredible athletes."

Take the easy throw

Fifth-year senior Michael Robinson is no longer the "just-tell-me-where-to-go-and-I'm-there" slash-star, he's the first-team quarterback, and that suits this team just fine.

"He's the man. He's going to lead us," Zemaitis said. "The will he has to win and the way that he sees the game with his own eyes, I feel he's better at quarterback."

Part of seeing the game with his own eyes will be finding the new receivers on the field, players like Williams who Robinson feels can do it all.

"He can turn what would otherwise be a 5-yard gain into a 60-yard gain easily," Robinson said. "It always felt like I had to throw the ball 40 yards if we needed to go 40 yards, but now I know there are other guys who can help us get there."

Instead of seeing "Cingular" or "Verizon" on his cell phone, Robinson changed the background to say "Take the easy throw" -- a reminder that he doesn't always have to do it all. He's got help this year.

"Every time I make a call it reminds me," Robinson said.