Two years ago, John Urschel made the trip down to Penn State from his native Buffalo to start his career as a Nittany Lion. Coming out of Canisius High School, not much was known about him other than he grabbed a late offer from Penn State and passed up a potential career in the Ivy Leagues.

Urschel carries a 4.0 GPA through two full years.

He arrived on campus for the first summer session in 2009, six weeks before his classmates were due to report. Because of the 'early' enrollment, Urschel was able to get a jump on those who were to come in with him.

"It helped me get acclimated both academically and athletically. It helped me get used to the college life, having to deal with this huge football commitment, but at the same time dealing with school," said Urschel, who speaks with the measure tones of someone twice his age.

"It's not easy."

But Urschel has made it look easy. Through two full years, he carries a 4.0 GPA as a Math major. That would be an accomplishment for any student, let alone one poised to take over a starting spot on a top-25 football squad.

"This might sound strange, but I actually don't worry about grades," he said. "I'm a math major, and I've been very blessed to be very talented at math. All my life, math has just been easy for me. I've been taking high-level math classes, I'm planning on graduating in the spring and applying for the Masters program in math."

Urschel should be the first lineman from the group of seven that came to Penn State in 2009 to make an impact. The 6-foot-3, 292-pound redshirt sophomore to be credits his discipline on the field and the weight room for his rise to the two-deep.

"It's just hard work, you just have to stay at it every day trying to get better," he said. "Our whole class has a lot of good offensive linemen, it just takes time for all of us to develop. The offensive line is one of those things that takes time to develop. Guys don't play right away as freshman or sophomores for a reason."

He spent the spring battling DeOn'Tae Pannell for the vacant right guard spot, and hopes to win the job outright in preseason practice.

"I just want to go into training with the mindset of competing," said Urschel. "The whole idea of competition is how we all get better and it's the way I can bring my game to the next level. The way it goes for is that the best five offensive linemen will play, whomever those five are. I'm just trying to improve and get better to help contribute."

Urschel has spent the early part of the summer working on his run blocking technique and putting on 'good' weight for the fall.

"I really focused on my work ethic this summer. I've focused on my mental toughness and putting some size on to get bigger," he said. "I've put on a little bit of weight, a lot of mean muscle mass. Last year I was around 280-285, in the spring I was right around 290 and right now I'm in the 290-295 range. I've just put on a decent among of lean muscle mass."

After football is over, he'll move on to his next goal, which naturally, is back at school.

"I want to get a PhD. in math," he said, smiling and without hesitation. "I've been really working at it, I've got a mentor in the math department, Professor Kaloshin, he's from Princeton and he's taken me under his wing and he's been helping me to learn a whole lot. I'm planning on taking a graduate course in the fall, so I'm trying to get up there."