Try as you might, you can't wipe the smile off Graham Zug's face.

Heck, the way things are going for the former Manheim Central star, there's no reason for him not to be smiling.

Zug, a redshirt freshman wideout for Penn State, has successfully walked on to the Nittany Lions.

He still doesn't have a scholarship, but after a great spring — and a nice showing in the Blue/White Game in front of his new fan club, Zug's Thugs — he has maneuvered his way up coach Joe Paterno's depth chart, and should see action this fall.

Penn State opens its season Sept. 1 against Florida International in Beaver Stadium.

"I hope to get some time," Zug said last weekend during media day festivities in Happy Valley.

"Of course, all of that comes down to the coaches and what they want to do. But I feel pretty good about where I'm at."

Considering who is in front of him, he should. Remember, Zug turned down the chance to be a starter at several Division I-AA schools — not to mention having his entire education paid for.

But he had his heart set on Penn State. His dad went there. His older brother played for the Blue-White Band, and his younger sister, Daneen, is a member of the field hockey team.

After redshirting last season, he's starting to find his niche with the Lions.

"It's not overwhelming at all," said Zug, who was a sophomore when Central won the state Triple-A title. "I feel like I fit in pretty good, and I'm glad I made the decision to come here. I really like it here. There's nowhere else I'd rather be."

Zug is a Z receiver in Penn State's offensive scheme. The starter in that spot is Deon Butler and the No. 2 guy is future star Chris Bell. Zug is third.

What's it like playing along side Butler, Bell, Jordan Norwood, Derrick Williams and Terrell Golden every day?

"It's awesome," Zug said. "At first I was a little intimidated by them because of who they are, but I've learned that they're here to help me out and they've made me so competitive. They support me and they've helped me out. It's been great."

Zug said he has improved in a number of areas since last fall. He made so much progress, in fact, that he was on the field just thee plays into the Blue/White Game last spring, lining up with the first-team offense against the first-team defense.

"I'm definitely more relaxed," said Zug, a kinesiology major who is carrying a 3.0 GPA.

"When a play is called I know what to do. I don't have to think about it. I'm more disciplined with my routes. I keep my hands moving through the breaks and I'm quicker through the breaks."

Butler has noticed Zug's improvement.

"Graham isn't really flashy, but he's a solid player," he said. "He makes plays you don't think he's going to make. He's crisp on his routes and he has great hands. He catches everything. He does things you don't think he's going to do.

"He has great football instincts, so if you tell him once, it's done. One and done and he knows it."

Zug said his goal is to keep improving and to keep working his way up the depth chart.

He said he's well aware of who's in front of him on that depth chart, and that he and those guys will team with senior quarterback Anthony Morelli to do some special things this season.

"I'll put it to you this way," Zug said, "we have high hopes."

Then he smiled. Again.

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