Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1524108
5 6 A U G U S T 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 4 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern STARTERS ★★★ Penn State had three offensive linemen selected in the first five rounds of the NFL Draft this past spring. The Nittany Lions have holes to fill up front, but a recent run of strong recruiting and a dip into the transfer portal have made this a deeper group considering the losses. Coming back to anchor the unit is super senior Sal Wormley, who is using his COVID year exemption to become a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions at right guard. While not a top pro prospect, Wormley was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection last year and has started every game since missing the 2021 season with an injury. Drafted center Hunter Nourzad will give way to veteran Nick Dawkins, who will take over on the pivot and is a good candidate to be a team captain. The fifth-year player, son of the late Philadelphia 76ers legend Darryl Dawkins, took the job in the spring and ran with it. Don't be surprised if talented true freshman Cooper Cousins also gets some time snapping this year as well. Redshirt sophomore Olaivavega Ioane and redshirt senior JB Nelson will compete for the left guard spot that both occupied last season. Nelson missed much of the spring with an injury, and Io- ane was one of the surprises of the group in April. Both are expected to play and will even rotate with Wormley. Penn State is in for a complete reset at offensive tackle, with Olumuyiwa Fashanu and Caedan Wal- lace off to the NFL. Junior Drew Shelton has been pegged as the Nittany Lions' tackle of the future since he played as a true freshman and started in the Rose Bowl against Utah. He'll man the left side, while redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh is ex- pected to battle it out with Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci on the right side. Donkoh played extensively at right tackle in the Peach Bowl and held his own. EXPERIENCE ★★★ There are separate outlooks for the interior of the line and for tackle when it comes to experience. Wormley has played a lot of football for the Nittany Lions, while Nelson and Ioane covered all 13 starts at left guard last year. Dawkins has yet to start a game, but he's a forceful personality and a team leader. The downside of having multiyear starters at tackle is that one day they'll need to be replaced. Fashanu and Wallace started 20 games apiece the past two years. Shelton made five starts down the stretch with both out of action in 2022 but started just one game last year and showed that he has plenty of growth left. On the right side, Donkoh spent much of his redshirt year in 2023 at guard but kicked out to right tackle for the Peach Bowl. He showed enough potential there to earn the projected starter label heading into the 2024 season and has a ton of up- side in the long run. Rucci went to Wisconsin as a five-star prospect out of Lititz, Pa., in the 2021 class but was a reserve for the Badgers for the most part. The Nittany Lions hope his potential will resurface now that he's back in the Keystone State. DEPTH ★★★ While not top-heavy like 2023, the group does have solid depth to lean back on. Position coach Phil Trautwein has recruited well, and a few younger players have stepped up and played ear- lier than expected. If Cousins can live up to internal expectations, he will play as a true freshman in the interior. Penn State would prefer to be deeper at tackle, but Shelton, Donkoh and Rucci should be okay. The Nittany Lions can also play Nelson at tackle, and redshirt freshman J'ven Williams should fill out the two-deep behind Shelton on the left side. OVERALL GRADE ★★★ It's easy to project a step back with three starters out the door. The returning group has some depth and talent, though. The unit will lean heavily on Dawkins at center. If he's up to the task, it can be a good group. Ioane provides the Nittany Lions with some aggression in the run game, and it could mesh well with what new offensive coordinator Andy Ko- telnicki is looking to accomplish with junior running backs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen this year. BY THE NUMBERS 4.6 Penn State's average yards per carry last season. The Nittany Li- ons finished just ahead of Michigan for the top spot in the Big Ten. 10 Number of games last year in which Penn State allowed 1 sack or fewer. PSU finished 17th nationally in sacks allowed, surrendering only 16 in 13 games. 6 Number of Penn State offensive line- men who earned All-Big Ten honors last year from the conference coaches and/or media. Returning Nittany Lions Sal Wormley, Olaivavega Ioane and JB Nelson were all hon- orable mention picks. Olaivavega Ioane started five games at left guard as a redshirt freshman last season, earning honorable men- tion All-Big Ten honors. PHOTO BY FRANK HYATT PERSONNEL POSITION COACH Phil Trautwein: Going into his fifth season in charge of the Nittany Lions' offensive line, Trautwein has earned a reputation nationally as one of the better young teachers in the game. Six of his players earned All-Big Ten honors last season, and Olumuyiwa Fashanu was named the league's Offensive Lineman of the Year before going on to become a first-round NFL Draft pick. Trautwein, a Voorhees, N.J., native and 2008 Florida graduate, will have a big job in front of him in 2024 with three of last year's starters off to the NFL. He's recruited well, however, and should lead a deep group into the fall. The Nittany Lions have fielded one of the bet- ter units in the country over the past two years. The group was named to the midseason honor roll for the 2023 Joe Moore Award, which is given to the nation's top offensive line. Penn State's line was one of 23 that were recognized last fall. RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS ALEX BIRCHMEIER R- Fr. | 6-5 | 299 • Did not see action as a true freshman guard. • Was a four-star prospect out of Broad Run High in Virginia in the class of 2023. NICK DAWKINS R-Sr. | 6-4 | 298 • Missed most of the 2022 season but played in all 13 games in 2023 at center, guard and on special teams. • Has won Academic All-Big Ten honors each of the past three years.