Next to Barham is DeOn'tae Pannell, listed on the depth chart as the starting left guard after a competition with Johnnie Troutman, whom Pannell replaced during Penn State's final two regular-season games last season.
That, too, was an adjustment. Pannell was slated to start at left tackle last fall, flip-flopped with right tackle Dennis Landolt before Week 1 and was replaced by Nerraw McCormack in the middle of Penn State's loss to Iowa in Week 4.
Pannell made his mark in high school as a center, a job the Nittany Lions are entrusting to Doug Klopacz. Two years removed from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, Klopacz is the one starter on the Penn State line to have avoided a position switch during his time in Happy Valley.
"We're real confident with Doug," guard Stefen Wisniewski said. "We're confident that we'll be fine, and that I'll be able to stay at [right] guard."
Wisniewski started every game at center last season, a year after starting 11 games at right guard.
Rounding out the group is right tackle Lou Eliades, who started every game last season at right guard.
Barham made national headlines this summer when he said he had a picture of Iowa's All-Big Ten defensive end Adrian Clayborn as his cell-phone background.
Motivation is one way to prepare, but it pales in comparison with blocking defensive teammates Ollie Ogbu, Devon Still and Jack Crawford for nearly a month in fall camp.
"To go against those guys every day, that challenge makes you better," Barham said. "And especially for new guys on the line, like myself and Doug. We need that experience."
Barham joked that the only thing he has left to do before the opener was figure out which Youngstown State defensive lineman will become his new cell-phone background. Until then, he will have to settle for a few more hits from his defensive teammates, likely a tougher task.
"We sometimes work against the defensive line, and we have some problems," Paterno said of his offensive line. "But, I think, overall, we've made strides." *
