Stephfon Green has been patient the past three games.
During that span, Green bided his time on the Nittany Lion sideline while Penn State's starting tailback Evan Royster has shouldered the load. In three games, Royster has carried 57 times for 230 yards and has found the endzone twice.
Although Green has carried just 16 times since Oct. 25, he could see more playing time when Michigan State brings its 73rd ranked run defense to Beaver Stadium on Saturday.
Last weekend, Joe Paterno decided it was time to speed up Green's development, and Tuesday, Paterno said he wants to get Green more work. The coach started to work Green in more last week.
Against the Hoosiers, Green ran the ball 10 times compared to Royster's 12 carries.
"When we don't run Royster this many times that's how many times I want to run Green," Paterno said Tuesday. "You'd like to be able to bring both of them along."
Despite having just three carries in both the Ohio State and Iowa games in relief of Royster, Green said he has been able to evolve his playing style this year.
A kid from the Bronx, who talks as fast as he runs, Green spoke with a noticeably softer, slower voice after his modest 30-yard effort against the Hoosiers.
What's different about the Stephfon Green Penn State fans saw at the beginning of the season and the Stephfon Green they see now?
Patience.
A burner who heats up the speed gun with 4.2 40 times, Green said he's now using his blockers to get up field as opposed to trying to bounce everything outside.
"That's something I've been told, from family members, the coaching staff, high school coaches," Green said. "Just to be a little more patient and that's what I did [Saturday] and had a little bit of success."
Green redshirted upon arrival at Penn State last season. He suffered a broken ankle during his senior year at John F. Kennedy High School.
Paterno said Green wasn't ready to play as a true freshman because of his injury, but Paterno has wanted to use Green more and more to spell Royster -- who ranks 22nd in the nation in yards per game (102.09) -- and get the redshirt freshman more experience.
The coach admitted he was afraid Green would have problems holding on to the ball in his first year of play, but that hasn't been the case. On 86 carries, Green has dropped the ball just twice. Only one of those fumbles was lost to the other team.
Senior captain A.Q. Shipley has seen a marked improvement in Green's game.
"He's now become a more complete back," Shipley said. "Being able to block in the passing game, being able to hit the hole a little quicker rather than always try to bounce it around the outside, he's running between the tackles."
Green was quick to point out that while the Spartans give up 148.5 rushing yards per game and have surrendered 14 touchdowns on the ground, the matchup with the Spartans won't be easy.
"We've gotta get a 'W' against a good Michigan State team," Green said. "They've got a tough running back in Javon Ringer. They've got a good defense. Their linebackers, secondary, everybody's good as a team."
