John Beale, Post-Gazette Austin Scott has rushed for 911 yards in three seasons with the Nittany Lions. Click photo for larger image.

Former Penn State running back Larry Johnson did not have much of a resume before his senior season in 2002. Johnson amassed 866 yards during his first three seasons and had a less than stellar reputation inside and outside the program.

By the end of the 2002 season, Johnson not only had established himself as one of the top running backs in the country, but he etched himself into the school's record books by becoming the only Penn State back to rush for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

Penn State's heir apparent at running back next season has a slightly more polished resume than Johnson going into his senior season. Austin Scott, who has rushed for 911 yards in three seasons with the Nittany Lions, is in line to take over for three-year starter Tony Hunt at tailback.

Scott took a redshirt last season because he and Hunt were seniors, and he wanted a chance to be the No. 1 tailback.

"I would definitely like to shoot for a Larry Johnson type of year," said Scott, the once-heralded recruit from Parkland High School near Allentown. "That's motivation, something I'd like to do. Larry didn't play a lot, and I didn't play a lot my last couple of years. I definitely see a parallel between us two."

Johnson rushed for 2,087 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2002. Given Scott's history, the Lions likely would settle for half that production next season.

Scott, who is 6 feet and 220 pounds, has struggled with injuries and living up to the lofty expectations many had for him as a freshman. He earned the starting job coming out of training camp and started the first four games, but he has not started a game since. The following season Hunt earned the job in training camp and never let it go.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno said part of Scott's problem had been that he never had to work for his success in high school. As a result, he did not have the work ethic necessary to compete for playing time the past few years.

Scott said yesterday that Paterno was on to something.

"I believe there could be some truth to it," Scott said. "I can only see it through my own eyes, but I believe there could be something to it."

Scott said he has learned from the past and is looking forward to making the most of his senior season.

"I just feel like this year I have a fair shot, a good shot at it," he said. "I'll definitely be looking to get more playing time. Other years, I didn't know how much playing time I was going to get. It feels good being older, knowing what you have to do. I realize this is the time to take advantage of the position I'm in."

By all accounts, Scott has been seizing the opportunity this spring. Scott is a different kind of runner than Hunt, but his style has meshed well with the offense, according to quarterback Anthony Morelli.

"I'm real confident in Austin," Morelli said. "He's a great running back. He has all the tools. I have all the confidence in the world that he'll be able to get the job done. Tony was more of a power back, but he also had great hands. Austin is more shifty. He's a little quicker, a little faster. He's able to take it to the next gear. Hopefully, Austin can do what Tony did, and, hopefully, take it to the next level."

Scott has impressed his teammates on the other side of the ball as well. Penn State All-American linebacker Dan Connor believes Scott was the best running back the Lions' defense faced last season. After all, it was Scott who gave the defense fits every week on the scout team.

"I've been going against him for a while now, and he has loads of talent," Connor said.

"He just keeps improving. He's a real hard worker. It's been real tough tackling him. He's quick, big and strong. As a linebacker, that's the toughest thing -- big guys who can also juke you out."

Scott has set some high goals for himself this coming season. He said he would like to earn first-team all-Big Ten honors and become an All-American. Those are some high expectations, but, for once, they're his expectations and not anyone else's.

"I just feel like I've grown to accept the fact that not everyone is going to like you," Scott said. "When the going gets tough, the tough get going. I just have to keep my head [up] and stay true to what I believe in. Eventually, everything will pan out in the end."

NOTES -- Connor said the State College police investigation into an assault on campus that involved members of the team has not been a distraction. He said no one on the team has been held out of practice as a result of the investigation. "We can't dwell on it or think about it," he said. "When it's settled, we'll all say let's just move on." Whether charges are filed in the case could be determined by the end of next week, according to State College police chief Thomas King. King said yesterday that the investigation is ongoing and more interviews have to be conducted.