The Big 33 game, and the practices leading up to it, are serving as another proving ground for Malik Generett.

Fortunately, a rough landing the other day didn't knock him out of action, like another of his teammates.

Generett, a recent William Penn graduate, is a 6-foot-5, 210-pound all-state receiver bound for the University of Connecticut at the end of the month.

But first comes the annual Big 33, the prestigious all-star game which matches a Pennsylvania team against one from Ohio on Saturday at 7 p.m. in Hersheypark Stadium.

And it hasn't been an easy week for some of the area players.

Steel High and Penn State-bound defensive lineman Jordan Hill aggravated an ankle injury at practice and reportedly will miss the game. Hershey tight end Gary Gilliam, another new Nittany Lion, apparently was ill at practice on Tuesday.

Then there's Generett, who some practice observers described as the best receiver on the field.

On Monday, he stretched high to make an off-balance catch in the end zone on a fade route -- only to get hit as he pulled in the ball, falling hard on his back and slamming his head into the turf.

He got up slowly and stayed on one knee for a few moments until coaches rushed over to check on him. He went to the sideline for a while with an ice pack on his neck but began practicing again later and went through full workouts on Tuesday.

He doesn't believe he suffered a concussion.

"My head bounced off the ground kind of hard, and I was

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dizzy," Generett said. "I had some stiffness in my neck but other than that I was OK.

"I wouldn't say it was scary, but (everyone) wanted to make sure everything was all right. I never had a concussion before."

That touchdown pass came from Curtis Drake, the Philadelphia-area quarterback who plans on getting his first shot as a receiver at Penn State this summer. Generett also made a one-handed touchdown grab in practice.

"He's got the body and the size and he definitely uses that to his advantage," Drake said. "The way he uses that size to get between the man and the ball when he goes up on smaller defenders, that's his best asset."

At least the toughest part of the week could be over now for Generett. After two workouts today, players will go through only one practice on Thursday and another on Friday in preparation for the game.

"He's had a great week," said Clearfield High's Tim Janocko, the head coach for the Pennsylvania team. "He has great size and good leaping ability. He's definitely a force. ... He carries himself very well."

On June 28, Generett will head to Connecticut to begin his career with head coach Randy Edsall, a Susquehannock High grad.

Generett is not sure whether he will redshirt or play as a true freshman.

"I'm hoping to play," he said, "but I just want everything to go smoothly and get the playbook down."
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