Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1538407
6 S E P T E M B E R 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 E very August, position battles all over the roster can determine which di- rection Penn State will go in the fol- lowing months. This year is no different, but offseason retention has led to fewer questions when projecting the starting lineup. With that in mind, it's natural to look down the page at how depth battles will shape the two- and three-deep. But what about those starters? Every camp season, some are taken for granted as the battles play out beneath them. Because of that, we probably don't pay enough attention to the guys who will eventually be in focus on Saturdays. Here are six starters who are seemingly under the radar for whatever reason. Offensive Tackle Drew Shelton The camp storyline: The right side of Penn State's offensive line has received a lot more scrutiny than the left. Redshirt senior Nolan Rucci played well enough in the College Football Playoff to stake a claim for the right tackle spot, while redshirt sophomore Anthony Donkoh is coming back from an injury and will have a say there as well. Why he's on the list: Shelton took over for first-round draftee Olumuyiwa Fashanu last year and was quietly solid as the Nittany Lions' starting left tackle. It's hard to believe he's a senior, but Shelton's career path has set him up for a big final season in Happy Valley. He was an honorable mention All-Big Ten choice last fall, and there are high hopes inter- nally for not only Shelton but the entire offensive line. Defensive Tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. The camp storyline: Ford suffered a season-ending injury in November, which resulted in a load of reps heading Xavier Gilliam's way in the spring. The redshirt freshman separated himself from the Nittany Lions' other young de- fensive tackles and is primed to be a top- tier option this fall. Why he's on the list: Gilliam has gotten his fair share of headlines, and that makes sense considering that Ford has been out of sight. Don't get it twisted, though. Penn State will need both this fall. Gilliam is explosive and exciting, but Ford is a super senior and a darn good football player who can eat up snaps and blockers for the Nittany Lions. Wide Receiver Kyron Hudson The camp storyline: Hudson's solid production at USC makes him the least sexy of the three senior transfer receivers Penn State added in 2025. We love speed and big plays, so Devonte Ross is excit- ing. Trebor Peña was easily the standout of the 2025 spring portal season, and his late arrival adds to the intrigue. Why he's on the list: Hudson's pro- file is that of a player who can elevate the room on and off the field. We've seen what he's done at this level. The feedback has been good in camp, and he's been consistently talked up for his leadership qualities since he arrived. Cornerback Elliot Washington II The camp storyline: Junior A.J. Har- ris is starting to pick up steam nationally ahead of his second season in Happy Valley, while redshirt junior Audavion Collins had another good offseason. It wouldn't be fair to say that any of the team's top cornerbacks have gone unno- ticed, but there are high hopes internally for Washington. Why he's on the list: Cam Miller transferred to Rutgers, and junior Zion Tracy is slotted for the nickel spot, so there's an opportunity for growth for both Washington and Collins. When called upon last year, Washington was solid. The expectations in the building are that he can build on that as a junior. Defensive End Zuriah Fisher The camp storyline: When people talk about Penn State needing to figure out its defensive end rotation, the as- sumption is that the Lions will once again be dominant at the top of the depth chart. But even though PSU returns two seniors in Dani Dennis-Sutton and Fisher, both need to take a step forward in 2025. Why he's on the list: Fisher is com- ing off his second major knee injury in three years, and while the last of those setbacks is now 16 months in the rear- view, he'll never truly shake the injury- prone label. What will Fisher be in 2025? Nobody really knows. There is confidence that he'll make plays, but he could be just as much of an unknown as the young guys behind him. Linebacker Dominic DeLuca The camp storyline: DeLuca will likely be paired as a starter alongside junior Tony Rojas, but the Lions also nabbed a proven linebacker out of the portal in junior Amare Campbell of North Carolina. The expectation nation- ally is that Campbell will be a big part of Penn State's defense. In reality, though, he's still trying to earn a spot. Why he's on the list: Why not? De- Luca is never going to shake the scrappy, lunch pail label, but his counterargument has been simply to go out there and make plays. Does that mean he's going to be an All-Big Ten linebacker? Not necessarily. But the redshirt senior will be a key part of what coordinator Jim Knowles wants to do on defense. ■ Drew Shelton has been a fixture at left tackle since suc- ceeding NFL first-rounder Olumuyiwa Fashanu last year. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS These Nittany Lions Deserve More Attention JUDGMENT CALL O P I N I O N SEAN FITZ SEAN.FITZ@ON3.COM