Oct 26, 2005 3 min read

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) – It looks like two-way Penn State freshman Justin King is going one way for now, and that’s offense. The speedy King had played both wide receiver and defensive back for No. 11 Penn State until last week’s romp over Illinois, when Donnie Johnson assumed the role of the extra defensive back in passing situations.

Coach Joe Paterno had to work with a smaller crew at wide receiver last week against Illinois after Derrick Williams broke his left arm the previous week during the Michigan game and was lost for the season. Jordan Norwood also didn’t play against Illinois because of a bruised foot.

Enter King, who, along with Williams, was a jewel of Paterno’s recruiting class, and has already made some impressive plays on offense. Another freshman, Devin Fentress, is in the mix now as a reserve cornerback, too, to replace King.

“We made up our mind that we would put Devin Fentress over there so that we wouldn’t have to be in a position where we couldn’t use King exclusively on offense,” Paterno said. “If something happens over there, you run out of options sooner or later.”

On the depth chart, King is listed as a reserve at cornerback and has assumed Williams’ role as kick returner. King and Norwood are listed as possible starters at Williams’ old spot opposite of Deon Butler.

NORWOOD’S HEALTH: Paterno says that Norwood, meanwhile, practiced on Monday and is limping a little but appears to be 100 percent and should play this week against Purdue. Norwood is third on the team with 19 catches for 223 yards. “If things hadn’t gone quite as well as they did early for us, we would have played Jordan,” Paterno said.

BY-THE-BYE COMMENTS: Penn State doesn’t have a bye week for another week, before their game on Nov. 19 against Michigan State, but Paterno doesn’t seem worried by the schedule.

“In the old days, you didn’t have a bye week, so I am accustomed to just playing nine, 10 or 11 games in a row,” he said. “I don’t think it is a particularly tough challenge for the team that doesn’t have the bye week.”

The Nittany Lions have had to play teams coming off byes two out of the last three weeks, but both games were wins: Oct. 8 over Ohio State and last week against Illinois.

COMING HOME: Saturday’s game, which starts at 3:30 p.m. EDT, marks the first for Penn State at Beaver Stadium after two straight weeks on the road. It’s also Homecoming Weekend at Penn State. … The Nov. 5 contest against Wisconsin will also start at 3:30 p.m. EDT and is the Nittany Lions’ last home game of the year. … Penn State’s offense didn’t have a turnover against Illinois and has just two in its last 18 quarters.