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By Eric Thomas, Assistant Sports Editor, Aug. 27, 2008

Last updated: Wednesday, August 27, 2008 7:22 AM EDT

The great Penn State quarterback debate is over.

It’s Daryll Clark’s job to lose.

Joe Paterno held a meeting with his three quarterbacks Monday after practice and informed them what most had expected all along. Clark, a senior who could gain an extra year of eligibility, will start when the Nittany Lions tangle with Coastal Carolina in the 2008 season opener Saturday at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is set for noon, the Big Ten Network will televise.

It’s expected that Pat Devlin and Paul Cianciolo will both see action in Saturday’s contest as well.

During the preseason Paterno had indicated that it was a three-man race for the starting job, adding that he still feels any one of the three could start and get the job done.

In recent weeks it’s become clear that it was down to Clark and Devlin.

“All three kids have practiced really well and all three of them can get the job done,” Paterno said during his weekly teleconference Tuesday. “Clark’s got a little more experience, he’s had a good spring practice and a really good preseason, so we’re going to go with Clark, start him but I don’t want him going in there looking over his shoulder.”

Paterno said that the competition was “very close,” but that Clark should “take precedent and I think he will do very well.”

It’s expected the Nittany Lions will revert to some of their offensive tendencies used during the 2005 season under dual-threat Michael Robinson.

Earlier Tuesday wide receiver Deon Butler told reporters that the team had not yet been notified who the starter was but that the team was practicing some formations they’ve used in the past.

Clark’s ability to present a run-pass threat, coupled with his experience over Devlin, gave him the best chance to pull ahead of the other two headed into the opener.

“I think being No. 2 (behind Anthony Morelli) last year helped. The amount of reps he got in practice, having to prepare to play, one down and he was the quarterback and there were some things we knew he could do,” Paterno said.

“You don’t have to be a genius to figure out that Clark was the guy that should have developed into the guy that should be the one and I think it’s to Devlin and Cianciolo’s credit that they have fought him.”

Clark’s only significant action to this point in his career came when he directed an 80-yard drive against Notre Dame in 2006, and last December in the Alamo Bowl when he recharged a stagnant Nittany Lion offense that, at the time, trailed Texas A&M 14-0. Clark finished the bowl game with 50 yards on just six carries and a critical touchdown.

Clark has attempted just 36 passes in his first three years and only nine a season ago.

“I still don’t want to go into the season with the idea you have a three quarterback system,” Paterno said. “I think Clark ought to go in there and have a little fun playing. He’s worked hard to get it and hopefully we’re going to be able to get Devlin a chance to go in there and show what he can do and the guy I’m most concerned with is whether we can get Paul an opportunity to show what he has.”

“(It was) three guys, sitting around a table, I’m telling them what was going to be obvious, (Clark) smiled and I said to the other two kids ‘you guys OK with that? Yeah. Let’s go win.’ That was it. You’re talking about a three, four minute meeting.”

Paterno said he has no blueprint for how he will get Devlin into the game, but he will play. It doesn’t appear that the starting job is going to be based on a week-to-week schedule.

Other highlights from Paterno’s weekly chat

-Despite being listed as the third string tight end on Monday’s depth chart, Paterno said junior Andrew Quarless is “probably behind (Mickey) Shuler.” Quarless was suspended for two underage drinking violations and Paterno was waiting for his summer grades to come back which he said were fine. Redshirt freshman Andrew Szczerba would be the third tight end with Quarless’ move up the depth chart.

-Along the offensive line, if depth becomes a major issue, such as an injury to starting left tackle Gerald Cadogan, there are enough versatile pieces for the Lions to make do. They can slide Dennis Landolt into the left tackle spot and move Lou Eliades into the guard spot. Paterno also mentioned Mike Lucian as another piece that could swap spots if need be.

-Paterno said that converted safety Chaz Powell moved over to offense due to his athleticism, adding that with Derrick Williams expected to do so many things offensively, Powell is the one who can duplicate Williams the most, should the senior receiver go down. Paterno added that there is a logjam in the secondary as well, making the move easier.

-Both Jared Odrick and Jerome Hayes are ready to go this weekend coming off season-ending injuries, though Paterno added that Odrick has had some lingering effects of his broken ankle. That has enabled Milton Hershey product Abe Koroma to cement the starting left defensive tackle job over Odrick for the opener.

-Responding to whether or not defensive tackle Devon Still will miss the entire season, Paterno confirmed he will not play in 2008. Still broke his ankle, similar to Odrick’s injury, in a team scrimmage two weeks ago. He missed the 2007 season with a torn ACL. He could apply for a sixth year when the time comes.

-Paterno said one of the areas he is concerned with is the linebacking corps.

“It isn’t like when we lined up Posluszny, Connor and Lee. We have a bunch of kids that are going to be good, but there’s a lot of things they’re going to have to adjust to,” Paterno said.

“(Josh) Hull is probably the only kid who’s played much, he and (Tyrell) Sales, and the way the game is played today, it’s a fast level and there’s so much going on you’d like to be able to say you’re two-deep across the board at the three linebackers.”

Paterno mentioned redshirt Nate Stupar and true freshman Mike Mauti as being able to provide depth at the position.