Blue White Illustrated

March 2022

Penn State Sports Magazine

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5 4 M A R C H 2 0 2 2 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State has been prioritizing offen- sive linemen as it assembles its 2023 recruiting class, and it landed another one when Anthony Donkoh committed on Jan. 28. Listed at 6-foot-4, 310 pounds, Donkoh plays on both the offensive and defensive lines at Lightridge High School in Aldie, Va. Head coach James Franklin and assistant Phil Trautwein recruited him to play on offense. Holding a 3.8 grade-point average, Donkoh said academics played a major part in his decision. "I decided to commit now because of a few reasons," he said. "One thing I like is that they have the major I want to pursue. I want to pursue mechanical engineering, and Penn State is known as having one of the best engineering programs in the States. That's probably the main reason why I wanted to go there. "But another big reason is the coaches. They're incredibly nice people. I never ex- pected to be welcomed the way I was wel- comed when I got there. They really wel- comed me with open arms and were just so chill. Also, the campus is just beautiful." Donkoh's recruitment moved quickly. After earning a scholarship offer from Virginia Tech last April, he also picked up an offer from Duke in June. His remaining three offers — Penn State, West Virginia and Liberty — all came in the past two months. Virginia Tech hosted him for a visit back in October to attend its game against Notre Dame, but Penn State was the only other school he checked out, doing so on Jan. 15. "The campus is beautiful. I've never seen a big campus like that before. That really blew me away," Donkoh said. "Also, seeing the stadium up close, that blew me away, too. I never expected to be standing inside one of the biggest stadiums in the United States, and really the entire world. That's just crazy. But the visit overall was a really good time. I learned a lot about the school and felt comfortable with everyone at Penn State." Rated a three-star prospect in the On3 Consensus, Donkoh said his relationship with Trautwein was a major reason why he felt confident making a decision now. "Coach Trautwein is just such a cool guy. He's incredibly nice, but very hon- est, too," Donkoh said. "There are some coaches who are very friendly, but I can't really see them turning that switch and becoming the kind of coach you need to push you. I feel like I'll get that from Coach Trautwein. He's a really cool guy, but I know he's also the kind of coach who can coach you hard. I really respect that about him." It isn't yet known which position Donkoh will play at Penn State. His height suggests that guard would be best, but he also has a 35-inch reach, which is long enough for him to play tackle. Donkoh has played left guard in high school. Lightridge coach Bobby Eavenson said that's where he's been able to have the biggest impact on the team's success. "He really just made our offense go," Eavenson said. "He played 100 percent of the snaps that mattered. We only took him out if the game was out of hand one way or the other." ■ Virginia Standout Brings Versatility To PSU's Offensive Front RYA N S N Y D E R | S N Y D E R 4 2 0 8 8 @ G M A I L . C O M COMMITMENT PROFILE ANTHONY DONKOH Donkoh became the third offensive lineman from Virginia to commit to PSU during the 2023 cycle, joining Alex Birchmeier and Joshua Miller. PHOTO COURESY THE DONKOH FAMILY Penn State's commitment from three-star offensive line prospect Anthony Donkoh was a bit of a surprise. No one had him as a top prospect for assistant coach Phil Trautwein at this point in the process. But when you look at the 6-foot-4, 310-pound athlete on film, it's easy to see why the Nittany Lions pounced on him early. STRENGTHS Length/tools: Donkoh's arm length — 34 to 35 inches — is the sort of anomaly that you crave as an offensive line coach, and it immediately opens up a conversation about his ability to play tackle at the next level. Run blocking: It's not just his size that stands out; Donkoh's blocking intelligence is clear. He does an excellent job of double- teaming the point of attack and then climb- ing to the second level. Pad level: Donkoh's initial pad level out of his stance is incredible, especially for a player with his length. AREAS OF DEVELOPMENT Stiffness: One of the mitigating factors to Donkoh playing tackle is his relative stiffness in motion. It may seem contradictory, con- sidering we just praised his pad level at the snap. The problems seem to develop more in open space. Pass protection: Donkoh is assignment- driven in his pass protection. He's looking to guard his gap and find his player. Yet, there are too many times when opponents get a free run at the quarterback. At a certain point, you need to block somebody. Donkoh is not lazy by any means, but he hasn't seemed to master the concept of "looking for work" in his pass protection. PROJECTION Tackle: Penn State sees Donkoh as a ris- ing prospect with tackle abilities. That's a very fair way to look at his skills and film. While the movement skills in open space raise concerns, his assets outweigh those reservations. Guard: The limitations that he shows make him a better fit at guard than at tackle. For now, at least. His power and length can be considerable assets to Penn State's inside blocking schemes, giving them a player with explosive potential. — Thomas Frank Carr P L A Y E R E V A L U A T I O N

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