Players to watch this season

For more information on the players below,
read our extensive preview of this fall's team.

Quarterback Rashard Casey (6-1, 202) The athletic Casey will compete for the starting job with Kevin Thompson in 1998. In 1997 he completed 2 of 6 passes for 39 yards.

Quarterback Kevin Thompson (6-5, 210) After three seasons on the bench, 1998 may be Thompson’s time to shine. Now in competition with Rashard Casey for the starting spot, Thompson completed 9 of 27 passes for 103 yards last season.

Wide receiver Chafie Fields (6-1, 197) A receiver with bountiful big-play potential, Fields caught 23 passes for 374 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Placekicker Travis Forney (5-9, 161) The successor to the much-heralded Brett Conway, Forney consistently put his kickoffs into the end zone in 1997. His longest field goal of the season was a 47-yarder against Northwestern that helped Penn State to a 30-27 win.

Fullback Aaron Harris (5-11, 237) After tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during the sixth game last season, Harris will look to rediscover the magic this season. In five outings in 1997, Harris rushed for 261 yards and two touchdowns on 42 carries. He may make the move to tailback in 1998.

Tailback Chris Eberly (5-11, 216) With the Curtis Enis shadow in Chicago, Eberly will look to emerge as Penn State’s top ball carrier in 1998. Last season, the nimble Eberly carried the ball 22 times for 145 yards a touchdown.

Tackle John Blick (6-6, 314) A starter since his freshman season in 1996, Blick will look to anchor the offensive line in 1998 as the unit’s most experienced player.

Defensive end Courtney Brown (6-5, 258) Last season Brown amassed 33 tackles, including a team-leading 15 for losses and was a second-team All-Big Ten pick by the conference coaches. This season, he will be the most experienced member of the defensive line.

Inside linebacker Brandon Short (6-3, 249) A member of many preseason All-American lists and a candidate for the Butkus Award, Short will look to direct the Penn State defense in 1998. Last season, Short logged 55 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Cornerback David Macklin (5-9, 197) Macklin impressed the Penn State coaches in 1997 and started the final five games, as he logged 34 tackles and one interception over the course of the entire season. He will be one of the secondary’s most experienced members in 1998.