STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Quarterback drama aside, things have been rosy lately at No. 6 Penn State.

After all, there's a trip to California coming up to play the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against No. 5 Southern California.

Backup Pat Devlin's decision last week to transfer left the No. 6 Nittany Lions short on quarterbacks behind starter Daryll Clark and little-used third-stringer Paul Cianciolo. That could mean that receiver Derrick Williams, who has lined up at QB a few times this year on running plays, might see some snaps under center.

Or maybe not.

"Obviously, the kid can run whenever he gets a chance to because of all the speed that has," Clark said. "Derrick is a smart player. If he were to concentrate on quarterback, he'd be really good, no doubt in my mind."

But in case there was any confusion that Clark was endorsing Williams as a backup quarterback, the affable starter finished his answer with a friendly zinger.

"Stick to wideout, buddy," he said, smiling.

Williams is willing to do whatever coaches ask. Williams played quarterback in high school though he has strictly been a receiver and return man in college.

Asked if he was taking snaps in practices for the Rose Bowl, Williams initially just said with a laugh, "Oooh!"

"I don't know yet. Coach Paterno, I know he has some things planned," Williams said at Rose Bowl media day.

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FUN IN THE SUN:@ It won't be all business for the Nittany Lions when they get out to California, at least early on. Paterno sees the trip in part as a reward for his players for their nice season.

"Once he gets closer to the game, he tightens up," Williams said.

Clark wants to see a Lakers game at the Staples Center. Linebacker Josh Hull and Williams spoke of seeing the beach.

Everyone, it seems, is hitting up cornerback Lydell Sargeant for information.

Sargeant's family is from Lompoc, Calif., about 150 miles up the coast from Pasadena, site of the bowl game. The cornerback who came east to play college football will get to finish his career close to home.

"I'm getting the schedule ready now. I'm finding out who wants to come out with us, and my friends that live in Hollywood and LA, they're calling me," Sargeant said. "They wants us to go out with them show them the 'Cali' life."

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TESTING WATERS:@ DL Aaron Maybin and Jared Odrick have asked the NFL's draft advisory board for an analysis on their draft status should they decide to leave college early for the pros.

Both players have indicated so far that they plan to return in 2009, though they are putting off a decision until after the Rose Bowl.

Maybin, a redshirt sophomore, is fourth in the nation with 12 sacks.

"Penn State is my dream school," the speedy Maybin said at bowl media day. "It's a been a great time for me here. All plans for me are to come back and all that stuff. If anything else changes, it will definitely be after the bowl game."

Odrick, a junior, has 4.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for a loss. He has been a steady and disruptive force at defensive tackle.