Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1503568
A U G U S T 2 0 2 3 5 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / O F F E N S I V E L I N E M E N / / / / / / / PERSONNEL POSITION COACH Phil Trautwein: In his first two seasons — the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign and a 2021 slate that went sideways after a 5-0 start — Penn State didn't see the improvements it had hoped for when it hired Trautwein away from Boston College. But by the end of the 2022 campaign, any doubts were alleviated significantly. Trautwein was credited with guiding the offen- sive line to undeniable improvement in its pass protection while helping then-freshmen Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen both finish among the Big Ten's top 13 rushers last fall. Along the way, five of his offensive linemen earned All-Big Ten recognition. And all of that happened even as the Nittany Lions were hav- ing to overcome a series of health setbacks. Two players — left tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu and left guard Landon Tengwall — went down with what would turn out to be season-ending inju- ries, while right tackle Caedan Wallace missed five games and Tengwall's replacement, Hunter Nourzad, played hurt for much of the year. Trautwein managed to juggle it all so well that Penn State earned a season-best pass blocking grade (78.3) from Pro Football Focus in its regular- season finale against Michigan State. RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS NICK DAWKINS R-Jr. | 6-4 | 321 • After playing in 11 games in 2021, primarily on special teams, Dawkins was forced into a redshirt due to an injury last season. • Has twice won Academic All-Big Ten notice. OLUMUYIWA FASHANU Jr. | 6-6 | 319 • Was injured late in PSU's loss to Ohio State on Oct. 29 and missed the rest of the year. • Was a consensus choice to go in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft before deciding to re- turn for his fourth season. • Started eight games at left tackle in his first season as the full-time starter and didn't give up a sack. OLAIVAVEGA IOANE R-Fr. | 6-4 | 350 • Played in four games during a redshirt season with the Lions in 2022. • Was named the scout team's offensive player of the week for his performance leading into the season opener at Purdue. • Saw a season-high 16 snaps in Penn State's win over Michigan State, notching a pass-blocking grade of 76.5 from Pro Football Focus. GOLDEN ISRAEL-ACHUMBA R-Jr. | 6-4 | 336 • Has seen action in four games in his three sea- sons at Penn State, playing on special teams. • Was a four-year letterman and a team captain as a senior at DeMatha Catholic in Maryland. JB NELSON R-Jr. | 6-5 | 332 • Played in four games during his first season with the Nittany Lions, serving as a key reserve in a Nov. 5 win at Indiana. • Recorded a season-high 77 snaps against the Hoosiers, as well as 28 snaps in a win over Central Michigan in September. HUNTER NOURZAD R-Sr.+ | 6-3 | 315 • Moved to center ahead of his bonus year of eligibility at Penn State. • Saw action in 11 games in 2022, making eight starts and earning offensive player of the game honors for his performance at Auburn. • Named honorable mention All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. • Allowed no pressures during a three-game stretch against Minnesota, Ohio State and Indiana. DREW SHELTON So. | 6-5 | 308 • Started the final five games of the 2022 season at left tackle in relief of the injured Olumuyiwa Fashanu. • Recorded 72 or more offensive snaps in wins over Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers and Michigan State last November. LANDON TENGWALL R-So. | 6-6 | 317 • Started the first five games of the season at left guard before an injury prior to the Michi- gan game sidelined him the rest of the way. • Produced a season-high PFF pass-blocking grade of 85.1 in a win over Ohio in Week 2. IBRAHIM TRAORE R-Jr. | 6-5 | 323 • Has not seen game action in his first three years on campus. • Sidelined by an injury in 2022. CAEDAN WALLACE R-Sr. | 6-5 | 341 • Started the first seven games of the season at right tackle last season before an injury forced him out following a win over Minnesota. • Has 27 career starts at right tackle during his three seasons of action. SAL WORMLEY R-Sr. | 6-3 | 324 • Rebounded from a season-ending knee injury in '21 to start all 13 games at right guard in '22. • Earned PSU's offensive player of the game rec- ognition against Auburn and Northwestern. NEWCOMERS ALEX BIRCHMEIER Fr. | 6-5 | 301 • Considered a four-star prospect and the No. 56 overall player, No. 3 interior offensive lineman and No. 1 player in Virginia in the 2023 recruit- ing cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking. ANTHONY DONKOH Fr. | 6-5 | 335 • Was a three-time team MVP at Lightridge High in Aldie, Va. • Rated a three-star prospect and the No. 487 overall player, No. 42 interior offensive line- man and No. 12 player in Virginia in the 2023 cycle, per the On3 Industry Ranking. CHIMDY ONOH Fr. | 6-5 | 275 • Credited with 46 pancake blocks and allowed just 1 sack as a senior at Dundalk (Md.) High. • Listed as a four-star prospect and the No. 228 overall player, No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 5 player in Maryland in the 2023 cycle. J'VEN WILLIAMS Fr. | 6-5 | 313 • Named an all-state performer in 2021 and '22. • Was a four-star prospect and the No. 43 over- all player, No. 1 interior offensive lineman and No. 1 player in Pennsylvania in the 2023 cycle. Right guard Sal Wormley was one of two Penn State offensive linemen to start all 13 games last season. The other was center Juice Scruggs, who has since moved on to the NFL. PHOTO BY DANIEL ALTHOUSE