Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1535618
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 5 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M talking about it this fall. That's the na- ture of offensive line play. The better it is, the more likely that it goes unnoticed. But rest assured, the PSU coach- ing staff knows the extent to which the team's ambitious goals are contingent on the performance of the guys up front. Given the talent they've amassed, there's ample reason to believe those goals are attainable. "We look like a really athletic offensive line, but we're not small," offensive co- ordinator Andy Kotelnicki said. "We've got some big boys who can run and are powerful. It's a big deal. "I've said this publicly before — we'll go as far as our offensive line will take us as a football program. That's probably true of every program. People don't want to talk about that because they want to talk about quarterbacks and skill players. But the reality is, every championship team has got great line play on both sides of the ball." ■ By the time the 10-day spring transfer portal window closed on April 25, seven Penn State players had said their goodbyes to State College. What will be the impact of their departures? Let's take a look at the sting factor. HURTS The test here is straightforward: Does the loss of this player force Penn State to change its plans for the 2025 season? Two players check that box: linebacker Ta'Mere Robinson and offensive lineman JB Nelson. Coach James Franklin admitted after the Blue-White Game that Robin- son had caught the staff off-guard with his decision to leave ahead of his redshirt sophomore season. (He later signed with USC.) "We lost someone we did not anticipate losing," Franklin said. "We aren't a big portal team, but we're going to address some issues. If there is a linebacker out there who wants to be a part of our program and play for LBU, the most historic linebacker program in the history of college football, there's an opportunity to join the room. "I think we have enough in the room, but getting through a season with potential injuries could be challenging. We're going to look in the portal soon and see if we can find a solution." To help fortify their depth chart, the Lions signed North Carolina middle linebacker Amare Campbell on May 6. Campbell started 13 games and had 76 tackles for a Tar Heels defense that struggled mightily last season. The 6-foot, 230-pound junior will need to get up to speed quickly this summer. Penn State's other noteworthy loss this spring was Nelson, a versatile veteran who will now finish up his career at Kansas State. Franklin might debate the senior's inclusion here given that the Lions have a seemingly excellent option at guard in sophomore Cooper Cousins, a former five-star prospect who impressed in his first year on campus. But even so, position coach Phil Trautwein will miss the positional flexibility and experience that Nelson brought to Penn State's offense. NOT NOTHING Graduate defensive end Smith Vilbert announced well before the portal opened that he was moving on. He's since landed at North Carolina. Vilbert played 419 snaps on defense and special teams last year and would have been a rotational player this fall. The Lions boast a solid group of edge rushers, starting with senior Dani Dennis-Sutton and super senior Zuriah Fisher, the latter having returned to action after missing last season with an injury. Vilbert would have played if he'd stuck around, but the Li- ons have more than enough manpower to withstand his loss. Likewise, the departure of redshirt freshman Jon Mitchell for Georgia Tech isn't the worst news in the world for a secondary that boasts plenty of depth at cornerback. A.J. Harris is an All-America candidate, while fellow junior Elliot Washington II had the whole program buzzing during winter workouts and spring practice. Redshirt junior Audavion Collins has been coming on strong, while junior Zion Tracy, redshirt freshman Kenny Wose- ley Jr. and true freshman Daryus Dixson will also vie for playing time. The Nittany Lions did lose out on some potential long-term upside with Mitchell's departure. He was named Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against SMU in the College Football Playoff, and he's a good pickup for Georgia Tech. LOW IMPACT There are probably arguments to be made that the Lions' other three losses this spring are more significant than this ranking would indicate. But all three are simply looking to play, and those opportunities will be more plentiful elsewhere. There was a moment in the spring when Franklin brought up redshirt sophomore Joseph Mupoyi as evidence of Penn State's depth at defensive tackle. Now, he'll get the chance to contribute at North Carolina. Redshirt freshman linebacker Beckham Dee, a walk-on, was Developmental Player of the Week in October both on special teams and defense but wouldn't have seen many snaps this fall. And senior kicker Chase Meyer appeared likely to spend his final college season on the Lions' sideline with redshirt sophomore Ryan Barker seemingly well-established as the starter. — Nate Bauer Sting Factor: Assessing The Impact Of PSU's Departing Transfers JB Nelson was vying for a starting job at guard this offseason before leaving for Kansas State in April. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL