Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1531683
F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 5 3 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M extensive experience of his career, hav- ing played 970 offensive snaps during the 2024 campaign. OTHER RETURNEES Alex Birchmeier | G | R-So. A reserve for the Nittany Lions at right guard, Birchmeier appeared in four games and tallied 32 offensive snaps in his sec- ond season in the program. He saw more frequent action on special teams, playing 89 snaps on the field goal and PAT units while appearing in all 16 games. Eagan Boyer | T | R-Fr. Boyer saw action in four regular-season games while preserving his redshirt. He played primarily right tackle but also con- tributed at the opposite spot. Boyer will be a candidate for a rotational role next season as a potential fourth tackle. Caleb Brewer | T | R-Fr. The 6-foot-4, 288-pound Brewer red- shirted as a true freshman, working to put on weight. Like fellow PSU lineman J'ven Williams, Brewer played in a run-heavy offense at Wyomissing (Pa.) High. He's a developmental player for the Nittany Lions. Cooper Cousins | G/C | So. Cousins arrived at Penn State ready to play as a true freshman. He finished his first year in a rota- tional role, picking up 172 reps and seeing action at all three interior positions. Cousins didn't make any starts, but his 44 snaps against Kent State and 31 against Maryland demonstrated the coaches' confi- dence in his abilities. Donnie Harbour | G | R-Fr. Like Brewer, Harbour spent his first season in the Penn State pro- gram with no pressure to do any- thing but develop in the weight room. Listed at 6-3, 323 pounds, he will continue to focus on the physi- cal side of the equation. Chimdy Onoh | G | R-So. Onoh saw a career-high 12 snaps against Maryland in the regular-season finale, playing left guard. He added spe- cial teams responsibilities in the Big Ten Championship Game and CFP. Dominic Rulli | C | R-Jr. The primary backup to Dawkins at center, Rulli saw 67 offensive snaps dur- ing his redshirt sophomore season. His highlight, however, was on special teams when he helped the Nittany Lions pull off a fake punt against Minnesota that produced a first down and allowed them to run out the clock in a 26-25 win. Garrett Sexton | T | R-Fr. The 6-6, 290-pound Sexton was fo- cused on the weight room and nutri- tional gains this past year. He did not ap- pear in any games for the Nittany Lions. J'ven Williams | T/G | R-So. Williams added special teams respon- sibilities as a redshirt freshman in addi- tion to his most extensive opportunity on the offensive line. While continuing to hold down his backup role at left tackle, Williams also slid inside to left guard for Penn State's blowout win at Purdue in November. NEWCOMERS Owen Aliciene | T | Fr. The 6-7, 255-pound Aliciene was among the group of early enrollees who had the opportunity to get valuable work during practices leading up to the Fiesta and Orange bowls before starting classes on Jan. 13. He's a four-star pros- pect according to On3 and the No. 20 offensive tackle in the 2025 class. Malachi Goodman | T | Fr. Goodman is listed as a four-star player by On3 and is the No. 46 over- all prospect and No. 8 offensive tackle nationally. The 6-6, 310-pound stand- out from Paramus (N.J.) Catholic is the second-ranked player in Penn State's 2025 class, trailing only tight end An- drew Olesh (No. 43 overall). Brady O'Hara | T | Fr. O'Hara played tight end at North Catholic High in the Pittsburgh area, but the 6-6, 250-pounder is expected to move to the offensive line at PSU. He's a three-star prospect and is listed by On3 as the No. 24 overall player in Pennsyl- vania in the 2025 class. T.J. Shanahan | G/C | R-So. Penn State picked up a sec- ond-year offensive line transfer from Texas A&M who instantly generated buzz as a future con- tributor. Shanahan has three seasons of eligibility remaining after earning reps both at guard and center with the Aggies in his first two years of college ball. Michael Troutman III | C | Fr. L i k e A l i c i e n e , t h e 6 -2 , 285-pound Troutman was a 2025 addition who took ad- vantage of the opportunity to participate in CFP practices. He's an On3 Industry Ranking three-star prospect, as well as the No. 52 interior lineman nationally and No. 21 player in New Jersey. Left guard Olaivavega Ioane started all 16 games and played 985 offensive snaps, the team's highest total. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS 2025 LOOK AHEAD