Class was definitely in session this spring for the Penn State football team. The Nittany Lions were adjusting to a new coaching staff, new workout routines and a new playbook after Bill O'Brien took over the program in January and joined the team shortly after helping the New England Patriots to the Super Bowl.

It was also a spring of learning for O'Brien and his new coaching staff, who had to figure out who their best players were and how to best utilize them this fall.

"I think we've got a big team, a physical team," O'Brien said at the end of spring practice. "At certain spots we've got decent speed. We'll continue to evaluate that during training camp."

O'Brien, who will call the offensive plays this fall, implemented as much of his playbook as he could this ...More