PENN STATE Johnson is prepared

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- For three years, Tony Johnson has played in the shadow of two Nittany Lions who shared his name, brother Larry Johnson and fellow wide receiver Bryant Johnson. Now, Tony is ready to take the spotlight.
As the No. 1 wideout in a fledgling Penn State offense that coach Joe Paterno figures will throw as much as 30-40 times a game, Johnson must assume the mantle of both the primary receiving target and the primary "Johnson" on offense.
"I look at it as a challenge," Johnson said. "Joe's given me a challenge to be that go-to guy. ... I'm loving that challenge right now."
The task is certainly a daunting one. First, he has to fill the cleats of Bryant Johnson, the Lions leading receiver last year with 48 catches for 917 yards, who was taken by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the NFL draft.
Poor habits
He also has to unlearn the habits that earned him a mixed reputation in past seasons. Although Tony could reel in some spectacular catches, he also had a habit of running the wrong routes -- or running the right routes poorly.
"[The coaches] kind of told me, 'You need to change some of your habits,' " Johnson said. "I think I can accomplish that."
A more bittersweet challenge for Tony Johnson is facing his first collegiate season without his older brother.
"It's different; I'm sad to see him go, but at the same time I'm glad to see him go," Johnson said. "He busted his butt for five and a half years to get to that level, and he's finally there."
The shadow cast by the graduated tailback is a formidable one. Last season, Larry Johnson was responsible for one of the greatest single-season performances in Penn State history, rushing for 2,143 yards and 20 touchdowns and adding 349 receiving yards on 41 catches.
Together, the Johnson trio accounted for more than 40 percent of Penn State's scoring last year and more than 70 percent of the team's offensive yards.
Rarely a starter
Now the onus of offensive production falls squarely on Tony Johnson, who won't have the luxury of last year's experienced offensive line.
Tony Johnson has never been a No. 1 wideout on any level before -- not at Penn State, not even in high school. But wide receivers coach Kenny Carter said Tony doesn't necessarily need to look to Bryant Johnson for an example.
Where the big and physical Bryant often was used as a possession receiver, Tony was more likely to be a deep threat.
"They're two different people," Carter said. "We've asked Tony not to do anything outside of what Tony normally does. Just be Tony."