Gerald Cadogan wants to emulate Levi Brown in one very simple way.

"Just being a force to be reckoned with," he said this week.

As far as offensive linemen go, Brown was one of Penn State's best in recent history. The massive left tackle started 45 games during his four seasons and played the position well enough to be considered a first-round pick in next weekend's NFL Draft.

Cadogan, the man who has been asked to take the place of Brown on the Nittany Lions' offensive line this season, isn't frightened of the task.

The 6-foot-5 and 313-pound rising junior from Portsmouth, Ohio, plans on frightening opposing defensive ends instead, and he plans on doing it in a way similar that Brown did.

Fortunately for him, Cadogan doesn't even have to leave Penn State's practice facility to find material on Brown, a possible top-10 selection.

"In order to be like the best, you have to study the best," Cadogan said.

"I'm studying what he did on the field and in games."

Cadogan isn't totally unfamiliar to game action. He started five of the Lions' first six games at left guard last season before eventually being replaced by Robert Price.

Now at tackle, which Cadogan said is his natural position, he looks to become a constant in an offensive line unit that is still being reshuffled in practices.

In practices recently, Cadogan said that in addition to himself, the first team offensive line has consisted of rising junior Rich Ohrnberger at left guard, rising junior center A.Q. Shipley, rising senior John Shaw at right guard and rising sophomore Dennis Landolt at right tackle. But Cadogan doesn't believe that he has solidified a starting job.

"They can move somebody over," he said. "And you can be moved to second team if you fall asleep."

Shipley, who started every game at center last season, figures to be the anchor of the line again, but the coaching staff has not given Cadogan any indication that anyone's role is finalized.

"Hopefully, they have an idea of how it is, but it's a battle," Cadogan said. "Everybody's pushing everybody. I don't know when it's going to be finalized, but it's a good thing to have, so you don't get complacent."

If he does remain on the first team until fall, Cadogan will have the task of protecting rising senior quarterback Anthony Morelli's blind side. He'll also be part of a unit responsible for creating holes for rising senior running back Austin Scott to run through.

"Offensive line is looking great," Scott said this week. "They've come along well. Everyone is in their second year except for one [Landolt]."

To do his part, Cadogan has kept a simple concept in mind throughout the spring. It's almost as simple as his intentions for replacing Brown.

"My dad always tells me, it's either hit or be hit," Cadogan said. "You don't want to be on the receiving end."