Penn State's Quarless finding his way downfield

Every receiver, even those with lead feet and concrete hands, occasionally goes back to the huddle and tells his quarterback, "I can beat my guy deep."

Archie Manning, father of NFL stars Peyton and Eli, and a pretty fair passer in his own right in the 1970s and early '80s, chuckles when he tells the tale of former New Orleans wideout Jubilee Dunbar, who pleaded his case before nearly every snap, including the time he said he could get open long - with the Saints playing a first-and-goal inside the 5-yard line.

Senior tight end Andrew Quarless occasionally has returned to the huddle and advised his Penn State quarterbacks that he could get separation downfield. Usually the quarterback - Anthony Morelli in 2006 and '07, Daryll Clark the past two seasons - listens sympathetically and runs the play sent in from the sideline. But, every so often, a receiver's argument is heard and heeded.

Quarless, the 6-5, 253-pounder from Uniondale, N.Y., with surprising speed for a big man, has been an enigmatic figure almost since he arrived in Happy Valley in the summer of 2006. He caught 21 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns as a true freshman that season, flashing potential so tantalizing he has been named to the John Mackey Watch List every year since. But for whatever reason, Quarless has not lived up to his early promise. He caught 25 passes - combined - for only 322 yards and three TDs as a sophomore and junior, in part because of off-the-field behavior that occasionally drew coach Joe Paterno's ire.

Little wonder then that Quarless returned to campus for preseason practice determined he would stay on JoePa's good side and finally play a more integral role in the passing game.

But if Quarless' plan occasionally goes awry - he had a 70-yard scoring reception against Temple erased on a block-to-the-back penalty against true freshman wide receiver Curtis Drake, on a play away from the ball - all was made right in last week's 35-10 romp at Michigan. The Wolverines, perhaps unwisely, elected to isolate outside linebacker Obi Ezeh on Quarless, leaving the middle invitingly open.

"Defenses scout me and know my speed, so we don't get it as much as I would like," Quarless said of those instances when responsibility for shadowing him falls to a linebacker. "But it's like I've told Daryll, 'Show me a receiver that doesn't want the ball and I'll show you a receiver that's not good.' "