Aaron Maybin can't sleep on the eve of a Penn State football game.
Usually, the sophomore defensive end is wide-awake as anticipation for the next day's contest builds. To pass the time, Maybin will confide in his friend and roommate Jerome Hayes, who suffers the same pre-game insomnia.
"We're just up talking about everything," Maybin said after Saturday's game. "About how good we want to be and things we want to get accomplished. How far we want to see this team go."
How far Penn State can go could directly depend on Maybin and a host of other reserve defensive linemen, now that Hayes has joined the growing list of defunct defenders.
This summer, defensive tackles Chris Baker and Phil Taylor were kicked off of the team. Another tackle, Devon Still broke his ankle in practice, and last week, starters Maurice Evans and Abe Koroma were suspended. Joe Paterno has not said when the two will return or if they will.
That leaves senior captain Josh Gaines and seven underclassmen. Besides Maybin, who leads the team with three sacks, the six other underclassmen have played sparingly.
The 6-foot-4, 236 pound Maybin spoke in monotone after Penn State's win over Oregon State last week. He was happy with the win, but "heartbroken" after he watched his roommate go down in the fourth quarter with a serious knee injury.
Hayes' ACL tear comes at a difficult time for Maybin and the rest of the defense, which will start the Big Ten season in just under three weeks. Maybin said he's not sure how the Lions have succeeded thus far.
"I don't think that I've ever been in a situation where as a team we've had to face so much adversity," Maybin said. "But I think that's one of the things that has been so special about this team. It seems like at some point you're like, 'Wow. We just can't catch a break.' But with every storm that we've gone through, with every hurdle that we've faced this team has found a way to bond together and continue to move forward."
After the Coastal Carolina game, Paterno said Maybin had a lot of room for improvement. The head coach said, "Maybin's got a long way to go. We've got better players than him playing right now."
The Ellicott City, Md. native must've heard Paterno.
He followed his two-sack performance against the Chanticleers with three stops and another sack against the Beavers.
On plays where he didn't register sacks, Maybin still hammered Oregon State's Lyle Moevao as the quarterback released the ball.
Sophomore defensive tackle Ollie
Ogbu said Penn State's defensive front didn't lose much speed when Maybin took over for Evans.
"I would say he's an all-around football player," Ogbu said of Maybin. "All-around pass rusher, all-around run stopper and he hits pretty hard. You can see it. The past two games we've had, he's gave the quarterback some stars sometimes. I think it's good for our team. He gives us that speed off the edge that we need. He's doing a great job."
Maybin has been characterized as a speed rusher, but said he can play anywhere on the defensive line. He might have to with the wave of injuries and dismissals.
"People can consider me whatever they want to consider me," Maybin said. "I've pretty much worked as hard as I could since I've gotten here to be the best all around player that I could be. I feel as comfortable stuffing the run as I do stuffing the pass. I really don't see that changing much."
Maybin still won't sleep before games, either.
