UNIVERSITY PARK - Stephfon Green, Devon Smith, A.J. Wallace.
All three are guys that have the speed and vision to score at any time in the return game.
The only problem is, they're not getting enough chances - not with Evan Royster stationed as Penn State's punt returner.
With more than a few speedy guys on the team that could do just fine on the punt return, it's a wonder why Royster - who takes a decent pounding as the every-down tailback - is also called upon for return duties.
Joe Paterno says it's because Royster is the best he has and to a degree that's understandable. Green has had problems holding onto the ball in the past (think screen pass in the Rose Bowl a year ago) and Wallace has been in the dreaded Paterno "dog house."
However, at media day, JoePa said that Wallace would not even play against Akron, but Wallace was in there and made a couple of plays defensively against the Zips.
Smith, who is listed at 5-foot-7 and 153 pounds, seemed to be on the verge of squirting through the pile a couple of times Saturday but all of his touches were on kickoffs and not punts. But he's a true freshman, so it's a testament to how good he is that JoePa put him on the field at all.
The veteran coach said during his weekly press conference that Royster is back there instead of Green, among other reasons, because of Green's past fumble problems. He also said he'll look to spare some of the wear and tear on Royster by utilizing Green and Brett Carter in the backfield for a couple of carries each.
But if Paterno is willing to overlook Green's past transgressions and give him some carries, and if he's not afraid to let the inexperienced Smith return kickoffs, why not let one of them operate where they are most dangerous - the open field of a punt return?
Royster is sure-handed, which is the biggest reason he's the deep man, so barring injury, not much bad can happen with him back there.
Besides the obvious lift a special teams touchdown provides, that home run threat can change the field position, giving the "Spread HD" offense shorter fields and also help the stingy Nittany Lions' defense be even more so.
Putting untested players back there could definitely back fire, causing a huge mistake at the wrong time.
That being said, the potential reward is definitely worth the risk.
Brian Cox is a Sentinel sports reporter. Contact him at bcox@lewistownsentinel.com.
