Dan Connor News

Ohio State's national title game losses and Michigan's stunning loss to Appalachian State have helped sully the Big Ten's reputation nationwide.

But with Dan Connor in the NFL and Sean Lee out for the season with a knee injury that's exactly what Penn State has had to do this preseason.

If preseason polls are to be believed, then Penn State has the 22nd-best football team in the land.

Penn State quarterback Daryll Clark will have a large supporting cast on offense this season.

STATE COLLEGE &#8212 This was supposed to be Sean Lee's year in the spotlight. The Penn State linebacker played, and played well, in the shadow Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor the last two seasons.

Linebacker U. has some big shoes to fill this year. Dan Connor took his school-record 419 career tackles to the NFL.

Dan Connor was playing middle linebacker for the Carolina Panthers when the Eagles - after launching 52 passes in the rain Thursday night - decided to run the football.

In a crowded Eagles backfield, former Penn State star Tony Hunt races for his NFL life.

Now that Dan Connor has moved on to the NFL and Sean Lee is out for the season, Penn State is searching for a new leader among its linebackers.

Stars like Dan Connor and Justin King are now in the NFL. Standout linebacker Sean Lee is out for the season with a bum knee.

Last season: 9-4 Bowl: Defeated Texas A&M 24-17 in the Alamo Bowl Starters returning: 8 on offense, 8 on defense Key players: CB A.J. Wallace, DE Maurice Evans, TB Evan Royster, RB Stephfon Green, P Jeremy ...

Buffalo Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny arrives at camp in July. After ending his rookie season in Week Three last year, former Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny is "armed and ready" for another season , ...

The pressure is on at Penn State. The Nittany Lions kicked off preseason practice Monday, with thoughts of overturning the balance of power in the Big Ten fresh in their heads.

When preseason football practice opens tomorrow, Sean Lee won't be at his customary linebacker position.

Penn State might be known as Linebacker U, but Miami has also had its share of stars at that position.

The Carolina Panthers have signed third-round draft choice Dan Connor from Penn State and seventh-round draft choice Hilee Taylor from North Carolina, the team announced Thursday.

Ole Miss' Greg Hardy and Peria Jerry are among 75 players named to the 2008 Watch List for the 14th Chuck Bednarik Award, as announced by Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski.

With three weeks to kill lying down, slouching over a throbbing knee and no appetite, Sean Lee had ample opportunity to mope. But then he stumbled upon unexpected inspiration while watching television.

For some reason one night, Lee lingered on the channel where a minister was talking about his battle with cancer. Penn State's all-conference linebacker was struck by the minister's declaration that he wanted to be a public example of recovery.

''Maybe I was just fishing for something, or maybe I was meant to see it,'' Lee said. ''But I decided that that's how I wanted to attack this knee.''

Penn State senior wide receiver Derrick Williams and junior defensive end Maurice Evans were named to watch lists for post season awards by the Maxwell Football Club which announced candidates for the Maxwell ...

Beckum and Hill have been added to the Maxwell Award Watch Lists which is annually given to college football's most outstanding player.