STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Experience counts for 42-year coaching veteran Joe Paterno.

Penn State may have as many as 18 starters back in 2008 from a squad that finished a 9-4 season on a bright note with a thrilling 24-17 win over Texas A&M at the Alamo Bowl.

But all that experience will matter little if players can't stay on the field.

One of the first orders of business this offseason for Paterno will be to talk to a few troubled Nittany Lions. Off-the-field player run-ins with police caused headaches all season long for the coach.

"I've got to sit down and bring some kids in," Paterno said Sunday in his annual season-ending news conference. "It's unfortunate; they have to understand it's a little different world ... they have to walk away from things."

Tackle Chris Baker, a sophomore who steadily improved, was suspended the last two games of the year after being charged by police in connection with a fight at the student union on Oct. 7. Baker was involved in another fight in April that also included safety Anthony Scirrotto.

While admonishing their behavior, Paterno said the incidents were "blown way out of what it should have been."

Injuries took a toll, too, this season. The defensive line lost tackle Jared Odrick (ankle) and Jerome Hayes (knee) in October.

The only loss on defense will be All-America linebacker Dan Connor, the Bednarik Award-winner as the nation's best defensive player. Connor finished his career with a school-record 419 tackles.

But Linebacker U. should be ably led next season by Sean Lee, whose fiery on-field demeanor makes him captain material.

Lee wants to squash any early talk of going for a national title.

"This is a great step, but you have to win the big games until we can talk about that," Lee said.

Penn State has had trouble in big games against Ohio State and Michigan since joining the Big Ten more than a decade ago. Next season's schedule includes this midseason gauntlet: At Wisconsin, Ohio State and Iowa, and home against Michigan in a five-week span.

Sophomore defensive end Maurice Evans is a rising star after compiling 12.5 sacks. The athletic sophomore displayed his promise by forcing two fumbles at the Alamo Bowl.

Justin King's reputation as a shut-down cornerback took a hit after getting burned more often this season, though he had been nagged by a shoulder injury. King is thinking about forgoing his senior season to enter the NFL draft.

On offense, tailback Rodney Kinlaw (1,329 yards, 10 TDs), a career backup, turned into a go-to player at midseason after Austin Scott was suspended indefinitely on Oct. 5. Police charged Scott a week later with rape; he has pleaded not guilty.

Redshirt freshman Evan Royster (518 yards, 5 TDs) had a promising beginning to his career.

Receiver also figures to be a strength again, with the talented trio of Deon Butler, Jordan Norwood and Derrick Williams back for their senior seasons.

The biggest question mark will be who throws them the ball.

Two-year starter Anthony Morelli leaves Penn State with 5,275 passing yards and 31 career touchdown passes, and the distinction of being the first Nittany Lions quarterback to throw for more than 2,000 yards twice in his career.

Backup Daryll Clark made a strong case to replace Morelli after he ran for 60 yards on five carries against A&M, including an 11-yard touchdown run. Third-stringer Pat Devlin also figures to compete for the job, though Williams made it sound as if Clark has the edge.

Penn State is working on a spread package in which "all next year, we'll be able to run out of anything and pass out of anything," Williams said after the bowl game. "Daryll brings that special excitement like quarterbacks like (2005 captain) Michael Robinson had, with the option of running and passing."

The most important returnee is the head coach himself. Paterno plans to return for his 43rd season at the helm.