The 2008 edition of Penn State football will be Joe Paterno's 43rd squad as head coach of the Nittany Lions. He was optimistic about the team's prospects for the season. "We've got a good young squad," Paterno said. "We'll be better than people think."

Redshirt freshman running back Stephfon Green wowed teammates and coaches in practices last season and showed fans a glimpse of his impressive speed with a touchdown run in April's Blue-White Game. Green and sophomore Evan Royster expect to compete for the starting tailback position, but Green said all the Lion running backs are good friends. "We've got a tight relationship," Green said. "The running backs stick together. When one of us is down, we help each other up. We don't look at the number one guy like we hate them. We're together."

Quarterbacks Daryll Clark (left) and Pat Devlin (right) may both see time behind center throughout the 2008 season. "I think they've both done well," Paterno said of the signal callers. "And everyone keeps pushing [senior quarterback Paul] Cianciolo to the side, but I don't. The quarterbacks are obviously comfortable with the three kids [wide receivers Norwood, Butler and Williams] who have been around. The nice thing about it is the wideouts have helped the quarterbacks, helped coach them. I think we've made some progress but we've got a long way to go."

Punter Jeremy Boone talks with reporters at Media Day. Boone, a former walk-on, was selected first-team All-Big Ten following last season when he averaged 43 yards per boot. Boone was also an Academic All-American.

Quarterback Daryll Clark was surrounded by reporters early and often at 2008 Football Media Day. Clark, sophomore Pat Devlin and senior Paul Cianciolo are all competing for the quarterback position.

Redshirt sophomore Evan Royster will likely see significant time at tailback this fall after an impressive 2007 campaign that saw him gain 513 yards on the ground, on a stellar 6.3 yards per carry, in backing up 1,000-yard rusher Rodney Kinlaw. With Kinlaw now in the NFL, Royster would figure to be the main ball-carrier, but he said he is excited about the depth Penn State has at the position. "Stephfon's [Green] got some explosion out there. He can get the corner and go the whole field and I doubt anybody's going to catch him," Royster said. "I see myself as a back that can pound it out for seven or eight yards every time. If you give me an open crack maybe I can break it for 30, 40 yards. I think we're a little underestimated in the Big Ten. We've got a great set of backs -- me, Brent [Carter], Stephon, Joe Suhey. We've got a lot of depth."

Members of the football team got in on the interviewing act at Media Day, as senior fullback Dan Lawlor turned reporter and grilled a few of his teammates.

Cornerback Lydell Sergeant talks to a reporter about how the Penn State secondary is shaping up for 2008.

Standout linebacker Sean Lee was expected to be the leader of the Penn State defense in 2008, but an ACL tear in the spring will sideline him for the season. He'll return to the field in 2009, but was still elected a captain for this year's squad. Paterno included him on the 105-man practice roster because of his leadership and mentoring abilities. "We've included Lee even though he can't work because I wanted him around the team," Paterno said.

Offensive coordinator Galen Hall (center) talks with linebackers coach Ron Vanderlinden (right) and Penn State athletics historian Lou Prato (left) during 2008 Football Media Day on the football practice field.