The FedEx Orange Bowl could have been Levi Brown's last football game for Penn State, but like linebacker Paul Posluszny, Brown will return for his senior season.

"It has been a long, hard decision," the offensive tackle said at a press conference Friday. "But after looking at all of the situations and everything, I have de-cided to declare myself eligible for another year of coaching under Joe Paterno."

Posluszny confirmed his decision to return for a fourth year and also confirmed that the injury he suffered in the fourth quarter of the Orange Bowl, partial tears of his posterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, affected his decision.

"After [the injury] occurred, it helped me make my decision a lot easier," Posluszny said. "After that happened, I just realized that the most important thing would be to come back to school."

Brown said he would have declared himself for April's NFL draft if he had been projected to be a top-10 pick.

Brown received word that he would have been selected late in the first round, the second round or the third round of the draft, he said.

Posluszny said he was told he would have been selected late in the first round or early in the second round.

"Generally, with everyone I talked to, [former Nittany Lions linebackers] Jack Ham and Shane Conlan, they said, 'If you have a chance to go in the first 15 picks, then you've got to go. That would be a mistake to pass up,' " Posluszny said. "If that was the case, it would be a different situation."

Posluszny said a visit from Lions defensive coordinator Tom Bradley to his home in Hopewell was also helpful in making his decision.

The 2005 Butkus and Bednarik awards winner used crutches topped with blue stars to walk without pressuring his injured right knee. He said his rehabilitation would continue for six to eight weeks before he can start running again.

Posluszny is in the process of filing for an insurance policy to protect against monetary losses resulting from any future injury that would affect his draft status.

He added that it would be important for him to improve his speed, strength and size to improve his status for the 2007 NFL draft.

"Before the Orange Bowl, the last time I weighed in I was 225 pounds," he said. "I started out the season around 234 pounds, and I would like to get up around 240 pounds."

Brown, who said he had not informed Paterno of his intent to return before the press conference, said he was told certain aspects of his blocking technique and pass blocking warranted improvement.

Even with Brown and Posluszny's returns, the Lions still lose seven defensive starters and six offensive starters.

Fellow linebacker Tim Shaw is the only other returning senior with starting experience on defense, and fullback BranDon Snow is the only other returning senior starter on offense.

Brown realistically admitted that next year's team would be categorized by inexperience.

"We are going to struggle a lot this year," Brown said. "We have young guys coming in, inexperienced guys. But they don't lack any talent."