2 0 1 9 S E A S O N P R E V I E W
in the Dallas Cowboys' dra? class as a
third-round selection. When Menet was
forced to miss last year's regular-season
ensive
front last year; neither player missed a
single start. And yet, even with those
two All-Conference standouts spear-
heading a unit that featured four multi-
year starters, the Nittany Lions weren't
consistently e>ective on the ground,
nor were they able to keep the Big Ten's
better defenses away from Trace Mc-
Sorley. Penn State ensive front boasted plenty of expe-
rience, there's still substantial room for
improvement heading into the upcom-
ing season.
The good news for the Lions is that
position coach Matt Limegrover appears
to have solid replacements on hand to
round out his starting ner
capable of providing depth at any num-
ber of spots. If Penn State can avoid in-
juries, the o>ensive line has the
potential to be a team strength. –M.H.
LEFT
TACKLE
NO NAME HT WT YEAR
53 Rasheed Walker 6-6 314 So./Fr.
75 Des Holmes 6-5 314 Jr./So.
55 Anthony Whigan 6-4 297 Jr./Jr.
LEFT GUARD
74 Steven Gonzalez 6-4 349 Sr./Sr.
73 Mike Miranda 6-3 311 Jr./So.
72 Bryce E5ner 6-5 289 So./Fr.
CENTER
62 Michal Menet 6-4 312 Sr./Jr.
68 Hunter Kelly 6-2 307 Sr./Jr.
70 Juice Scruggs 6-3 294 So./Fr.
RIGHT GUARD
69 C.J. Thorpe 6-3 330 So./Fr.
73 Mike Miranda 6-3 311 So./Fr.
72 Bryce E5ner 6-5 289 So./Fr.
RIGHT TACKLE
71 Will Fries 6-6 312 Sr./Jr.
75 Des Holmes 6-5 314 Jr./So.
55 Anthony Whigan 6-4 297 Jr./Jr.
P H I L ' S T A K E
Even with Connor McGovern and Ryan Bates leaving early to enter the NFL Draft,
Penn State could enter the 2019 season with improved depth on the offensive line. Michal
Menet will anchor the line at the center position, with former walk-on Hunter Kelly
backing him up. Juice Scruggs' status for the upcoming season is unknown due to
injuries he received in a car accident. Three offensive guards – Steven Gonzalez,
C.J. Thorpe and Mike Miranda – will all receive playing time. Gonzalez is expected
to start at left guard, while Thorpe and Miranda will battle at right guard. Bryce
Effner and Des Holmes provide depth. Rasheed Walker won the starting left
tackle position in spring practice and will be backed up by juco transfer Anthony
Whigan. The right tackle spot has Will Fries as the projected starter, with
Whigan and Holmes behind him. Four-star freshman Caedan Wallace is capable
of playing guard or tackle and could compete for the third-team right tackle
spot. The offensive line returns only three starters in Menet, Gonzalez, and
Fries, but the potential of Thorpe and Miranda at guard and Walker at tackle
offers reason to believe that this unit will be able to match or exceed last year's
level of play. ■
OR
OR
OR
STEVEN
GONZALEZ
Steve Manuel
