No Maurice Evans?

No problem.

For the third straight week, sophomore defensive end Aaron Maybin played in place of the suspended Evans, Penn State's sacks leader from last season.

Through four games, Maybin is on pace to have a better statistical season than Evans, who finished third in the Big Ten last year with 12.5 sacks.

Maybin leads Penn State with six sacks and seven tackles for losses. In four games last season, Evans had three sacks.

On Saturday against Temple, it didn't take Maybin long to make his presence known.

On the fifth play of the game, Temple quarterback Adam DiMichele dropped back to pass on third down. Maybin burned the Owls' left tackle and burried DiMichele for a loss of 10 yards. DiMichele was injured on the play and did not return to the game.

"We wanted to come out and establish the fact that our defense was going to play dominant the whole game and we wanted to definitely come out and send a message," Maybin said. "It's unfortunate that he went down the way he did, but I think that it was a good play for our defense because it gave us a lot of confidence."

DiMichele's backup, Chester Stewart felt Maybin's wrath almost immediately.

Starting from his own two yard line, Stewart completed an 11-yard pass to Bruce Francis for a first down, but Maybin quickly ended any of Temple's momentum when he streaked around the left side of Temple's offensive line and pulled Stewart down for a loss of seven yards.

Temple's offensive tackles, redshirt junior Devin Tyler and redshirt senior Jabari Ferguson could not stop Maybin, who alternated sides with Penn State co-captain Josh Gaines for most of the day.

Tyler is listed at 6-foot-7, 285 pounds and Ferguson stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 300 pounds. But despite their considerable size advantages over the 6-foot-4, 236-pound Maybin, neither lineman could contend with the defensive end's speed.

"He's a good player, he's done that to a lot of people," Temple coach Al Golden said of Maybin. "He's certainly more mature than he was a year ago. I think he's got a toolbox now. I think last year he kind of could beat people with speed. I think he actually has some moves that he's added to his repetoir that make him a more complete player. I think they're probably pleased with his development. But we didn't do a good job blocking him."

In the offseason, Maybin increased the amount of weight he lifted and said he always ran and took part in different speed drills to make himself faster. His offseason workouts have paid off.

When he wasn't sacking or tackling Owls on Saturday, Maybin was constantly beating their tackles with spin moves and bull rushes. When he got pressure up the middle, Maybin forced Temple runners to the outside to the waiting arms of Penn State's linebackers. If he didn't get to the quarterback in time for a sack, Maybin's presence forced Stewart to throw the ball when the quarterback wasn't ready.

Middle linebacker Josh Hull said he's noticed Maybin's improvements. Last season, he was just a pass rusher. Now, Hull said, Maybin can stop the run as well.

Maybin made five tackles against the Owls -- three for losses.

"I'm a lot bigger, faster, stronger than I was at this point last year," Maybin said. "My knowledge of the game is a lot more thorough. I've put in a lot of work during the offseason, trying to make myself a better all around player as far as stopping the run, and being able to get my run/pass recognition a lot better."

Maybin has made a case for Penn State coaches to consider: if and when Evans does return to the lineup, has Maybin earned the starting spot?

Lion defensive tackle, Jared Odrick said he thinks so.

Odrick, who has started in place of Abe Koroma, who is suspended for the same reason as Evans, said Maybin is the fastest end he's ever played beside.

"[Maybin's] really brought a lot of enthusiasm," Odrick said. "Playing-wise, just a lot of speed off the edge. When we first got here as freshmen, that was his thing, that was his forte, speed off the edge. He's really stepped into that role."