Face it, offensive linemen are no one's idea of what passes for sexy. And despite the fact that they're very large men, they generally go unnoticed if everything is proceeding well and their team is driving right on down the field. They're conspicuous only when a play blows up - the quarterback is sacked or a running back thrown for a loss - and then there is no place big enough or secluded enough to conceal the burly dude who missed his block.

But there are exceptions to every stereotype and, well, Penn State sophomore Stefen Wisniewski - a second-generation Nittany Lion who is the son of former Penn State tri-captain and defensive tackle Leo Wisniewski (1979-81), and nephew of ex-Lion All-America guard Steve Wisniewski (1985-88) - appears to be the prototype for a new breed: the offensive lineman as matinee idol.

Handsome? Put Stefen in an Armani tux and he'd resemble a huskier James Bond. Fit? Don't look for the standard-issue love handles flopping over the waistband of his white football pants. Smart? Put it this way: The biggest question for Wisniewski is whether he'll gain All-America recognition sooner for his play on the field or for his excellence in the classroom. He's enrolled in Penn State's Honors College and has a 3.88 grade-point average taking courses more daunting than a day in the trenches attempting to block the opposition's best defensive linemen.

"They're different-type players," Penn State coach Joe Paterno, who is entering his 43rd season as the Lions' field leader, said when asked to compare Stefen with his esteemed family elders. "When Leo was in high school, he was a linebacker. After we recruited him, he never played above 250 or 255 pounds, but he was quick as a cat.

"But they're the same kind of people - excellent students, very prideful to do well. No matter what challenge you give them, they take it on. I think Stefen's going to be an outstanding offensive lineman."

He already is well on his way to achieving that goal. A graduate of Central Catholic High in Pittsburgh, Wisniewski started one game last season as a raw rookie - the 36-31 victory at Indiana - in the process becoming the first true freshman offensive lineman to earn that distinction since center Joe Iorio in 1999. He appeared in eight games, joining linebacker Chris Colasanti as the only true freshmen to get playing time for the Lions in their 9-4, Alamo Bowl-winning season.

Now, Wisniewski is No. 1 on the depth chart at right guard, supplanting last year's incumbent, Mike Lucian. He will be in the starting lineup when Penn State opens its season by hosting Coastal Carolina on Aug. 30 in Beaver Stadium.

"It was a great experience last year," Wisniewski said of his early trial by fire. "I had a chance to get in there and feel comfortable. Going into this year, I feel like I know my way around. I think I know what to expect."

Even Penn State's veteran road-graders acknowledge being impressed by Wisniewski, who looks to be every bit his listed 6-3 height, but somehow lighter than his 288-pound media-guide weight. Must be that flat stomach and discernible abs.

"I like to do a lot of extra stuff, after we run, after we lift," said Gerald Cadogan, the 6-5, 314-pound senior left tackle. "But Stefen does extra on top of extra. That's something that really sets him apart. His work ethic is phenomenal. He has that drive and desire to be great."

That relentless need to succeed must be a family trait. Despite his comparatively small stature, Leo Wisniewski was drafted by the Baltimore Colts in the second round of the NFL draft and played three seasons at the game's highest level. Steve Wisniewski went even farther, playing 12 years for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders and being selected to eight Pro Bowls.

Paterno fondly recalled Leo Wisniewski as someone who routinely got the better of more heralded players.

"Leo never quite got the credit he should have gotten because we had a lot of other good kids when he was here, like [Sean] Farrell and [Mike] Munchak who were No. 1 draft picks," JoePa said of those renowned Penn State offensive linemen. "But when we played Southern Cal in the [1982] Fiesta Bowl, they had two or three kids - [Bruce] Matthews and a couple of other guys - who ended up being All-Pros. They haven't blocked Leo yet. Leo made more plays that day than you could shake a stick at [and was voted the game's Outstanding Defensive Player after the Lions' 26-10 victory]."

You might think that, given his lineage, Stefen was ticketed since birth to play for Penn State. That's probably true, but, for a while, it was touch and go.

"I had an open mind," he said. "I wanted to look around and make sure I was going to the place where I'd best fit in. I liked Boston College a lot. But their coaches left right when I was being recruited, so that made it easy. I think I would have come here anyway.

"I mean, what's not to like? It's a positive that my dad and my uncle were here. I walk by their pictures on the wall every day, and it makes me smile.

"When I was a kid, I used to come here a lot . . . at least two times a year, sometimes more. I just grew to love the place. Hey, you even have Mount Nittany to look at when you're out here practicing." *