When the Penn State wide receivers take the practice field, there’s usually a group of excited cornerbacks waiting for them on the other side of the ball.

The opportunity to go against a receiving corps that returns its top-two downfield threats continues to test the Nittany Lions’ secondary, cornerback D’Anton Lynn said.

But among those excited cornerbacks is a guy who is used to being in the offensive huddle.

After catching 28 passes during last year, Chaz Powell has found himself at cornerback since spring. But as the season nears, and still playing behind Stephon Morris and Lynn on the first-team defense, Powell’s likely going to see the field in nickel packages, where he’ll sub in for a linebacker.

“I said something to the coaches like, ‘Hey if you guys need me to come back over there I’ll do whatever you guys want me to do.’ ” Powell said after wide receiver Curtis Drake broke his leg during an August practice.

The idea to allow the former four-sport high school athlete to play on both sides of the ball is something Joe Paterno and the coaching staff considered once Drake was injured, Powell said.

While he believes he could be able to play cornerback and receiver in the same game, his current focus is on becoming a better cornerback and a more refined kick returner.

But Powell’s efforts to improve at his new position have not gone unnoticed, as Paterno said it would take a “disaster” to return him to wide receiver.

“Powell is doing very well on defense and likes it over there.” Paterno said. “Powell’s biggest problem has been, you know, he’s a kid that has not been consistent in doing some things. But all of a sudden he looks like he’s having some fun out there on defense, and he’s really doing well.”

Though Powell’s only previous experience playing in the secondary came from his days as a safety at Susquehannock High School, hewasn’t too apprehensive.

While his safety duties in high school mainly involved playing man coverage on a tight end, adjusting to playing against a fast wide receiver is just part of the transition.

“At first, you know when he switched in spring there was definitely a learning curve,” Lynn said. “It’s not something easy to switch to because it’s a tough position. But he picked it up quick, he worked at it all summer and he came into camp and he’s had a real good camp.”