For a Penn State linebacker, this must be what it feels like to be touched by God.

"I truly believe," Jack Ham was saying the other day, "he's the best linebacker ever to play at Penn State."

Paul Posluszny.

John Beale, Post-Gazette Penn State junior linebacker Paul Posluszny watches Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter in the Nittany Lions' 33-15 victory at Beaver Stadium earlier this season. Click photo for larger image.

For the better part of 3 1/2 decades, Ham has held the unofficial title of best linebacker at Linebacker U. Over the years, he has turned back every Penn State challenger from A to Z, from LaVar Arrington to Charlie Zapiec. But, he says, he can't hold off Posluszny.

"It's such a different game now than when we played," Ham said. "Today, you have to be half-strong safety, half-linebacker to play. We weren't asked to cover the way these guys are. They didn't stretch the field on us. There were no three- and four-wide receiver sets. A lot of linebackers have to go to the bench in passing situations now. Not Posluszny. He does it all."

It's funny, Ham gushes about Posluszny the way Ham's teammates used to gush about him when he played for the Super Steelers. Fellow Hall of Famer Jack Lambert always said Ham was the best player on the dynasty teams. Andy Russell talked about wanting to stand in the darkened film room and applaud Ham because he was so technically perfect on every play.

It's easy to think Ham would give Posluszny plenty of standing ovations if it wouldn't be so unseemly in the Penn State radio booth. As a Penn State broadcaster, he has watched Posluszny play each of his games the past three seasons. Each week, Posluszny shows him something new, something different, something amazing.

"I can't think of a linebacker here who played the run as well as he does," Ham said. "Shane Conlan, maybe ...

"Watch him. He never gets knocked off his feet. He plays off blocks so well. He never misses tackles."

That was evident again Saturday in Penn State's 35-14 victory against Wisconsin, a game that kept the Nittany Lions in line to win the Big Ten Conference championship and bumped them up to No. 6 in The Associated Press poll. Posluszny stopped star running back Brian Calhoun for no gain on third-and-1 on Wisconsin's first possession. He later had five tackles for losses.

"I've always thought [Dennis] Onkotz was the best linebacker in pass coverage here," Ham said. "This kid might be better. He understands the passing game so well."

Posluszny made consecutive plays in the fourth quarter against Wisconsin that should have 'em applauding in the Penn State film room this week. He was quick enough to close on Calhoun in the left flat and hold him to a 5-yard gain when just about any other linebacker would have been beaten for a touchdown. Then he sniffed out a flanker screen to Brandon Williams in the right flat and flattened him with a big hit for a 2-yard loss.

As spectacular as those plays were, the one that best defined Posluszny as a big-time player and revealed his unique combination of speed and power happened a few weeks earlier against Ohio State. He beat a blocker, then ran down quarterback Troy Smith from behind for a 10-yard sack.

"He was flying," Penn State defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said. "Even on film, you almost had to slow it down."

"I don't know how fast [Posluszny] is in the 40, but I'll bet you'd be amazed if you timed him for 10 yards," Ham said. "He has that burst to the football."

Ham had better be careful. Much more of this and he's going to talk Posluszny into leaving Penn State for the NFL after the season, a year early. Posluszny mentioned that possibility last week, although he backed off a bit after the Wisconsin game, saying he "probably" would be back. It figures to be the subject of a family discussion this weekend when he comes home to Aliquippa to enjoy Penn State's open week.

"He shouldn't leave early," Ham said. "He should take a page out of A.J. Hawk's book and stay for another year."

Hawk, an Ohio State linebacker and perhaps the only player who can edge Posluszny as Big Ten defensive player of the year, should be at least a mid-first round NFL draft pick next spring.

"There's too much of an upside for [Posluszny] to stay," Ham said. "He would get so much stronger, number one. He would become that much better. He would only enhance his draft status. I don't know where he'd be picked if he came out now, but he'll be a top-10 pick the next year."

That won't be all Posluszny will be, of course.

"The best ever here," Ham said, knowingly.

"No doubt about it."