Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1516624
M A R C H 2 0 2 4 31 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / P L A Y E R B I O S / / / / / / / coming,'" the coach recalled. "And that was the end of it. "He's a high-profile guy who knew this is where he wanted to be. The fam- ily was comfortable, and they never wa- vered. They were awesome the whole time. He became a leader within the class and was helping us get other guys. He's coming in early and is going to have a chance to compete." A Wrecking Ball Without having to worry about re- cruiting, Cousins had time to focus on the future. He visited Penn State 22 times during his recruitment, including many trips to attend camps in which he was able to work with future position coach Phil Trautwein. Cousins lifted, he practiced, and he got better … a lot better. Just before enrolling at PSU in Janu- ary, he showed the recruiting world how much better he'd gotten when he traveled to San Antonio to participate in the All- American Bowl. Offensive linemen aren't typically the main attraction at showcase games like that, but at this game, every- body took note that Cousins was a wreck- ing ball in the middle. In late January, he was elevated to five-star status by On3. "We knew he would be physical and feisty, but we didn't know just how vio- lent he would truly be when facing some of the top competition in the country," On3's Cody Bellaire said. "Throughout the week, Cousins was powerful at the point of attack. He finished blocks in the run game and was battling through the whistle during one-on-ones. His move- ment skills were on full display during nine-on-seven and team periods. "Cousins showed he could climb to the next level with ease and wall off defend- ers to clear out running lanes. Among the offensive linemen on hand, Cousins never looked out of place or uncomfortable. He handled the step up in competition with flying colors and made his presence felt throughout the entire week of practice. "The Penn State signee capped off the week with multiple pancakes and strong pass sets during the All-American Bowl. Cousins stepped up to the occasion and proved he can handle blocking some of the most talented players in America." Cousins had gone into the game with the same mindset that got him there in the first place. Soft-spoken off the field, the 6-foot-6, 319-pounder spent his high school career tossing defensive linemen in Northwestern Pennsylvania. Along the way he wrestled, and played basketball and baseball as well. Positional Versatility Cousins' size, balance and leverage make him a rare prospect at the college level. He has the length and ability to be an offensive tackle but also has the attri- butes to play in the middle. In fact, he was promptly pegged as the Nittany Lions' center of the future when he committed. "Coop's an unusual guy," Franklin said. "First of all, he can play all five posi- tions. You don't usually see a 6-foot-6, 320-pound guy play center. That's un- usual. "He came to every camp. That was unique. We played him at tackle, and he showed he could do it. He's got a nasty streak, and he doesn't look like a high school kid. He's a lean 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, which is unusual." Unusual was a good word to use in evaluating Cousins. He spent nearly a year as Penn State's only commitment in the class of 2024 before linebacker Anthony Speca joined him in January 2023. There was no recruiting drama on his end, and when it came time for classmates to join him, he was ready as a leader of the class. He's waited long enough, and now it's time for the next step. He'll start his Penn State career at center with a shot to play early, a rarity for young offensive linemen. "I'll play anywhere that gets me on the field and helps the team," Cousins said. "That's all I really care about." ■ Cousins took 22 trips to State College during his recruitment, including numerous visits for football camps in which he was able to work with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein. PHOTO COURTESY COOPER COUSINS "He's a high-profile guy who knew this is where he wanted to be." J A M E S F R A N K L I N O N C O U S I N S