Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545007
J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 6 2 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M It's hard for an offensive lineman to get quality work in during May, June and July the way skill players can in seven- on-seven settings, but Goodman can still sharpen his positional fundamentals — run game footwork, pass protection technique — and put in time in the film room studying stunts and blitzes to pre- pare for the baptism by fire that awaits in September. Cooper Cousins | G There isn't much returning experience on the offensive line despite the impres- sive talent and traits the unit will de- ploy this fall. Cousins appears poised for a breakout junior season, yet he hasn't started a game in college despite efforts to get him on the field in his freshman and sophomore years. Revisiting his Pinstripe Bowl game tape this offseason, Cousins showed ar- eas to build on despite an overall strong performance against Clemson. He strug- gled at times to reach the second level and connect with his targets in the run game. Whether that was a lingering ef- fect of the injury that limited him during the season or something else remains to be seen. The tools are there to be an impact player, but his execution at the point of contact and his ability to sustain blocks need to improve. On the positive side, the pass protec- tion issues, specifically a tendency to lean, appeared much improved the last time he was on the field. That's a testa- ment to Cousins' relentless work ethic. Quinton Martin Jr. | RB Yes, the team's biggest spring camp winners are Martin and fellow running back James Peoples. The competition for snaps is so close that separating them feels premature, but there's a very spe- cific area in which Martin can improve: He needs to lower his pad level. Make no mistake, he's done a good job of learning to run behind his pads and churn through contact. But at 6-1, he has a tall frame for a running back. Keeping his pad level low through the line of scrimmage is a point of emphasis this offseason — and with that comes a continued push to get him closer to 220 pounds to maximize his physical advan- tage. He's currently listed at 204. Offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser and Campbell have been vocal about the value they see in big, physical running backs. Speaking on "The Play Caller's Club" podcast, Mouser explained his philosophy. "The running back sets the tone," he said. "It's not the quarterback, it ain't the O-line. Not that they don't matter, but when your running back is running hard and fighting for every yard and truck- ing people [it affects everyone]. You see how much harder your wide receivers block when you have a guy that plays possessed, and your O-line runs to the football when you have a running back who plays possessed." Size isn't the only factor in that men- tality, but Martin has the potential to be the complete package with his frame, speed and receiving ability. He just needs to add that final component of mass. Chase Sowell | WR Plenty has been written recently about Sowell's potential and his ceiling as a receiver heading into his redshirt senior year. While he logged a full sea- son last year and enters the 2026 cam- paign as one of the Nittany Lions' top targets, he hasn't yet played to his full potential over any meaningful stretch of games. For Penn State to reach its offensive ceiling, Sowell needs to make the jump from dangerous, selective threat to dom- inant No. 1 receiver. There's a version of the offense in which everyone chips in collectively to carry that load, but in re- ality, most defensive coordinators oper- ate off a threat index. Star players change the math when a coordinator must dedi- cate extra resources or avoid certain coverages for fear of giving a player like Sowell a favorable look. When a player has that kind of gravita- tional pull on a defense, everything else gets easier. Running backs, tight ends and secondary receivers benefit from more single-coverage opportunities and see bigger windows in zone cover- age because the defense is preoccupied elsewhere. The risk with this offense — with its heavy run formations and tight end us- age — is that it trends toward a plodding style similar to what Penn State fans have seen in recent years. Mouser's aggres- siveness will likely prevent it from be- coming a repeat of the Andy Kotelnicki and Mike Yurcich experiences, but there is a ceiling on tight end explosiveness. Sowell is the key to raising it. Rocco Becht | QB In general, the goal here is to find a nu- anced take rather than to state the obvi- ous. But sometimes the obvious is what we need. Becht's junior season at Iowa State did not go the way he wanted. He's back this year at Penn State to prove he's an NFL- Quinton Martin Jr. is locked in a battle with Ohio State transfer James Peoples for the Nittany Lions' backup running back spot. PHOTO BY THOMAS FRANK CARR