Pink scrape marks on Sean Lee's neck stood out from his combed wet hair and his suit and tie.
Penn State's senior co-captain just finished his most complete game in more than a month, and the small cuts caused by a helmet ramming into his bare neck show he's returned to being the aggressive, every-down outside linebacker for the Nittany Lion defense.
With Lee playing regularly, he and Navorro Bowman are expected to be at full strength against Ohio State, giving the Lions their best two linebackers on the field almost every down to contain Terrelle Pryor and the Buckeyes' offense.
Wearing a black brace on his left knee, Lee recorded a team-high 12 tackles in Saturday's win at Northwestern. His knee felt better as the game went on, he said. He saw his most action since he sprained the knee on Sept. 19 against Temple.
Lee has played in three straight games, but Saturday he played more regularly out of the Lions' base defensive package, rather than in situational downs as he did the previous two weeks.
Coach Joe Paterno said Lee doesn't practice full-go during the week because Paterno knows what he can do on the field.
How much Lee plays is still his own call.
"He's anxious to play," Paterno said. "He doesn't quite do a couple things that he will do as he gets a little more confidence."
Day to remember
Offense
Daryll Clark has emerged as the leader for Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year after another fine day moving Penn State's offense through the air. He's thrown for 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns since the loss to Iowa on Sept. 26.
Defense
Jared Odrick recorded five solo tackles and a sack, blocked a field goal and took up countless blocks to help the defense shut out Northwestern in the second half.
Day to forget
Offense
Graham Zug dropped two passes and had chances to catch a couple of balls in the end zone.
Defense
Josh Hull saw his fewest snaps of the season thanks to the Wildcats' quick strike pass attack and had just three tackles. The extra defensive back in Penn State's primary defensive package Saturday replaced Hull. He also got lit up on a blind-side block by wide receiver Demetrius Fields.
Did you notice?
Academy Award-winning actor Tom Hanks in the house ... Paterno quickly moving behind the chains after a near collision on the sideline.
Extra Point
Penn State is now 7-1 on the road the last two seasons. It was 4-6 away from home between 2006-07.
"We make big plays," Lee said of the change of fortunes away from Beaver Stadium. "Our offense makes big plays in key situations, and the defense has done a good job of limiting other offenses from making big plays."
Quotable
Defensive coordinator Tom Bradley on defensive end Jack Crawford's near interception:
"I thought we had it when A.J. [Wallace], on the tip, I thought, 'Here we go. This one's going to the house.' But the other guy kind of stuck his hand in it, and then Jack tried to get his hands on it. I thought he was a basketball player."
