In joining Charlie’s Top PSU moments, we’ve added another daily countdown feature here at quebecpenspinning. We’ll be measuring up the 50 most important players to Penn State’s success in the 2009 season. You may have noticed that we’ve slacked off a little lately, but expect a few double doses of Counting Down the Lions until we’re all caught up.

Checking in as the 16th most important player to Penn State’s success in 2009 might also be its most explosive: Stephfon Green

Number: 21
Position: Running Back
Class: Redshirt Sophomore
Height: 5’10
Weight: 197
Hometown:  Bronx, N.Y.
How’d He Get Here: We all know that New York City isn’t exactly a hotbed for high school football, but every so often it sends forth one of its own as a superlative college player.  Stephfon Green is one such player.  Making waves onto the recruiting scene as a junior, Green recorded a 1000 yard, 13 touchdown campaign.  Though he saw fewer carries as a senior, just 50 of them on the season, Green was perhaps even more impressive in limited duty, rushing for 10 touchdowns (or one every 5 carries) and 740 yards–that’s almost 15 yards a carry!  Even so, Green wasn’t much of a nationally renowned prospect, as Green held no other offers from major D-1 programs, although Michigan State, Rutgers, and Syracuse showed some interest.  Rated as a 3-star CB by Scout and 2-star RB by Rivals, Green’s commitment to Penn State didn’t exactly make waves in national recruiting circles.
2008 Results: Heading into the 2008 season, the future of the running back position at Penn State was up in the air.  Though Evan Royster returned from a 2007 season in which he excelled behind Rodney Kinlaw, questions about his durability were often floated around the Nittany Lions.  Then, along came Stephfon Green, a converted cornerback who came to Penn State without much fanfare.  But at one practice, he was timed with a 4.24 40-yard dash, leading to significant buzz surrounding the freshman.  Then, he busted out with a 60-yard touchdown run at the Blue/White Game, and the legend of Stephfon Green was born.  On the actual field, in real competition, Green didn’t dissapointment.  Rushing for 4 touchdowns and 578 yards–at a clip of 5.5 yards per carry–in his first season, sharing carries with Royster, Green established himself quickly as a big play back and touchdown threat.  He added 268 receiving yards, capped with an 80 yard catch and run on a screen pass against Michigan.  After Evan Royster suffered an injury in the Rose Bowl, Green filled in admirably against the vaulted Trojan defense, compiling 57 yards on 10 carries before he, too, suffered a game-ending injury.
What to Expect in 2009: Penn State knows what is has now in its running game, and it’s not just undoubtedly the best in the conference, it’s one of the nation’s best tandems.  With a new wide receiving corps, especially considering who they’re replacing, Penn State could lean even more heavily on the running game, and that’s where Green and Royster could shine.  Stephfon Green has been one of the biggest winners since Penn State instituted the Spread HD, as he’s not too suited to the traditional “three yards and a cloud of dust.”  His game is best when in space, and utilizing him in a variety of different ways, not just as a single set-back, could make Green even more dangerous.  Jay Paterno has talked about using both Green and Royster to best utilize their versatility, and that could mean lining up as a wideout, or in the slot, for Green.  Additionally, Green could seem time returning punts and kicks, as Penn State would be wise to let the speedster loose as often as possible.
Random Facts: According to the Daily Collegian, Stephfon Green has only lost one footrace in his entire life, and that came while nursing a broken ankle.  Once again: southern speed, my ass.  With Nittany Lions with great speed, like Knowledge Timmons, Stephfon Green, and Devon Smith, all of whom hail from northern states, I think it’s pretty obvious that the notion that players from the south are somehow faster, on the whole, then their northern counterparts is pure hogwash.
The Final Word: What is there to say about a guy like Green?  I started this series not to profile players so heralded as Stephfon, but to let all you readers know about some of the unsung heroes of the Nittany Lions.  Still, it’s important that we fans not look past Green as an integral part of the Nittany Lions team, especially as they break in a new set of running backs.  It’s also important to note that Stephfon Green is yet another player who didn’t come to Penn State with 4 or 5 stars next to his name, but has significantly outperformed those that have.  I’m not saying that following the recruiting rankings is a waste of time, because so often the 5-star players truly are the best in the country.  But where the Nittany Lions and their coaching staff succeeded is in taking these 2 and 3-star players, with not too many other offers, and shaping them into damn good football players, and if that’s not something we can take pride in, as a program, I don’t know what is.