It appears that Susquehannock High School graduate Chaz Powell will be in the starting lineup on Saturday afternoon when Penn State opens up its 2011 football season.
In the final preseason depth chart, which was released on Monday, Powell is listed as the starting right cornerback ahead of junior Stephon Morris.
Powell, a fifth-year senior, has bounced back and forth from offense to defense since his arrival at Penn State, including a season as a starting wideout in 2009.
Another York County product, redshirt freshman Kyle Baublitz from Central York, is listed as the second-team left defensive end behind fifth-year senior Eric Latimore.
The other former York County standout on the PSU roster — Dallastown graduate Ben Kline — is not listed on the depth chart. Kline is a true freshman linebacker.
The depth chart provided no clues about who the Nittany Lions’ starting quarterback will be. Sophomore Rob Bolden and junior Matt McGloin, who each started at times a season ago, are battling for the position. Right now, the depth chart lists the word “OR” between Bolden and McGloin, meaning they’re in a dead heat for the job.
Last year, PSU head coach Joe Paterno didn’t announce his starting QB until the Wednesday before the season opener, when he named Bolden the starter. Bolden lost the job to McGloin in midseason after suffering a concussion.
Paterno will hold a news conference on Tuesday, but it’s uncertain if he’ll name a starting QB.
Otherwise, there were relatively few surprises on the depth chart.
The starting wideouts are listed as senior Derek Moye, junior Justin Brown and sophomore Shawney Kersey. Right now, speedy but small Devon Smith, who had 27 catches last year as a sophomore, is listed as a backup.
Smith is listed as a starter as both a kickoff and punt returner. Powell is expected to join him as a kickoff returner, while Brown is expected to join him on punt returns.
Sophomore Silas Redd is set to start at tailback. Senior Stephfon Green, who was just reinstated to the team last week after being suspended for unknown reasons, is not listed on the depth chart.
The fullback position is listed as a dead heat between senior Joe Suhey and junior Michael Zordich, as is the right guard spot between sophomore John Urschel and senior Johnnie Troutman. The other offensive line starters are senior left tackle Quinn Barham, senior left guard DeOn’tae Pannell, junior center Matt Stankiewitch and senior right tackle Chima Okoli.
Senior Andrew Szczerba, who missed last season with a back injury, is expected to start at tight end.
The defensive line starters are Latimore, junior left tackle Jordan Hill, senior right tackle Devon Still and senior right end Jack Crawford.
The outside linebackers are expected to be junior Gerald Hodges and junior Michael Mauti. Sophomore Glenn Carson should start at middle linebacker.
Powell and senior D’Anton Lynn should get the call at cornerback, while senior Nick Sukay and senior Drew Astorino are listed as the first-team safeties.
One of the bigger surprises came at kicker, where junior wideout Evan Lewis — a Gettysburg High grad — was listed as No. 1 ahead of Anthony Fera. Lewis kicked in high school and at last spring’s Blue-White Game. Lewis was also a quarterback in high school and imitated Denard Robinson during preparations for last year’s Michigan game.
Fera pleaded guilty to a pair of summary alcohol offenses during the summer. He is also the second-team punter, behind sophomore Alex Butterworth.
— Reach Steve Heiser at sheiser@yorkdispatch.com or at 854-1575, ext. 455.