UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - One question has been asked more during this offseason than any other.

From the final snap at the Capital One Bowl to the middle of Youngstown State game week, the debate of who would be under center on Saturday afternoon to begin the 2010 season has been endless.  The starting quarterback for the Nittany Lions in 2010 has been a mystery for eight full months.

But we now have an answer.

In a GoPSUsports.com exclusive, Coach Paterno has named freshman Robert Bolden the starting quarterback for Saturday's season-opener against Youngstown State after practice on Wednesday.  The Orchard Lake, Mich., native has emerged as the man who will take Saturday's first snap from fifth-year senior center Doug Klopacz.

Bolden enrolled in classes at Penn State in May after a standout scholastic career at St. Mary's Prep high school.  He spent the summer working with the Nittany Lion receiving corps to build timing while learning the ropes of being a student-athlete in collegiate athletics.  Bolden entered camp as one of four players in the mix to become the starting quarterback.

As GoPSUsports.com revealed over the weekend, that list was trimmed to three players on the latest preseason depth chart - Bolden, redshirt sophomore Matt McGloin and sophomore Kevin Newsome.  All three quarterbacks split snaps with the first and second team during preseason camp.  All three players split time at practice earlier this week.

But Bolden has been named the starter for Saturday's clash with Youngstown State. Saturday will mark history when No. 1 takes the field with the first team offense.  It will mark the first time since Sept. 14, 1992, that a true freshman quarterback led the Nittany Lions on the field.  Wally Richardson started in a 49-8 victory for the Lions over Temple.

The All-Sports Blog's first look at Bolden came mid-way through preseason camp.  The Michigan native looked the part of a quarterback on the first play we saw.  Bolden has superb physical attributes to go along with very good poise in the pocket.

The 6-4, 208-pound quarterback has a strong, accurate arm with good instincts of where to put the football.  Bolden has illustrated an ability to make plays throughout preseason camp.  Seeing Bolden toss a pair of touchdowns in a matter of plays during the scrimmage the All-Sports Blog attended demonstrated what type of talent the true freshman brings to the table.

When the depth chart was revealed on Sunday, one thing stood out in my mind.  Seeing Bolden's name listed on the same line with McGloin and Newsome gave a good indicator of how impressed the coaching staff was with Bolden during camp.  To put a player who arrived on campus in May on the top line of the depth chart spoke volumes about the things he was able to accomplish during preseason practices.

We still expect to see multiple quarterbacks on Saturday, as Coach Paterno mentioned at his press conference on Tuesday afternoon and in today's announcement.  All three players have played well during the preseason. Look for McGloin and Newsome to also see time against Youngstown State.

For now, though, the Penn State offense is in the hands of true freshman Robert Bolden.  The Michigan native has been named the starting quarterback for the opening game of Coach Paterno's 45th season as head coach of the Nittany Lions.  Make plans to be at Beaver Stadium on Saturday to watch Bolden open an exciting new chapter in Penn State football lore.