The receivers will get a lot of attention in training camp. Between highly touted recruits like Dorin Dickerson, to Derek Kinder trying to step up to be the go-to guy, to Joe DelSardo earning more playing time (not to mention being used correctly as the possession, sure-handed receiver over the middle that he is), to the redshirt freshmen and true freshmen trying to get playing time on the depth chart.

“Right now, there is Derek Kinder and a lot of uncertainty,” wide receivers coach Aubrey Hill said.

“Derek and Joe DelSardo have some playing experience, but it really is wide open. Obviously, Derek is the player who has been solid throughout the whole time from last year until the spring and into the summer. But everyone else, who knows? I mean we will treat Joe DelSardo like the veteran, and he’s made some plays for us, so we will find a role for him. But, after that, it will come down to what guys make plays and good decisions.

“We have talent, I think a lot of guys with talent, just no experience and so we have a long way to go. One thing we didn’t have last year we have now with all these young guys is competition. Competition, competition, competition. So now everybody is practicing hard every day because every job is open”

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Kinder said the key for the receivers is to focus each day and improve so that they are ready to help the team early. He said the receivers have talked about not letting the team down and believes the unit is more athletic and talented than it has been the past few years despite its inexperience.

“There is no doubt these younger guys have a lot of talent, and they are all going to push each other,” Kinder said.

“We have an opportunity to become a strength, but it will take a lot of hard work. We all have to stay motivated. For me, you know, Greg [Lee] left some big shoes to fill, so that’s what pushes me, I’d like to do my best to try and make you forget about him if I can.”

Not dropping as many passes will do it for most.

I think that Dickerson will be lining up all over the place. In the backfield, as a receiver. Heck, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him lining up like a tight end at times. Hopefully Coach Wannstedt and OC Cavanaugh will get, dare I say, imaginative in utilizing him. Honestly, I have no idea right now about the rest of the receivers at the moment.

Another part of the offense that has plenty of question — tailback. LaRod Stephens-Howling isn’t going to give up being the penciled in starter without a fight. He gets some love from his hometown paper. Howling added 20 pounds to his frame so that he is now a 5′ 7″, 175 pound back.

“I feel a lot better about my weight now, and I’m able to run with it,” Stephens-Howling said. “So, I’m a lot better now, and I’m more prepared for this season. I’m ready to go.”

While Stephens-Howling had no problems fitting into his new team last season, he’ll have a former teammate on the squad this year in offensive lineman Scott Corson.

“Scott is here with me this year, and he’s a great guy,” Stephens-Howling said. “Being a Johnstown Trojan before this, I’m so proud to have a former teammate with me. And he has somebody who has been here a year, so he could come to me and ask me for help.”

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“It’s never been a problem for me to run inside, between the tackles, either,” Stephens-Howling said. “That’s what I did in high school. So, I know I can do it. Don’t forget, speed kills, and I’m ready to kill them out there.”

The advantage Howling has at the moment over the freshmen — beyond simply having a year of playing time under his belt — is being able to catch the ball out of the backfield.

On freshman running back Kevin Collier:

Kevin was okay. It’s tough as a running back when you don’t have pads on. This is a big thing with running backs coming out of a running offense. Kevin Collier last year, Conredge Collins, a lot of these guys have not had a lot of passes thrown to them. In high school, and in programs they’ve come from, they’ve had their success running the ball. Probably the biggest thing right now for Kevin won’t be his football and his run skills. It’s going to be catching the ball which is probably where we’ll need to spend a lot of time.

I think most fans have Collier already starting, but I like Howling and think he will end up at least splitting the carries this season.