STATE COLLEGE — High school linebackers aspiring to play at the next level might want to watch top-ranked Ohio State and No. 24 Penn State play Saturday night.

Two of college football's best middle linebackers, the Buckeyes' James Laurinaitis and the Nittany Lions' Dan Connor, figure to put on a clinic in leading two of the nation's best defenses.

Even Penn State coach Joe Paterno is getting caught up in the hype.

"You will probably see four or five of the best linebackers in the country at the same time," Paterno said. "I don't mean at the same time ... They will be there at one time or another."

High praise from a man who has coached the likes of Paul Posluszny, Shane Conlan and Jack Ham at Penn State (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten).

Both Laurinaitis and Connor have stellar supporting casts.

Standout junior Sean Lee is waiting in the wings to become Happy Valley's next linebacking headliner. With a team-leading 79 tackles, Lee has played just as well as Connor, while Butler graduate Tyrell Sales, Josh Hull and redshirt freshman Navarro Bowman have been solid in sharing time at the other outside position.

For Ohio State (8-0, 4-0), Marcus Freeman and Larry Grant have been pretty good starting outside for a defense that has allowed just four touchdowns all year. Freeman, a senior, is second on the squad with 6Z\x tackles for a loss.

They may all be overshadowed by the mighty matchup of middle linebackers. Laurinaitis and Connor are both semifinalists for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.

Watching Connor on film reminds Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel of his own star.

"In their defense, philosophically, that's the guy that can go sideline to sideline," Tressel said. "Connor's a great linebacker, like Laurinaitis."

They've followed somewhat similar paths into the spotlight.

Both saw extensive action as freshmen and spent part of their careers playing next to All-Americans: Connor learned from Posluszny, and Laurinaitis overlapped for a season with standout A.J. Hawk.

Laurinaitis took over at middle linebacker as a sophomore and won the Nagurski Award as the nation's best defensive player. Connor moved to the middle this season after spending most of his collegiate career outside, where last season he was named a second-team All-American.