Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has reshuffled position groups since taking over in 2020. The Nittany Lions allowed 34 sacks in their first two seasons, but cut that number by more than half in 2023, allowing 16 sacks, second-fewest in the Big Ten. And in April's NFL Draft, Penn State selected three offensive linemen for the first time since 1996.
Trautwein is also starting to show his talent in recruiting. In-state prospects Jeven Williams and Cooper Cousins headline the 2023 and 2024 classes, with Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane blossoming into everyday starters. Penn State's offensive line is next in his 2024 ranking prediction series.
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storyline
What's the main reason Penn State has made dramatic improvements across the offensive line over the past two seasons? 3 2024 NFL Draft Picks. Left tackle Olu Fashanu (first round, New York Jets, 11th overall), right tackle Kaydan Wallace (third round, New England Patriots, 68th overall), and center Hunter Nurzad (fifth round). , Kansas City Chiefs, 159th overall) were the favorites for this tournament. The Nittany Lions are leaving a big hole that they hope to backfill with Happy Valley.
Troutwein has the production to fill those vacancies, and there's room for variation. Shelton is Fashanu's heir apparent. Nick Dawkins has become a vocal leader at Penn State's center. Ioane and Sal Wormley return to the guard spots, with right tackle getting the most attention. Will former No. 1 Penn State prospect Nolan Rucci win the spot, or will Peach Bowl player Anthony Donkoe rise to prominence? Will a young dark horse like Williams or perhaps true freshman Cousins come into the conversation?
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Alphas
Shelton has become a household name since playing in five games admirably to redshirt an injured Fashanu in 2022. Although he missed spring practice due to offseason surgery, Shelton should secure the starting spot at left tackle. Head coach James Franklin and his staff considered Shelton a co-starter at right tackle last season.
Dawkins, who is in his fifth year on campus, is the clear favorite to win the center job. A year ago, he played in 13 games, including special teams, but he stood out when his chances came late in games. Dawkins is one of the most respected players on the team, so it seems likely that he will be in the running for team captain as well.
Players you don't know yet
My cousin is a freshman and an early enrollee. By the end of his high school career, Cousins was the No. 1 prospect in the state of Pennsylvania and the No. 2 interior offensive lineman in the nation, at least according to the newspaper. 247 Sports Composite. He started his Penn State career only at center, but started at right guard in the Blue-White game in place of Wormley, who did not dress.
Cousins has been in the news ever since he signed his letter of intent in December. Coaches have consistently said he doesn't look like a freshman. Listed at 6-6, 319 pounds on the official roster, Cousins should see it all in action and compete for playing time at multiple spots this fall. There's a good chance he'll be in the starting lineup someday.
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Problems on site
As mentioned above, the main hole in Trautwein's unit at this point is at right tackle. Lucci may be the favorite given his promising pedigree and the fact that he started in the Blue-White game, but he played very little in his three years at Wisconsin. Good news? Rucci said this spring that he had already gained 15 pounds since transferring. He is also practicing at right tackle for the first time in his life, and admits that until recently he was much more comfortable at left tackle.
Along with Lucci, Donko will make a strong case for the job. He replaced Wallace in the second half of the Peach Bowl, which was a bit of a surprise at the time. But the redshirt freshman has everything measurable at 6-5 and .328, including some sneaky athleticism. He bounced around positions early in his career, but his decision at right tackle will be considered.
Can Penn State win the Big Ten with this position group?
yes. This is the least experienced Troutwein group to date, but they do have some proven work. Right tackle is a concern until someone leaves, but Penn State should feel good about the other four spots across the line.
There's also significant depth behind the projected starters in the form of occasional starter JB Nelson and promising second-year players like Williams and Alex Birchmeier. Ioane and Cousins could both play center if Dawkins struggles. At this point, it looks like Penn State can find success up front. It takes time to figure out exactly how to complete the puzzle.
Max Ralph is a senior at Penn State University studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in Sports Studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years for The Daily Collegian, the Associated Press and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and on his Instagram @mralph_59.
