Nobody knows for sure who Penn State will start at left tackle in Week 1.
It could be Malachi Goodman. Goodman is a a 6-foot-6, 330-pounder who came to the program last season as a five-star recruit.
It could be Owen Aliciene. Aliciene is a 6-foot-7, 303-pounder who also played his freshman season last year.
Coach Matt Campbell also loves Garrett Sexton. Sexton is the most experienced of the three, who is entering his third season and appeared in all 13 games last year.
“I mean, there are three guys that have had really great all seasons,” Campbell told Penn State reporters in Chicago ahead of Big Ten Media Days Tuesday morning. “Garrett Sexton’s a 4.0 student. Garrett Sexton is a guy that has physically, I mean, put on twenty pounds since we’ve gotten here. I don’t know if there is physically a more dominating-looking football player, and what he’s done in his six months has been super impressive.”
This February at a media availability held during THON weekend, veteran Anthony Donkohtalked about what Sexton brings to the table.
“The biggest thing is size,” Donkoh said via Lions247. “When he first came in, Garrett was light for the tackle position, and you can’t be light as an offensive lineman. He’s grown a lot physically, and that’s going to help him get to the next step in his career.”
Donkoh also spoke highly of Sexton’s IQ during that availability.
“Garrett is so smart,” he said. “Garrett is extremely smart. And he’s very technical, which helps him. The thing that was hurting him was not being big enough as an offensive lineman. Now he’s at the size he needs to be to be able to play really well. I can’t wait to see him put it all together.”
Campbell also said that Goodman “has had a tremendous offseason” and has an approach to match his talent.
New offensive line coach Ryan Clanton gave a detailed description of Goodman’s strength in an interview with reporters during spring practice.
“I like to play defense (during practice) so that you can feel the contact and see the communication piece of it,” Clanton said. “But that didn’t feel good. … He put his hands through my heart.”
Clanton also said Goodman “can glide.”
“He’s long, he’s aggressive and he’s smart,” Clanton said. “He does a good job of retaining information. Put him out there on the field, and he plays confident. You forget how young he is sometimes.”
Campbell said that Aliciene is a guy “that’s really matured as well.”
“I think he’s up to almost 305, 306 pounds three hundred and six pounds as of Monday- and a guy that I think has really benefited from a great offseason,” Campbell said, “and he has great skill and great talent too.”
Campbell then pointed out that these three don’t have much game experience, with just 53 total snaps between them, and that this will be helped by fourth-year veteran Donkoh.
Donkoh is projected to start at right tackle in 2026, but has experience on the left side, which could be an asset.
Penn State also has an experienced group of tight ends (Gabe Burkle, Ben Brahmer, Andrew Rappleyea) that could help in the blocking department.
Penn State is having to replace four of its five starters, with Donkoh being the only returner.
But Campbell feels there’s plenty of experience.
“Maybe they haven’t played together in a game, but there’s a lot of experience, right?” Campbell said. “I think when you talk about Donkoh, you talk about Cooper Cousins and Trevor Buhr, is a three-year starter, two and a half-year starter. Brock Riker is a guy that’s played a ton of football. Dom Rulli is a guy that’s played a ton of football. Young guys, Vaea (Ikakoula) is a guy that’s played a lot of football. There is a lot of football that’s been played, and I think part of coming together—that happens every year—you know, but I do think playing is critical and now playing together.”
