Penn State has a lot of work to do on the offensive line but thanks to players like Anthony Donkoh, the unit is in position to reload, not rebuild.
Three starters from last year’s team are gone, and all three are now in the NFL.
The guy who got most of the attention, left tackle Olu Fashanu, went No. 11 overall to the Jets in this year’s draft.
But Penn State’s right tackle, Caedan Wallace, was no slouch, either. The four-year starter played what many felt was his best football last season and ended up going to the Patriots in the third round of the NFL Draft.
Donkoh is in the mix to succeed Wallace at starting right tackle, per coach James Franklin, and he’s the subjected of the latest edition of All 105, a Nittany Sports Now series profiling each Penn State player.
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 336 pounds
Hometown: Aldie, Virginia
Before Penn State: Anthony Donkoh came to Penn State after a standout career at Lightridge High School. He lettered three seasons and was the team’s MVP all three years— quite a feat for an offensive lineman since the position generally goes under appreciated. In those three seasons, Donkoh only allowed one sack. A four-star prospect, Donkoh committed to Penn State in January 2022, choosing PSU over Duke, Virginia Tech and West Virginia, among others.
Last year: Donkoh redshirted his freshman season but did appear in four games.
He had an increased role for the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss.
Donkoh played 46 snaps— he played 49 total in his first three games— and had an offensive grade of 78.7 per Pro Football Focus. That was the highest grade among Penn State’s offensive linemen and the second overall among PSU’s offensive players.
Where he stands: Franklin told reporters last week after a Thursday practice that Donkoh and veteran Nolan Rucci— who transferred in from Wisconsin over the winter— are “in a battle” for the starting right tackle position. With Rucci being older, he appears to be the favorites. But Franklin and co. like to rotate o-linemen, so in any case, Donkoh should get plenty of time in Year II.
A quote by Donkoh: “I believe, if anything, I showed my coaches that they can have belief in me and have trust in me — for me to be able to play the position in the spring and going into next season.” — Donkoh after the Peach Bowl via Tyler Donohue of Lions247.
A quote about Donkoh: “What Donkoh was able to do as a true freshman was pretty impressive. So, that’s been good.” — Franklin on Donkoh after an August practice.
