Having coached the Nittany Lions for 43 seasons, Joe Paterno is not known for heaping undeserved praise on athletes.

That's why statements praising Morelli -- Paterno said he has never coached a more talented quarterback than Anthony Morelli -- who coached Kerry Collins and Todd Blackledge, were highlighted.

Morelli has a cannon for a throwing arm and a lightning-quick release -- compared by some in that regard to Dan Marino -- that made him one of the top quarterback recruits in the country out of high school. The vastly talented and athletic quarterback worked hard and patiently waited for his opportunity.

Morelli did not have the luxury of stepping into the starting role behind a veteran offensive line. Levi Brown was the only returning starter up front entering the 2006 season. But, his 208 completions and 386 pass attempts that year broke Wally Richardson's school season marks of 193 and 335, respectively, from 1995. Morelli's 2,424 passing yards as a junior were good for third place on the Penn State season list.

Since the day a 10-year-old Morelli stepped up and fired a ball 50 yards to win the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick competition in front of a full house at Three Rivers Stadium, his tremendous arm strength, quick release and multiple skills have been the subject of much conversation and excitement among the Nittany Lion Nation.

Morelli's accuracy and tremendous velocity were on full display the last two seasons. He ended his run at Penn State ranked second in school history in pass completions (460), third in pass attempts (821), fifth in passing yards (5,275) and sixth in touchdown passes (31).

At Penn Hills High School, Morelli was the most decorated quarterback to come out of the school, where he was the first four-year starter in team history. As a junior, he passed for 1,880 yards and threw 20 touchdown passes. He followed that up as a senior with 1,575 yards and 16 touchdowns. In his career, he threw for 5,255 yards and 57 touchdowns.

As a senior, Morelli was selected to the USA Today Top 25 Supreme Team, and was a Super Prep All-American. He was rated as the second-best pro-style quarterback in the nation, the top prospect overall from Pennsylvania, and the 12th-best prospect overall in the nation by Rivals.com. He was a two-time Associated Press Class AAAA All-State pick, as well as a two-time Western Pennsylvania district all-star, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 selection.

Morelli led Penn Hills to the Western Pennsylvania district semifinals as a junior and senior. At the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp, he was voted the "Top Arm" by coaches and college counselors. He played in the 2004 Big 33 Classic. He also played basketball one year but stopped playing in order to prepare himself for football year-round. He graduated with a 3.3 grade-point average and was the recipient of the President's Education Award for outstanding academic achievement.

In 2004, Morelli made his collegiate debut as a true freshman in the season-opener vs. Akron, completing two of six pass attempts for 23 yards. He appeared in five games that season, completing 5-of-13 throws (38.5%) for 45 yards and an interception. In 2005, he played in six contests behind starter Michael Robinson. He totaled 155 yards with a score on 13-of-20 attempts (65.0%) and also ran for a touchdown.

Morelli replaced a graduated Robinson as the team's starting quarterback in 2006, setting school records as he completed 208-of-386 attempts (53.9%) for 2,424 yards, 11 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He turned the ball over four times on seven fumbles and was sacked 19 times for losses of 165 yards.

The senior quarterback topped his previous-best marks in 2007. He totaled 2,651 yards with 19 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, hitting on 234-of-402 throws (58.2%) in 13 starts. He had seven fumbles, with the opposition recovering three of those miscues and lost 131 yards on 20 sacks.

In 37 games at Penn State, Morelli started 26 times. He connected on 460-of-821 throws (56.03%) for 5,275 yards, 31 touchdowns and 19 interceptions. He rushed 92 times for losses of 121 yards (minus-1.3-yard average) and a score. He amassed 5,154 yards in total offense, as he turned the ball over seven times of 14 fumbles and was sacked 42 times for minus 319 yards.

