UNIVERSITY PARK– Penn State has the option of playing a lot of offensive linemen.
By now, Penn State fans are well aware of that, and although seeing it in writing is positive, the reaction to those words probably wouldn’t be strong because, frankly, everybody expects strong offensive line play.
It wasn’t that way when Phil Trautwein took over as offensive line coach in 2020, and certainly wasn’t when James Franklin took over the program six years prior.
During Franklin’s local media day presser, he joked that, in 2014, the program would have welcomed beat writer Jon Sauber of the Centre Daily Times to play on the line.
“We had four offensive linemen, I think was the number when I got here, in the entire program,‘ Franklin said, “and I think now, at, like, 22, 25, something like that.”
Of those 22, 25, how many are capable of starting a Big Ten game?
DOUBLE DIGITS
Photo by Matt Lynch, Nittany Sports Now: Nolan Rucci
Right now, Trautwein feels there are eight of nine linemen who are capable of starting a Big Ten game.
His goal is for there to be 10 by the end of fall camp.
Considering five is the traditional number of starting linemen, that’s significant.
The starting lineup is set in stone in some places, but, to paraphrase Avril Lavigne, “complicated” in others.
Nick Dawkins is back for his second season, starting at center.
On the left side, Vega Ioane is back at guard and Drew Shelton is back at tackle.
So there isn’t a lot of drama there, but the right side is a different story.
At right tackle, Penn State could stick with Nolan Rucci, who was arguably the team’s best offensive lineman during last year’s College Football Playoff run.
Penn State could also play Anthony Donkoh, who, before suffering a season-ending injury in late November, was “playing as well as anybody in the country,” per Franklin.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Franklin also said that spot is up for grabs.
“I‘m not sure how it’s going to work out,” he said.
One solution could be to start Rucci at tackle and move Donkoh to guard.
But where would that leave Cooper Cousins, a former five-star recruit who is already a fan favorite as a sophomore?
It’s a good problem to have, and because of its depth, Penn State had a chance to play more linemen than required in certain situations.
“You guys also saw us last year do some six offensive lineman sets,” Franklin said. “That is, obviously, helpful from a scheme standpoint. It’s also helpful from a development standpoint when you can get six and seven offensive linemen on the field, allows those guys to get some playing time.”
THE OTHER GUYS
So aside from the five starters, who else is capable of holding their own in the Big Ten?
There’s J’ven Williams, a former five-star who can play guard or tackle and has experience entering Year III.
Alex Birchmeier was also a prized recruit from that class, and Franklin said this spring that a “light has gone on” for him.
Penn State also brought in TJ Shanahan from Texas A&M, who could push Cousins or Donkoh for the right guard spot.
So that makes eight.
As for others who might be on the rings, redshirt freshmen Garrett Sexton and Eagan Boyer are both players the coaching staff has spoken highly of in the past.
Penn State opens the 2025 season against Nevada Aug. 30 at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 on CBS.
