Starting gigs still available for Lions

Now four days out from the opener, Penn State still has six starting jobs up for grabs.

The Nittany Lions released their initial depth chart for the 2012 season on Monday, looking ahead to Saturday's debut against Ohio at Beaver Stadium.

Some of the spots are still open because of competition. Others because of injury. Regardless, Bill O'Brien and his staff will have some decisions to make in the next few days.

Right tackle, strong safety and two spots each at defensive line and wide receiver are up in the air for the first week.

The tackle spot may be the most competitive, with senior Mike Farrell looking to overtake junior Adam Gress.

"No question it's a competition," O'Brien said last week during practice. "Mike had a really good summer, obviously. Mike's an improved player. They'll both play for us, I can tell you that."

At receiver, Allen Robinson is the only starter set in stone.

Opposite him will be either junior Shawney Kersey or true freshman Trevor Williams, who has impressed in camp. Sophomore Alex Kenney and fifth-year man Evan Lewis will battle for time in the slot.

On defense, the position to watch is strong safety, given the Lions' injury woes during the summer. Williamsport's Jake Fagnano came into camp as the projected starter, but a hamstring issue has kept him sidelined for much of the month. That could lead to junior Stephen Obeng-Agyapong starting on Saturday.

"It's touch-and-go," O'Brien said of Fagnano's status. "It's a tough deal when you have a hamstring. You have to let it heal or else it's just going to keep nagging you."

On the defensive line, touted redshirt freshman Deion Barnes could step in at end for senior Pete Massaro, who has been dealing with a sore knee recently.

At tackle, DaQuan Jones and James Terry are both candidates to start next to stalwart Jordan Hill.

NEPA products Eugene Lewis and Nyeem Wartman are both in contention for a spot on the two-deep for the opener.

Lewis and Matt Zanellato are both listed as second-stringers behind Robinson at receiver. Wartman is named along with senior Mike Yancich as the top backup at middle linebacker for Glenn Carson.

Lewis and Wartman are two of 13 true freshmen to appear on the initial depth chart.