Penn State assistant coach Deion Barnes remembers his freshman year with the Nittany Lions and how much he had to learn.

Barnes said this week that several freshman defensive linemen under his tutelage are far more advanced than he was in 2011.

“I was nowhere near where they are,” he said. “These guys are smart kids. They understand. The way they catch on so fast amazes me.”

Freshmen Chaz Coleman, Yvan Kemajou and Randy Adirika are expected to play significant roles for Penn State, which opens its season against Nevada Saturday at 3:30 (TV-CBS) at Beaver Stadium.

The second-ranked Nittany Lions are experienced and deep at several positions, but not necessarily on the defensive line.

“We’re young there,” coach James Franklin said, “but we feel like there is a lot of talent in that room

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