Penn State has plenty of young players it would like to keep around into what’s going to be a new era for the program.
Sophomore OL Cooper Cousins is one of those players, and he spoke with reporters via Zoom Wednesday morning.
Another one of those players is fellow offensive lineman Malachi Goodman, a former five-star currently in the home stretch of his true freshman season.
Goodman hasn’t gotten any snaps yet, which is normal for a true freshman.
But as somebody who is around Goodman every day on the practice field, in the film room and elsewhere, Cousins likes what he sees, and he talked about it Tuesday.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.WHAT COUSINS SAID
“When every high school kid comes in, it’s definitely a learning curve. To learn new things, to learn different techniques, and I thought he’s done a great job of handling that well. His pass pro is elite for someone as young as he is. As far as the run game, he’s doing a phenomenal job, and with him, he’s just continually getting better each and every single day. That’s huge for a freshman, is just continuously growing, and that’s what he’s been doing this entire year. So super happy for him, super proud of him.”
THE SCOUTING REPORT
A little more than a month after Goodman signed with Penn State, 247Sports’ Hudson Standish gave him a player evaluation that matches up with what Cousins said.
“The highest-rated recruit from New Jersey’s Paramus Catholic since the school produced Top-100 recruits Jabrill Peppers, Rashan Gary, and Drew Singleton in the 2010s,” Standish wrote. “Measured in at 6-foot-5.5, 320 pounds with 10-inch hands, ideal arm length, and a nearly 6-foot-11 wingspan at the Navy All-American Bowl in San Antonio. Owns a wide frame with a thick lower half and showcases elite initial hand quickness that results in jarring punch power. One of the better offensive linemen in the 2025 recruiting cycle at climbing to the second level to pick off linebackers while maintaining the block on his initial assignment. Displays excellent reactionary athleticism in pass sets and responds well to counters from speedier pass-rushers if he isn’t able to stymie them upon initial contact. Functional strength in the upper and lower body is backed up by 46-7.25 foot personal best in the Shot Put in the Spring of 2024. Young for the 2025 recruiting cycle, and will enroll in college at 17 years old. Still has some technical refinement needed before he is ready to compete for a job at the next level, but could bake into a positionally flexible multi-year starter for a CFP contender with significant NFL Draft upside.”
With Penn State looking for a coach to replace James Franklin, who was fired last month, the future of Goodman and the rest of his teammates is uncertain. But for whoever the next coach is, keeping Goodman must be a priority.
