BUTLER TWP - Tyrell Sales isn't playing, he's paying - his dues, that is.

That's how the Butler graduate is looking at his freshman year as a linebacker at Penn State University.

"My game day is on Tuesday," Sales said. "That's when we go full pads on scout team and we go full contact."

Two games into this season, Sales learned he would be redshirted this fall.

"It's been a little hard to accept, dressing in uniform and standing on the sidelines, knowing you're not going to get in the game," he said.

"We had some injuries early in the year, and the first couple of games there was a chance I was gonna play. Once that didn't happen, I knew I was going to be redshirted.

"It's OK. I expected that when I signed to come here," Sales added.

The Nittany Lions are 2-4 entering Saturday's homecoming game against Iowa and Sales knows his role.

"I'm No. 35, an outside linebacker for Iowa," he said. "We've studied films, I know his tendencies and what he does on each play. And I do that against our first-string offense.

"By helping to get them ready, I know I'm contributing. I wear a different uniform and number every Tuesday. I've been learning a lot that way," Sales added.

Limiting his contribution to the scout team might be frustrating for a guy who racked up 189 tackles during his final two years at high school.

Sales had three quarterback sacks, three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and returned two interceptions for touchdowns last year.

"Practice is so different from high school. I caught up to the speed of the game after a couple of weeks in camp," Sales said. "You have to keep getting better if you ever expect to see the field."

Sales and Dontey Brown, a freshman linebacker from McKeesport, are redshirting this year. Freshman Dan Connor of Strath Haven High School is third on Penn State's tackle list so far this season.

Paul Posluszny, a sophomore linebacker from Hopewell, leads the Nittany Lions in tackles. Penn State has eight other linebackers returning next year.

"My goal is to be among the top four or five linebackers next season because those are the guys who will see a lot of playing time," Sales said. "My ultimate goal is to start my sophomore year."

Sales said he isn't disappointed with Penn State's current record.

"We're a young team and we've been hanging in with ranked teams like Minnesota and Purdue," said, who has been working at outside linebacker. "Penn State football is going in the right direction.

"I put a lot of thought into my decision to come to this school. Everything is right on schedule for myself and the team. I'm not discouraged at all."

A marketing major, Sales estimates he has "a B-plus average" in the early going of his college career. He's joining former Moon basketball standout A.Q. Shipley and some other freshman football players on an intramural basketball team this winter.

"Everything's going good," Sales said. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."