Matthew Rice is the starting right end on the defense.  Matt is a redshirt senior.  He is 6-4, 256 pounds.  He had 55 tackles, 9 tackles for a loss, and 5 sacks.  He is strong enough and athletic enough to play at the next level.  He is a great complement to the other defensive end, Tamba Hali.  Since Lavon Chisley is academically ineligible, Rice will have to pick up the slack and become more consistent.

Tamba Hali is the starting left defensive end.  Tamba, a senior, is 6-3, 267 pounds.  Hali recorded 65 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss, and 11 sacks.  He had his biggest game of the season against Wisconsin where he continuously beat double and triple teams to get multiple sacks and set a Penn State record for tackles for a loss.  But, his biggest play came against Ohio State when he sacked Troy Smith, knocking the ball loose.  Scott Paxson would recover to seal the game.   His athleticism and play-making ability make him one of the best ends in the country.  He is projected to be picked in the middle of the first round in April’s NFL Draft.

Jay Alford starts at one of the tackle spots.  He’s a redshirt junior, who is 6-3, 285 pounds.  Alford had 37 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, and 8.5 sacks.  He’s a tenacious and hard-working player that made many big plays this season.  He is an important part of the defensive line.  He can stuff the run and be an effective pass rusher.

['Scott Paxson is the other starting defensive tackle.  He is a redshirt senior.  Scott is 6-5, 284 pounds.  Paxson had 44 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks.  He is an instinctive and physical player.  He did a great job this year of stopping the opposing team’s running game.  His play often disrupted the opposing team’s offense.

Paul Posluszny is the other starting outside linebacker.  Posluszny is listed at 6-2, 229 yards pounds and he is a junior.  He lead the team in tackles with 116.  He also had 11 tackles for loss and 3 sacks.  Paul is fast and explosive.  He combines his skill with great intelligence as shown by his 3.68 GPA.  He is the leader of the defense.  He is the first junior captain at Penn State since 1968.  He had the opportunity to go to the NFL, but he turned it down in favor of another year at Penn State.  Posluszny’s efforts were rewarded by him winning the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker.  He also won the Bednarik Award as the nation’s best defensive player and he is a first team All-American.

Tim Shaw is the middle linebacker for Penn State.  Shaw is 6-1, 233 pounds and he is a redshirt junior.  Tim compiled 76 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks.  Shaw is an athletic and instinctive linebacker.  His athleticism comes from when he played running back, but he switched to linebacker in 2003.  He greatly complements the other two starting linebackers.  This trio of linebackers is one of the best, if not the best, in the Big Ten.

Anwar Phillips is a starting cornerback at Penn State.  He is 6-1, 182 pounds.  He is also a senior.  He had 30 tackles this past season.  Phillips also had 2 tackles for loss, 10 pass break ups, and 1 interception.  Phillips was shifted from wide receiver to cornerback in 2002 and has reacted well.  Anwar also put together a good performance at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama which included a game-clinching interception.  He should be drafted in the NFL Draft.

Alan Zemaitis is a starter at the cornerback position.  He is large for his position at 6-2, 201 pounds.  Zemaitis is a redshirt senior.  He tallied 51 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss.  In addition, he led the team with 6 interceptions and 10 pass break ups.  Alan had 2 touchdowns this season, one against USF, and one against Michigan.  Despite suffering a serious automobile accident in 2003, he has become the leader of the secondary.  He has great size, speed, and passion.  Soon, he will be playing on Sundays.

Calvin Lowry is the starting free safety on the defense.  This senior is 6-0, 200 pounds.  Calvin had 79 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and 1 sack.  He also had 2 pass breakups and 4 interceptions including a game changer against Ohio State.  He is a leader in the secondary.  Lowry is fast and has a lot of stamina which allows him to play almost every down.  Lowry has provided leadership to a great defense.

Chris Harrell starts at strong safety.  He is 6-2, 210 pounds.  He is a senior.  Harrell was second on the team with 88 tackles.  He also had 4 pass break ups and an interception.  Harrell suffered a serious neck injury in 2004 and he took a medical redshirt.  Harrell has been getting major playing time ever since his freshman year.  Chris brings a playmaking style as he excited teammates and fans with bone-crushing hits.