Sports

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - After Paul Posluszny finishes his stellar Penn State career at the Outback Bowl, the title of best linebacker at "Linebacker U." might fall to Dan Connor — if he returns to Happy Valley.

Connor brushed aside questions Thursday about turning pro, though the standout junior isn't ruling out the possibility of skipping his senior year. That decision would come after the bowl game against No. 17 Tennessee on Jan. 1, he said.

"My full focus is on the bowl game," Connor said as microphones hovered around him at the school's bowl media day. "I don't want to get sidetracked with stuff like that and not playing to my full potential in January."

Whenever Connor is ready, Posluszny might be able to offer some advice.

After a breakout 2005 regular season, Posluszny injured his right knee at the Orange Bowl and bypassed the NFL draft for his senior year. Some analysts had Posluszny pegged as a first-round pick after last season.

Posluszny had a slow start this year after getting used to a new position (inside linebacker) and a brace on his rehabilitated knee. But he was back to form by midseason, leveling bone-jarring hits on tailbacks, running quarterbacks down from behind and leading a stingy defense with 108 tackles.

The accolades soon followed. Last week, Posluszny won his second consecutive Bednarik Award as college football's best defensive player. Earlier this week, "Pos" became the first Nittany Lions linebacker to become a two-time AP All-American, quite a feat at a school that has produced greats like Greg Buttle, Shane Conlan and Jack Ham.

"It definitely had its ups and downs," Posluszny about his 2006 campaign. "Mentally it took me a little longer to get used to the game than in years past."

Connor and sophomore Sean Lee picked up much of the slack as Posluszny got up to speed.

Connor finished second in tackles with 103 and may have been the defense's most consistent player from week to week. First-year starter Lee proved to be a quick study and ranged all over the field to make plays.

"Starting off, the game was a lot faster," said Lee, who was third on the team with 83 tackles. "Then, once you get into a few games ... you start recognizing things a lot more, things settle down. Once you settle down, you play better."

Now the linebacking trio has two-plus weeks left to prepare for a potent Tennessee offense, which throws for 264 yards a game. Getting pressure on quarterback Erik Ainge, who has thrown for 19 touchdowns, is vital.

"The more we watch him on film, the more he surprises us. He makes a lot of big plays," Posluszny said. "He's a tough quarterback and their passing game is definitely something we'll have to control."

So Posluszny gets one more chance to suit up in blue-and-white and pad his lead as Penn State's all-time leading tackler (364).

It's a record that may not last for long, though. Connor is just 100 tackles behind and could assume the mantle if he returns next season.

"Next year, he'll definitely be the leader of the defense," Posluszny said.

Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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