The expected weakness of the defense in 2009 is the secondary. Penn State lost all four starters off last year’s team, and the lasting memory many fans have of the secondary is being torched against USC.

So with Lydell Sargeant and Tony Davis gone at cornerback and Anthony Scirrotto and Mark Rubin departed at safeties, who will step up for the Nittany Lions this year?

Senior cornerback A.J. Wallace has the most experience and is expected to be one of the starters on the outside. He needs to provide leadership in this group and also has to step up his play making ability at the corner position, because he possesses great athletic ability. Last season he made 20 tackles and did not have an interception.

At the other corner position, senior Knowledge Timmons and sophomore D’Anton Lynn have been battling it out. Timmons has great speed, but is undersized at 5’10” and 182 pounds. Lynn is taller at 6’1”. Expect both players to get a lot of playing time. Last season the two combined for 18 tackles, most of which came on special teams.

Of these three corners, it will be down to who is making plays. The ones that do will stay on the field and the ones that don’t will see more of the bench.

If Wallace, Timmons and Lynn are struggling, the door could be opened for another one of Penn State’s CB’s to step up. On that list would be junior Shelton McCullough and freshman Stephon Morris.

As for the safety positions, one spot should be squarely in the hands of sophomore Drew Astorino. Last season as a redshirt freshman, he saw action in all 13 games, as he worked his way into the rotation with Scirrotto and Rubin. He was tied for second on the team with two interceptions, and was ninth with 39 tackles. He is undersized a bit, but has shown a nose for the ball.

The battle for the second safety position is between junior Cedric Jefferies and sophomore Andrew Dailey. The two combined to make 21 tackles last year, with the majority coming on special teams. Both stand at 6’2” and no doubt will both see the field early in the season to iron out who is the main guy to play next to Astorino once Big Ten play starts.

There are some other names who could step in if the original starters are not playing up to par. They would be sophomore Nick Sukay and true freshman Gerald Hodges. Hodges impressed in spring drills after enrolling early and could end up as a mainstay in the safety rotation by season’s end.

This unit in the secondary really holds the key to how well the Penn State team defense will be this season. Most teams will be looking to throw because of the Nittany Lions linebackers and defensive line. If the secondary can mesh quickly into their new roles and some playmakers come to the forefront the Penn State defense should be as good as ever.

However, if they struggle, it could be a long season. The offense better be able to put up big numbers then.