Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1537537
5 6 A U G U S T 2 0 2 5 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M / / / / / / / 2 0 2 5 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / PERSONNEL POSITION COACH Phil Trautwein: Going into his sixth sea- son in charge of the Nittany Lions' offen- sive line, Trautwein has earned a reputa- tion as one of the better young teachers in the game. Five of his players earned All-Big Ten honors last year, and six were saluted in 2023, including Olumuyiwa Fashanu, the league's Offensive Lineman of the Year before going to become a first-round NFL Draft pick. A Voorhees, N.J., native and 2008 Florida graduate, Trautwein assembled an offensive front that helped Penn State lead the Big Ten and rank 17th in the FBS in rushing last fall with an average of 202.3 yards per game. In addition, the Nittany Lions allowed only 1.25 sacks per game, ranking fourth in the conference and 23rd nationally. The Lions have steadily improved up front since Trautwein's arrival prior to the 2020 season. In 2023 and '24, his unit was named to the midseason honor roll for the Joe Moore Award, which is given to the nation's top offensive line. RETURNING SCHOLARSHIP PLAYERS ALEX BIRCHMEIER R-So. | 6-5 | 313 • Appeared in four games and tallied 32 offensive snaps at guard as a redshirt freshman. • Did not see action as a true freshman. • Was a four-star prospect out of Broad Run High in Virginia in the class of 2023. EAGAN BOYER R-Fr. | 6-8 | 291 • Saw action against Kent State, Purdue, Maryland and SMU in his first season at Penn State. • Was On3's No. 32 offensive tackle na- tionally and No. 17 prospect in North Carolina in the 2024 class. CALEB BREWER R-Fr. | 6-4 | 306 • Did not see action for the Lions as a true freshman. • Was the No. 70 interior offensive line- man nationally and No. 17 player in Pennsylvania in the 2024 class, per On3. COOPER COUSINS So. | 6-6 | 311 • Played 172 offensive snaps in 15 games and saw action at all three inte- rior positions during his true freshman season. • Was the No. 27 overall prospect, No. 1 interior offensive lineman nationally and No. 1 prospect in Pennsylvania in the 2024 class, per On3. NICK DAWKINS R-Sr.+ | 6-4 | 295 • Started all 16 games at center and played 978 snaps, the second-highest total among offensive players last season. • Received honorable mention All-Big Ten honors from the media. • Missed most of the 2022 season but played in all 13 games in 2023 at cen- ter, guard and on special teams. ANTHONY DONKOH R-So. | 6-5 | 326 • Started 10 of the Nittany Lions' first 11 games at right tackle before aggravat- ing an injury at Minnesota on Nov. 23 and missing the rest of the season. • Was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten choice. • Preserved redshirt by playing in just four games in 2023. DONNIE HARBOUR R-Fr. | 6-3 | 337 • Did not see action for the Nittany Li- ons as a true freshman. • Was On3's No. 91 interior offensive lineman nationally and No. 9 Wiscon- sin prospect in the 2024 class. OLAIVAVEGA IOANE R-Jr. | 6-4 | 330 • Started all 16 games at left guard and led all offensive players with 985 snaps last fall, earning second-team All-Big Ten honors from the coaches and media. • Started five games at left guard in 2023 and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten notice. CHIMDY ONOH R-So. | 6-5 | 314 • Saw a career-high 12 snaps against Maryland in the 2024 regular-season finale, playing left guard. • Late signee in the Lions' 2023 class; played in two games that season, pre- serving his redshirt status. NOLAN RUCCI R-Sr. | 6-8 | 307 • Played in all 16 games and made six starts at right tackle in his first season with the Nittany Lions after transfer- ring from Wisconsin. • Former five-star prospect in the 2021 class from Warwick High in Lititz, Pa. • Son of former Penn State and NFL of- fensive lineman Todd Rucci. DOMINIC RULLI R-Jr. | 6-3 | 297 • Served as the primary backup to Dawkins at center last season, playing 67 offensive snaps. • Contributed on special teams and helped the 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 R-Fr. | 6-6 | 289 • Did not see action during his first sea- son at Penn State. • Was the No. 76 overall prospect, No. 8 offensive tackle nationally, and the No. 1 prospect in Wisconsin in the 2024 class, per On3. • Played quarterback his freshman and sophomore seasons at Arrowhead Union High in Hartland. DREW SHELTON Sr. | 6-5 | 305 • Started all 16 games at left tackle and played a career-high 970 snaps last fall. • Was a consensus honorable mention All-Big Ten selection. • Started at left tackle in the Nittany Lions' Peach Bowl loss to Ole Miss to conclude the 2023 season. • Started the final five games of the 2022 season in relief of injured tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu. J'VEN WILLIAMS R-So. | 6-5 | 316 • Served as a backup at left tackle last season and also slid inside to left guard during Penn State's 49-10 win at Purdue. • Played in three games as a true fresh- man, preserving his redshirt status.