Claudia Zug can never listen to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" the same ever again.

"I still can't look at that video without thinking of Graham," Zug's mother said about the song featured in a Penn State football pregame video. "He's never stopped believing that he could work hard and be an important member of that team."

Zug, a junior wide receiver, has seen his playing time increase each season as a Nittany Lion. He arrived for his freshman season in 2006 and redshirted before he had one catch for eight yards in 2007 and then 174 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Now he's one of quarterback Daryll Clark's top targets, as he has 12 catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns in just three games this year.

Clark called Zug "a diamond in the rough" after the Syracuse game this season. Zug had career-highs with six catches and 79 yards and added a touchdown that day.

"I am very impressed with him, but I knew he had that type of game," Clark said after the win. "I have been telling everyone about him a lot."

The fans appear to be impressed by the receiver as well. Zug is honored on two student-made signs that hang over the wall at the base of the student section: "Zug's Thugs" and "Zuggernaut," with the latter sharing the same name as a DC Comics villain.

The receiver said some of his friends started "Zug's Thugs" his freshman year. Now the caretakers of the sign include his girlfriend. As for the other sign, Zug hopes to get in touch with its creators.

But all this almost didn't happen.

Connecticut and Delaware also showed interest in Zug before he committed, as the receiver could join Penn State only if he went as a preferred walk-on. In other words, Zug would have to earn a scholarship later.

Zug's father, David, said just a few days before signing day it seemed Zug would suit up for the Blue Hens. It was so close to a done deal that Zug's father said the family was about to buy hats.

Zug said he was offered a scholarship and was even shown where his locker would be, with a jersey and helmet all his if he wanted it. His locker would also have been right next to his former teammate at Manheim Central High School, Jarryd Moyer. Moyer's last season at Manheim Central was 2003.

But that night, a phone call changed everything.

"I was a night away," Zug said. "If not for a call from Penn State, I was probably going to Delaware."

Although Zug's father thought it was too little, too late because the impending signing day and his son going on visits, assistant coach and offensive tackles/tight ends coach Bill Kenney told him he'd make it for Zug's basketball game the next night, which was a Friday. Zug told Delaware about Penn State's call and it extended his time to accept the offer.

However, with the opportunity at hand, Zug made his impression to coach Kenney. But it came with a little twist, as it was a showcase in a different sport.

In this instance, he made a statement with a slam.

"He threw one down with both arms," Zug's father said. "I looked at Claudia, 'Wow that was good.' After the game, coach came over and talked with Graham for 20 minutes to half an hour."

For Zug, the night turned out perfectly. The receiver finally got what he had been dreaming of, but he first had to talk it over with his parents.

When Zug met with them after the meeting, he simply said that he heard everything he wanted to here.

"I didn't know if that meant positive or negative," Zug's father said with a laugh. "Then he said, 'I'm going.' That's it. 'Then you're done.' It was just a relief."

But what was his parents' initial response?

"They said I'd be crazy not to accept," Zug recalled.

Zug's commitment to Penn State came after he notched 78 catches for 1,282 yards and 20 touchdowns as a senior for Manheim Central. Showing his versatility, Zug also intercepted nine passes and took punting duties for the Barons. Manheim Central reached the PIAA Class AAA Semifinals, where it lost to Pottsville, 14-9.

Although he posted impressive stats his senior year, Zug didn't think much about his success -- at least not until he compared his numbers with those of his Penn State teammates.

"I knew I was leading the state in the majority of the categories," Zug said. "But there was still room where I could get better. Now that I'm here and talked with some of the other receivers, it's amazing I was able to get the ball like I did."

And it seems Zug has made his mark on football.

The time his mother first realized how important the sport was to her son was when she noticed how he would look at different teams and the patterns wide receivers would run. She said he'd like some of them but admitted others drew criticism. At this point, it became clear to her that he was a student of the game.

Plus, as Zug's junior season continues, he continues a recent legacy of his family's ties to Penn State.

His sister, Daneen, plays for the Penn State field hockey team and his older brother, David, played in the Blue Band.

While Zug's parents go to all the games, the family often went when the three children were growing up.

Even though Zug doesn't remember the specifics of his first Penn State football game, there are memories encased for easy access.

"I have a picture in my room of me and my brother," Zug said. "We were just little kids standing at the railing of the south end zone, just enjoying the moment."

Zug's father said his son's first Penn State football game was when Zug was 5 or 6. One time, his older son, David, said he wanted to be in the Blue Band when he saw it march onto Beaver Stadium.

The younger brother responded with his own desire to march on Beaver Stadium's grass, although his dream was connected to the football team.

No matter, as both desires came true.

"I've learned not to underestimate their abilities and dreams," Zug's father said.

Still, the receiver has come a long way since sitting in the bleachers with his family and contemplating his future.

"I remember his first year, how excited we were just to see him run through the tunnel. I'm a very emotional person, so I remember my eyes were filled with tears just seeing him run out with a jersey on," Zug's mother said. "Each step has been different. It's been a wonderful experience with every new step in football."