He was asked if he put too much pressure on himself, if at times last season he pressed too hard.

He said he was fine.

Rising junior wide receiver Derrick Williams speaks with a supremely confident candor, and he insisted such swagger is necessary for great receivers. And a great receiver is exactly what he strives to be.

"When you're great, you're going to put high expectations on yourself," he said. "Every receiver wants to dominate games. I really don't like when people say I put too much pressure on myself, because I think they have no clue about what receivers do."

Some of his teammates noticed a change in Williams since the fall. They said he's more agile, even a little faster. But they're missing what may be more important: Williams said he's more mature now. The older, wiser Williams, is looking forward to the 2007 season.

Given how he speaks about the importance of a receiver's attitude, he's put an emphasis on the mental aspect of football.

"[I'm] trying to take the role of a captain," he said.

In 2005, he and other members of the receiving trio -- rising juniors Jordan Norwood and Deon Butler -- startled the nation's consciousness with a breakout year. But in 2006, the group slowed a bit.

"Derrick made mistakes, but I think [the receivers] have overcome those mistakes," said Dwight Williams, his father. "[He] may have dropped a pass, ran a wrong pattern. Just normal things that someone will do, not at college level, but professional level."

Elements of Williams' maturity came through in drips earlier this week when he spoke to reporters, who asked him if he under-performed last season. He said he's not disappointed.

After all, he reasoned, he did help Penn State make a successful trip to the Outback Bowl.

"I'm pretty satisfied. There wasn't too much more I could do," he said. "I tried my hardest. As long as I give my best effort, I'm gonna be pretty satisfied with myself."

A lot of Williams' growth stems from his relationship with the coaching staff, Dwight Williams said. He also said Penn State coach Joe Paterno is like a father figure to Derrick. He said Derrick is part of a big family at Penn State.

Additionally, Williams said the entire receiving corps has developed.

"All of us are maturing," Williams said. "We watch film more; we know when the ball should come to us by watching film. We go back and we can communicate with Anthony [Morelli] when we we're running routes."

Tomorrow will be the first glimpse at Williams and Co. as elder statesmen.

"They may make some [mistakes], because we're all human," Dwight Williams said, "but I think that all the kids have gained a lot of experience, and I'm really looking forward to this season."