2010 Football Yearbook

Page 116

N I T TA N Y L I O N F O O T B A L L

SUCCESS WITH HONOR

PLAYER BIOS

THE GREATEST SHOW IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

80

ANDREW

SZCZERBA

6-6 255 Sr./Jr. Eligible Tight End Wilmington, Del.

Andrew Szczerba has worked hard and remained patient and focused on the future and greater opportunities to play a larger role for the offense. Andrew Quarless and Mickey Shuler earned the bulk of the playing time last season at tight end but have graduated, creating an opportunity for Szczerba to play a much more significant role this season. He is a noted tireless worker with an excellent attitude and physical attributes and should have an opportunity to be a major contributor for the offense the next two years. The highly-skilled athlete has played in every game the past two years on offense and special teams. He is a big target, with soft hands, good speed and mobility. The coaching staff selected Szczerba as co-recipient of the 2010 Frank Patrick Total Commitment Award with linebacker Chris Colasanti. Szczerba is one of the squad’s most active players in Community service and enjoys interacting with youth. In high school, Szczerba watched with great interest as the Nittany Lions won the 2005 Big Ten Championship and a berth in the FedEx Orange Bowl. Having led Salesianum HS to state titles in 2005 and ‘06, he is looking forward to helping the Nittany Lions return to the national championship picture. The 2006 Gatorade Player-of-the-Year in Delaware, he is one of five First State natives on the Penn State squad. 2009 Junior Season Szczerba played in every game for the second consecutive year. He was on the field for 107 snaps. He again was among the squad’s most consistently productive contributors on special teams. He made one catch for six yards in the win over Temple.

93

2008 Sophomore Season

JAMES

Szczerba played in every game on offense and special teams. He made the first catch of his Penn State career in the season-opener against Coastal Carolina, hauling in a nine-yard reception from Paul Cianciolo. He was on the field for a season-high 26 snaps each against Oregon State and Temple and a total of 202 snaps. He caught three passes for 39 yards in the 2009 Blue-White game.

TERRY

6-3 311 Jr./So. Eligible Defensive Tackle New Castle, Del.

2007 Freshman Season Redshirt season. Szczerba made a game-high five catches for 65 yards in the 2008 Blue-White game. High School Leading Salesianum HS to state championships in 2005 and 2006, Szczerba was a dynamic player on both sides of the ball. Playing tight end and defensive end for Coach Bill DiNardo, Szczerba was selected the 2006 Gatorade Player-of-the-Year in Delaware and he earned first-team all-state honors on offense and defense. A team captain, he also was named first-team all-conference and the Lineman-of-the-Year. Rated the No. 12 prep tight end in the nation, he made 12 receptions for 300 yards with four touchdowns as a senior. He also recorded 50 tackles, with six sacks, and one interception. He was selected to play in the 2007 Blue-Gold game. Szczerba also played basketball for three years and was a weightman on the track and field squad. Personal Full name is Andrew Joseph Szczerba. He is the son of Edward and Florence Szczerba. Szczerba has two brothers, Edward and Philip, and two sisters, Elizabeth and Julianna, who is Andrew’s twin sister. Philip played soccer at St. John’s University. Szczerba is a crime, law and justice major. Born July 16, 1988 in Wilmington, Del.

During his initial two years as a Nittany Lion, James Terry has had the opportunity to gain experience as a lineman on both sides of the ball. Having begun 2009 at guard, he was shifted to defensive tackle as the season unfolded, where he played as a foreign team true freshman in 2008. The departure of All-American Jared Odrick presents an opportunity along the defensive interior line and Terry will be looking to battle Ollie Ogbu, Devon Still and Jordan Hill for time in the rotation. The former Brandywine HS standout made good strides during winter conditioning and spring practice. Terry has good size and skills and is one of five returning Nittany Lions from Delaware. 2009 Sophomore Season Terry spent some time on the offensive line, but by the end of the season was back at defensive tackle assisting one of the nation’s top units. He saw action against Akron, Syracuse, Temple and Eastern Illinois and made two solo stops, including a sack for minus-seven yards against the Owls. 2008 Freshman Season Redshirt season. High School

ROYSTER ON PACE TO BECOME CAREER RUSHING LEADER Senior tailback Evan Royster posted his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in 2009 and is on pace to become Penn State’s career rushing yardage leader. A first-team All-Big Ten choice, Royster gained 1,169 yards last year and his 5.7-yards per carry average was best in the conference among players with at least 110 attempts. He had 205 carries and scored six touchdowns. A Doak Walker Award and All-America candidate, Royster enters the season with 2,918 rushing yards, needing 481 yards to break Curt Warner’s school record of 3,398. Royster ranks eighth in Penn State annals, needing just 82 yards to become the sixth Nittany Lion with 3,000 career yards. Royster delivered six 100-yard rushing games last season, giving him 12 in his career, good for a tie for eighth in school history. Warner is the leader with 18 century-busting efforts. Tailback Stephfon Green gained 319 yards and scored three touchdowns in 2009, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. The quick junior also averaged 13.3 yards on his six receptions and 25.5 yards on four kickoff returns. Junior running back Joe Suhey emerged as a productive runner, receiver and blocker last season, ranking fifth on the team with 21 catches for 186 yards and one score and rushing for 68 yards on 22 carries.

Terry was a standout lineman for Coach Steve Dent at Brandywine HS. A football co-captain, he was second-team all-state and first-team all-conference as a junior. As a sophomore, Terry earned third-team all-state and first-team all-conference honors. He also was a member of the basketball team. Personal Full name is James Norman Terry. He is the son of Marta and Charles Cottman and has an older brother, Marcel. Terry enjoys playing video games and spending time with friends. He would like to pursue a career as a youth counselor or football coach. Born March 18, 1990 in Chester, Pa.

94 FIRST-TEAM ALL-AMERICANS 46 ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICANS 36 NFL FIRST ROUND SELECTIONS 22 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES

2010 PENN STATE FOOTBALL

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2010 Football Yearbook by Penn State Athletics - Issuu