Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 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 / / / / / / / 2023 vs. 2024: Stock Up Or Down? Penn State figures to reap the benefits this year of position coach Phil Traut- wein's strong recruiting. He's signed nine high school players in the past three classes with four- or five-star grades from On3, and he added another former five-star prospect in January when redshirt junior Nolan Rucci transferred in from Wisconsin. Seven of those players are likely to appear on the two-deep, and five are in contention for starting positions. Still, you don't lose a first-round NFL Draft pick (tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu) along with two other draftees (tackle Caedan Wallace and center Hunter Nourzad), and just carry on as if nothing has changed. The Lions' stock here is down a bit, but perhaps not for long. X-Factor Is junior left tackle Drew Shelton ready to step into one of the offense's most critical positions? A year ago, Drew Allar knew his blind side was going to be well-protected; Fashanu didn't give up a sack in 382 pass-blocking snaps. It would be unfair to expect Shelton — or anybody — to replicate the per- formance of one of Penn State's all-time greatest offensive linemen, but the former four-star prospect from Downingtown, Pa., will need to keep Allar out of harm's way if the offense is going to reach its potential. Freshman Outlook Redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh has a shot at winning the starting right tackle position. The former four-star prospect from Aldie, Va., battled Rucci in spring practice, and their duel is expected to continue into preseason camp. Donkoh appeared in four games last season, including 46 snaps at right tackle in the Peach Bowl, for which he earned a 78.7 score from Pro Football Focus, the second-highest offensive grade on the team. Cooper Cousins, a five-star prospect from Erie, Pa., and the highest-rated player in Penn State's 2024 class, came out of spring drills behind redshirt senior Nick Dawkins at center. Even if Dawkins wins that battle as expected, Cousins figures to see action this fall at both center and guard. After transferring from Wisconsin in January, former five-star prospect Nolan Rucci is in contention for the Lions' starting right guard position. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL that I'm the best center in the country," he said. "I've worked my dang tail off to be that and to be in the position that I'm in. I think there are a lot of guys in this world who have more talent than I do, but I promise you that they will never out- work me." James Franklin said last fall that Dawkins was almost named a captain by his peers ahead of the 2023 season. Given that he was an expected backup at the time, it was quite a statement for the type of leadership that he could bring to the room as a starter. "Nick is just really smart, really char- ismatic, and isn't afraid to lead by actions and verbally, which you don't see as much anymore with young men," Franklin said. "He's able to do that because he holds himself to that standard. I think every- body respects him when he speaks up." It's the opportunity of a lifetime for Dawkins, who is the son of the late leg- endary NBA dunker Darryl Dawkins. He's hopeful that the work will manifest it- self when the Nittany Lions take the field against West Virginia on Aug. 31. "I've been ready for this opportunity," Dawkins said. "Ever since I committed here, I've visualized being the guy that is making plays for his team and being a leader for this team. I visualized it into a reality. "I've always been a guy that has done all my work in the background. I've been an understudy for a lot of guys, and I think what's done in the dark will be revealed in the light. The work that I've put in over the last five years is something I take a lot of pride in. I've consciously been carving the best version of myself and the best version for this team." ■ Scholarship Players (15) No. Player Yr. Ht. Wt. CENTER 50 Cooper Cousins Fr. 6-6 315 53 Nick Dawkins R-Sr. 6-4 298 GUARD 63 Alex Birchmeier R-Fr. 6-5 299 71 Olaivavega Ioane R-So. 6-4 346 56 JB Nelson R-Sr. 6-5 327 77 Sal Wormley R-Sr.+ 6-3 335 TACKLE 64 Eagan Boyer Fr. 6-8 273 68 Anthony Donkoh R-Fr. 6-5 336 55 Chimdy Onoh R-Fr. 6-5 323 72 Nolan Rucci R-Jr. 6-8 317 70 Garrett Sexton Fr. 6-6 289 66 Drew Shelton Jr. 6-5 306 74 J'ven Williams R-Fr. 6-5 306 OFFENSIVE LINE* 73 Caleb Brewer Fr. 6-4 279 57 Donnie Harbour Fr. 6-3 329 * Position to be determined