Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1454229
M A R C H 2 0 2 2 11 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M "There were probably one or two big reasons with Penn State," he said. "I love Trautwein and I think he's a great guy. I have a lot of respect for him, although I have a lot of respect for the Iowa and Illi- nois staffs as well. They're all great people at both of those schools from what I could tell during the process. But I think one of the big things was that I felt really com- fortable around Coach Traut. "But also, Penn State has a blueprint for what I'm trying to do with them. Last year, with [Harvard transfer] Eric Wilson, they took an Ivy League guy who played inside, and from May to August, which is my same timeline, they developed him enough to start some games. So, that was one of the biggest draws for me. They've done what I'm trying to do." Wilson started 12 games at left guard in his only season with the Nittany Lions and earned an invitation to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. During his official visit to campus, Nourzad learned more about how Penn State used Wilson, and he also was able to spend time with a number of current players, notably his hosts, senior interior lineman Juice Scruggs and super senior quarterback Sean Clifford. "I got along pretty well with Juice," Nourzad said. "I felt like we have pretty similar personalities. We're both pretty laid-back, just keep your nose down and work. "I also got to go to lunch with the entire offensive line, which was super cool. You have to meet everyone to know how you fit. I fit in just fine, I think. Or at least, I thought that. But yeah, I got along super well with everyone. My hosts were great, the coaches were great. It was a great visit overall." Listed at 6-foot-4, 300 pounds, Nourzad played 20 consecutive games at right tackle for Cornell. He ranked second in the Ivy League for the fewest tackles for loss allowed in 2021, while finishing 16th nationally at the FCS level. The Lions have a vacancy at tackle fol- lowing Rasheed Walker's decision to forgo his final season of eligibility, but that won't be where Nourzad plays at Penn State. One of the main reasons he's making this move is to raise his stock in the eyes of NFL scouts. Those scouts project him as either a guard or center at the pro level. "I think that I was probably playing out of position the last couple of years," he said. "Not that I wasn't doing a good job or didn't want to play there. I wanted to help the team and be there for the guys, but I know that I'm projected to play guard or center at the next level. "So, one of the biggest reasons I'm making this move is to try and get expe- rience at guard or center. I think that's just where my body fits the best, both at a higher level of college football and in the NFL." Nourzad has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Whether he uses both will de- pend on how he performs in 2022. As for when he will arrive, Cornell's se- mester ends on May 10, with final exams scheduled for May 14-21. Penn State's first summer session begins on May 16, so Nourzad should be with the team in the third week of May. ■ Dan Connor Joins Penn State Football Staff Penn State added three new analysts to its football staff in February, in- cluding former Nittany Lion and NFL linebacker Dan Connor. A six-year NFL veteran, Connor retired from playing in 2013 and took up coaching the following year. He spent two seasons at West Chester Univer- sity working with linebackers before becoming the head coach at Archbishop Carroll High in 2016. Two years later, he was named defensive coordinator at Widener University. A former five-star recruit, Connor came to Penn State in 2004 and totaled a school-record 419 tackles during his four seasons with the team. He was a two-time All-American and the 2007 recipient of the Chuck Bednarik Award, which goes to the nation's top defensive player. In 2008, Connor was a third-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers, going 74th overall. He spent four seasons in Carolina before also playing one season apiece with the Dallas Cowboys (2012) and New York Giants (2013). Connor is one of two new defensive analysts that Penn State added. The other is Rick Lyster, who was formerly part of defensive coordinator Manny Diaz's staff at Miami. The third addition to Penn State's staff is former Temple running backs coach Gabe Infante. Infante joined the Owls in 2019, earning the role of recruiting coordinator in 2021. Prior to that, he was the head coach at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia. In nine seasons, Infante compiled a 91-23 record, winning four PIAA cham- pionships. He is expected to focus on offense at Penn State. — Ryan Snyder Connor, who still holds the Penn State career record with 419 tackles, played six seasons in the NFL, including a year with the Dallas Cowboys in 2012. PHOTO COURTESY DALLAS COWBOYS