STATE COLLEGE — Tyrell Sales is getting exactly what he bargained for.

Now a redshirt sophomore linebacker at Penn State, the Butler graduate is still biding his time and waiting for an opening behind a trio of all-America candidates.

Tim Shaw is a senior middle linebacker while Paul Posluszny returns after winning the Butkus Award as the nation's best linebacker.

Sales is backing up junior Dan Connor, who was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for coming up with 13 tackles — seven solo — and two sacks in Saturday's 34-16 season-opening win over Akron.

Sales had one tackle in limited playing time Saturday.

"When you come to an institution like this, you're not just gonna walk out on the field and start tearing it up," Sales said. "I know I have to wait my turn. Then it will be my turn to shine."

When Sales has gotten on the field, he's made his presence felt. The 6-foot-2, 234-pounder has shared the lead in tackles in both of Penn State's last two spring games.

Filling in for the suspended Connor last year, Sales started three games, recording eight tackles in a victory over Cincinnati.

"I play so much faster now because the game is so much faster,"Sales said. "In high school, you can run around and make plays on your athletic ability. At this level, everyone's an athlete."

Overall, Sales played in all 12 games for the third-ranked Nittany Lions in 2005, recording 19 tackles — 10 solo — and four tackles for loss.

Penn State entered this season ranked 19th and plays four teams ranked among the preseason top 20:No. 1 Ohio State, No. 2 Notre Dame this Saturday, No. 14 Michigan and No. 16 Iowa.

"I'm in the same boat I was last year, playing behind the same three guys,"Sales said. "Hopefully, I'm convincing the coaches that they can put me on the playing field a little bit more.

"Next year, two starting spots will open up at linebacker with Tim and Paul leaving. I'm trying to put myself in position to get one of those two spots."

Sales has three years of eligibility remaining. He said his football career remains on the course he set when he decided to come to Penn State.

"It's Linebacker U., believe me," he said. "There are always great linebackers here who pass knowledge down to other linebackers behind them, who are also solid players.

"It's a trend that's gone on for years here. Even when Penn State wasn't winning, they had excellent linebackers."

Sales knew Posluszny, a Hopewell graduate, before either came to Penn State. He played with Connor at the Big 33 game after his senior year.

"I don't look at them in awe," Sales said. "I just respect how good they are athletically. They've become fine college football players and you pay attention to what they've done to become so successful."

Like Sales, Penn State coach Joe Paterno respects his linebacking corps.

"We are fortunate that we have solid linebackers that complement each other," Paterno said recently. "They give us a lot of flexibility in how we can arrange some defensive schemes and how we can play different people."

Sales is a marketing major and was an All-Academic Big 10 selection last year. He is carrying a 3.1 grade point average.

His goal is to maintain at least a 3.0 all the way through college.

"I came here to get a degree, not just play football," Sales said. "Since I was a little kid, my goal has been to play in the NFL. That hasn't changed.

"If football doesn't work out, at least I'll have something else to fall back on," Sales added.