UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- A.Q. Shipley is used to being the center of attention. He's the anchor and vocal leader of Penn State's experienced offensive line.

"Not only that, he's a really good player who has a chance to do some special things on the field," left tackle Gerald Cadogan said.

Shipley, 6 feet 1, 297 pounds, will be a fifth-year senior this fall and is entering his third year as a starter. The one-time defensive tackle from Moon High School has made 26 consecutive starts. He was a first-team All-Big Ten pick last season.

This spring, he has been named to the watch list for the Lombardi Award, given to the nation's best lineman or linebacker. And he will be a candidate for the Rimington Award, which goes to the top center, for the second consecutive year.

"I'm expecting a lot from myself, no doubt," Shipley said at the Nittany Lions spring practice last week. "But I'm expecting a lot out of our offensive line, too. We return all five starters from last year and everybody's gotten bigger, stronger and faster."

Shipley, Cadogan, left guard Rich Ohrnberger, right tackle Dennis Landolt and right guard Mike Lucian started eight games together last season.

Guard Stefen Wisniewski from Central Catholic, who has been splitting time with Lucian this spring, made one start as a freshman and played a season-high 42 snaps in the Lions' 24-17 victory against Texas A&M in the Alamo Bowl.

The line, which has had to deal with coach Joe Paterno's wrath because of its inconsistency in recent years, paved the way for 270 rushing yards and a 6.6-yard average against the Aggies. And now Paterno has changed his tune.

"I think our offensive line could be pretty good," he said.

Penn State lost just two key players from its offense -- tailback Rodney Kinlaw and quarterback Anthony Morelli.

The line helped Kinlaw rush for 1,326 yards, the ninth-best total in school history, and Morelli become the first quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards in consecutive seasons.

Shipley said the competition to replace Kinlaw and Morelli has been intense.

Senior Daryll Clark, Morelli's backup the last two seasons, and strong-armed redshirt sophomore Pat Devlin, are battling for the starting quarterback job. And redshirt sophomore Evan Royster, who rushed for 513 yards and five touchdowns a year ago, is being pushed at tailback by redshirt freshman Stephfon Green.

Spring drills conclude April 19 with the Blue-White game at Beaver Stadium.

"You only go as far as your offensive line takes you," Shipley said. "As long as we're keeping guys off the quarterback, especially with a new one in there, and giving them time to throw, and giving the guys back there running the ball some holes to run through, we'll be fine."

Green, originally recruited as a defensive back, was a member of the scout team last season. He has been clocked at 4.2 seconds in the 40-yard dash and showed off his sprinter's speed in Saturday's open practice at Holuba Hall, ripping off a dazzling 45-yard run after taking a handoff from Devlin.

Shipley wasn't surprised.

"Stephfon's got the speed to do just about anything," he said. "Anytime he gets the corner, he likes to let people know about it. It's always fun to have those kinds of guys. Mike [Robinson] was the same way when he was here. Anytime Mike made a play, he'd let you know but he wouldn't get carried away.

"Seriously, the running backs have been great for us. Stephfon and Evan are a good complement to each other. Evan is more of a zone-scheme, Tony Hunt-type of back, where he likes to run between the tackles a little more.

"Stephfon gives you that burst outside. Most of the time, I'll pick myself up [after a block], look around, and he's long gone. It's been fun to watch."