PENN STATE Former walk-on fulfilling dream

Ethan Kilmer never played much football in high school.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- In high school, Ethan Kilmer was good at track and crazy about basketball, but didn't play much football.
"I had hoop dreams. I wanted to be a basketball player," Kilmer recalls fondly.
Today, the former walk-on is making big plays on offense and special teams at No. 11 Penn State. He transferred there two years ago from Shippensburg, where he didn't even play football.
"I am definitely very grateful for the opportunity to be here," the wide receiver said. "I still have to pinch myself every once in a while."
Scored last week
Kilmer scored Penn State's first touchdown in last week's rout of Illinois with a 35-yard scoring strike from Michael Robinson. Aided by his speed and size, the 6-foot, 203-pound Kilmer is also one of Penn State's best cover guys on special teams.
"He is a heck of an athlete," coach Joe Paterno said. "He walked on. I saw him out there one day running around and I said, 'Who is that kid?"'
While at Wyalusing High School, Kilmer excelled at the high jump and was a four-year starter in basketball. Kilmer said he played football his freshman year, but left the sport after that because he thought that he was undersized for the gridiron.
A transfer
He went on to attend Shippensburg but transferred in 2003 to Penn State because he wanted to pursue a degree in kinesiology and eventually become a personal trainer. He also grew intrigued again by football.
"As I got older in college, I started working out more," Kilmer said. "I wanted to give it another shot. I felt like I was premature in giving it up."
So he tried out and made Paterno's team as a walk-on and played mainly special teams and safety last year. Kilmer was moved to wideout during spring practice earlier this year as Paterno searched for speed and fresh bodies for the offense.
"Being a walk-on, it starts out that you have to earn your keep a little bit. No one knows who you are. You are not a big time recruit," Kilmer said. "But if you make some plays and people start to know you and respect you, it gets better."
That is exactly what happened this season.
"He's one of those guys who is a phenomenal athlete. On paper you'd think he was a first-rounder," said Robinson, who guessed that Kilmer could dash 40 yards in 4.4 seconds.
Now on scholarship
Kilmer, a senior who is now on scholarship, can often be found speeding down the field and making tackles on punts and kickoffs; he has 11 tackles on the season, and he's not even listed on defense.
"He makes you say, 'Whoa!"' said linebacker Tim Shaw, who is also known for his athleticism.
Kilmer might see more time on offense the rest of year since freshman sensation Derrick Williams is out for the season with a broken left arm.
Last year, Kilmer was on the verge of giving up football again.
"I called him up and said, 'What do you want to give this up for?' I talked him into staying in football," Paterno said. "That is a really good story about a kid."
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