Positives: Has a tall frame with good muscle tone, especially in the upper body, with good arm length and adequate hands … His arm strength is his best asset, as he can make all the throws, but it's easy to question his awareness and anticipation skills … Takes a lot of hits standing in the pocket, but has proven to be durable … Has decent foot speed and balance moving around the pocket, but is not a threat to run with the ball … Just adequate throwing on the move and will throw off his back foot often … Has the arm strength to generate excellent velocity to go with distance … Gets himself in position to make the throw, but will get heavy-footed … Has a high and tight delivery, showing good quickness firing the ball out, when he does not lock on to his primary target for too long … When he throws off his front foot, his zip greatly improves … Needs time to make reads, but has the accuracy to hit short-area targets in stride … Sprays a few throws going long, but when given time to step into his attempts, he gets into a good rhythm and will complete a high percentage of throws … May loft the ball too high at times, but generally shows decent touch … Can step up or out of the pocket, but is run down quickly … Can take hits and break tackles, but is not going to gain yardage with his feet.

Negatives: Needs to develop calf and thigh muscles … Has the arm strength to make all the throws, but he gets into tunnel vision with his primary targets, making poor judgment calls by forcing the ball into a crowd … Not that elusive moving around the pocket and needs to sense backside pressure better (seems to run right into the pass rusher) … Lacks ideal field instincts and waits too long to throw the ball, which results in costly interceptions … Stands tall under the rush, but needs to do a much better job with ball security -- fumbled 14 times over the last two years (also sacked 39 times, resulting in seven fumble turnovers and 18 interceptions) -- and make better decisions … Has more than enough arm strength to make all the throws, but is very inconsistent setting his feet, too often throwing off his back foot … Needs to do a better job of reading routes, as he leads the receiver too far, leaving that man open to punishing hits from a closing defense … Not that efficient in locating secondary targets and must be more decisive making reads and examining route progressions to find the open target … Pats the ball at times, telegraphing when he is going to release the ball … Not a threat as a runner, but has adequate agility moving within the pocket … Needs to develop tougher skin, as he does not take well to hard coaching (also has had an up-and-down relationship with the media).

Compares To: GUS FREROTTE-Minnesota … Morelli has possibly the best arm of any quarterback in this draft and at the very least rivals Delaware's Joe Flacco for that honor. With his size and arm strength, you would expect teams to be clamoring for Morelli's services, but he is not the most instinctive pocket passer, locks on his primary receiver, forces the ball into a crowd and lacks mobility. He needs to be in a protective system in order to produce, as he will never scare anyone rolling out of the pocket. With his arm strength, he is worth a look at the end of the draft to bring a lively arm to camp, but his marginal timing and anticipation skills make it a stretch to hope for anything more than that.

2006: Left the Michigan game (10/14) early in the third quarter after suffering a concussion.

Campus: 4.9 in the 40-yard dash … 33 1/8-inch arm length … 9 7/8-inch hands … Right-handed.

Combine: 5.07 in the 40-yard dash … 1.73 10-yard dash … 2.92 20-yard dash … 4.62 20-yard shuttle …

7.43 three-cone drill … 26 ½-inch vertical jump … 9'0" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 16 times.

Attended Penn Hills (Pittsburgh, Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach Neil Gordon … Was the most decorated quarterback to come out of the school, where he was the first four-year starter … During his junior year, he passed for 1,880 yards and threw 20 touchdown passes … Followed that up with a senior campaign in which he threw for 1,575 yards and 16 touchdowns … For his career, he threw for 5,255 yards and 57 touchdowns … As a senior, Morelli was named to the USA Today Top 25 Supreme Team, and was a Super Prep All-American … Rated as the second-best pro-style quarterback in the nation, the top prospect overall from Pennsylvania, and the 12th-best prospect overall in the nation by Rivals.com … Two-time Associated Press Class AAAA All-State pick, as well as a two-time Western Pennsylvania district all-star, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Fabulous 22 and Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Terrific 25 selection … Led Penn Hills to the Western Pennsylvania district semifinals as a junior and senior … At the Elite 11 Quarter-back Camp, he was voted the "Top Arm" by coaches and college counselors … Played in the 2004 Big 33 Classic … Also played basketball one year but stopped playing in order to prepare himself for football year-round … Graduated with a 3.3 grade-point average and was the recipient of the President's Education Award for outstanding academic achievement.

Recreation, Park and Tourism Management major … At age 10, he stepped up and fired a ball 50 yards to win the NFL's Punt, Pass and Kick competition in front of a full house at Three Rivers Stadium … Born Anthony Michael Morelli on 6/21/85 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.