STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -The standout bookends to Penn State’s linebacking corps could finally be standing on the same field.
After returning to practice this week, all signs points to team captain Sean Lee joining fellow outside linebacker Navorro Bowman when the No. 14 Nittany Lions host Minnesota on Saturday in a homecoming game at Beaver Stadium – as if Gophers coach Tim Brewster didn’t have enough to worry about with the Penn State defense.
“We’re facing a great team on the road in their house,” Brewster said. “They’ve got great defensive personnel.”
It will be a tricky test for the Gophers (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) as they embark on a two-game conference road swing that could define their season: at Penn State, then at Ohio State.
trips. Still, the enthusiastic Brewster maintains Minnesota can be successful if they keep their sights set on the Nittany Lions (5-1, 1-1).
“All the opportunities are there for us to take if we want them,” Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber said. “All we’re worried about is Penn State.”
Good thing, too, because a defense with Lee could be even more fierce.
Minnesota has allowed 15 sacks, second-worst in the Big Ten. The Gophers must do a better job of protecting Weber if he’s going to get the ball to star receiver Eric Decker, the school’s career receiving yardage leader.
Penn State leads the league in total defense (255 yards per game), run defense (82 ypg) and sacks (20) – and that’s with Lee out the last three weeks because of a sprained left knee.
Coach Joe Paterno has been cautious with his star player, mindful that Lee could have a future in the NFL. Lee already had a right knee injury that wiped out his 2008 season, though he had played well this year before his latest setback.
Paterno said Lee was making good progress this week and that the final decision will be up to the team doctor.
“If I had to make a bet, I would bet he’s going to play some Saturday,” Paterno said Thursday during his weekly radio appearance.
ntor, former Penn State linebacking great LaVar Arrington.
Lee and Bowman played together for one full series before Bowman left the season opener against Akron in the first quarter because of a sore right groin. He sat out the next two games, returning in Week 4 – the first game that Lee sat out.
Bowman can’t wait to see Lee on the field again.
“I believe we’re two great students of the game. It just makes us a better team,” Bowman said.
It also gives Penn State a better shot at containing Minnesota’s offense. The Weber-to-Decker combination rightfully draws a lot of attention, given Decker’s 24 career TD catches are third-most in school history.
Minnesota hopes its defense will help pull an upset. While the Gophers give up almost 24 points and 381 yards a game, they’re coming off a home victory last week over Purdue in which they forced three turnovers and converted two into short touchdown drives.
“It’s going to be a big-time defensive battle. I think Penn State’s got a great defense and we’re not going to be allowed to let them score a lot of points,” said Gophers linebacker Lee Campbell, second in the Big Ten with 64 tackles. “That’s going to be a big emphasis on Saturday.”
But stopping mobile quarterback Daryll Clark and tailback Evan Royster (504 yards, four TDs) figures to be a more arduous job for a Minnesota unit allowing almost 163 yards on the ground per game.
Both clubs could need their run games. Unseasonably cold weather is expected Saturday, with high temperatures forecast in the mid-30s and about 1 to 3 inches of wet snow possible.