Penn State’s O line to be tested at Iowa

Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa.

Iowa isn’t an ideal place for an opponent to break in a new starter on the offensive line.

But No. 22 Penn State doesn’t have a choice for its Big Ten opener Saturday night at Kinnick Stadium. Right tackle Lou Eliades is out for the year with a right knee injury, so Chima Okoli likely will get his first career start against the one of country’s most formidable defensive fronts.

With Adrian Clayborn, Mike Daniels and Broderick Binns leading the way, the 17th-ranked Hawkeyes can send quite a rush.

“He’s certainly going to have some problems. We can’t overreact,” coach Joe Paterno said about Okoli. “Our tackles our going to have their hands full in pass protection.”

JoePa got a look at the disruptive talents of Clayborn and Binns when Iowa sauntered into soggy Beaver Stadium a year ago and wreaked havoc in the backfield and on special teams. The 6-foot-4, 285-pound Clayborn blocked a punt, then returned it 53 yards for a touchdown in a 21-10 win.

“Those are certainly Kodak moments, but what he does down-to-down is what makes him an outstanding player,” Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.

Binns had a sack for a safety last year. So far, Clayborn and Binns are off to slow starts with no sacks and a combined two tackles for a loss. No longer an unknown commodity, Clayborn has seen more double teams.

Paterno likens Clayborn to Chicago Bears star and former North Carolina end Julius Peppers.

“He’s what a defensive end should look like physically,” Paterno said. “He’s a heck of a football player.”

The sack slack at Iowa has been picked up by Daniels. The junior had four tackles for a loss and a sack in Iowa’s 45-0 rout last week over Ball State.