Rich Reichart, head coach at St. Anthony's High School on Long Island, thinks about the best running back he's ever had and says he only got 15-20 touches per game.

Three years after the tailback's final prep game, he doesn't average 15 touches per season.

That feature back, Dix Hills, N.Y. native Matt Hahn, took a bit of a backseat when he came to Penn State before the 2004 season and was moved to fullback, seeing the ball on offense a total of 29 times in nearly three seasons as a Nittany Lion.

As a senior in 2003 at St. Anthony's, a perennial powerhouse, the New York Daily News selected Hahn player of the year after leading his squad to a third consecutive league title.

But unlike most highly touted seniors, Hahn didn't spend his final high school season grappling with the decision of where to attend college. Instead, wanting to concentrate primarily on winning that third title, Hahn committed to Penn State in February of his junior year, nearly a full year before national letter of intent day.

Safeties coach Brian Norwood, responsible for recruiting Hahn's region, made a solid pitch, and got the tailback to visit Penn State fairly early in the process.

"Penn State was very aggressive, and when we went up and met the coaches and saw the facilities, Matt was very receptive," his father, Kevin Hahn Sr., said. "It was coming off of the Larry Johnson year, so it seemed like a good place for a running back to play."

Like almost every other school that went after Hahn -- which included Georgia Tech, Boston College and Maryland -- Penn State was looking at him as a tailback.

A week before his freshman season kicked off, Hahn was moved to fullback because the coaches were looking for depth and playmaking ability at that position.

"There was never any talk about him playing fullback," Hahn Sr. recalled of the recruiting process. "Every school was looking at him as a tailback because he scored 76 touchdowns in high school and was a big playmaker."

Far from being distraught over the position change, Hahn was actually rather pleased that he wouldn't redshirt behind a bevy of tailbacks.

Reichart wasn't all that surprised, though, saying Hahn "was more of a fullback" in St. Anthony's singleback offense, and was always willing to put the team first.

He saw his first action four games into the season at Minnesota, and proved a serviceable backup to starting fullback Paul Jefferson.

Getting acclimated to blocking was a difficult part of the transition, but overall, Hahn wound up feeling comfortable at fullback.

"A lot of it is how you attack it and knowing your assignments and leverage, and also how you prepare," Hahn said.

In the spring between his freshman and sophomore years, the coaches used him at both tailback and fullback, and left Hahn with the impression that he'd see time at the former in 2005.

Then, once again, a week before the season the backfield vagabond was informed by coaches that they still needed depth at fullback.

"He was disappointed because with last year's offense, the use of the fullback was going to change," Hahn Sr. said of his son.

The change was not for the better, as Michael Robinson's athletic ability reduced the need for a fulltime fullback -- bad news for Hahn, who wasn't even the starter.

Hahn backed up BranDon Snow, but came to accept his role as fullback coming into 2006 and put on some extra weight. Still, he has a great deal of agility for a fullback.

"He's not the heaviest fullback, so that makes him very versatile," Deon Butler said. "He's almost like an H-back, he's great for screens out of the backfield and his blocking's good."

Now he alternates by series with Snow, and scored his first offensive touchdown on a red zone reception at Minnesota earlier this season.

"I can help the team anytime I get the ball," Hahn said. "But I'm happy with my role and I'm happy with the opportunities I've been given."

With the departure of Tony Hunt and Snow after this season, Hahn will be one of the most experienced backs on the roster.

Hahn, however, won't demand more touches. He'd be content as a blocker.

"At this point, it's the same as scoring a touchdown," Hahn said. "It's my job now. It's something I've accepted. It's something I've really grown to appreciate and like doing."