Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1545675
5 4 A U G U S T 2 0 2 6 / / / / / / / 2 0 2 6 F O O T B A L L P R E V I E W / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / I t might not seem like a fact, but it is: Cooper Cousins is entering his third season at Penn State. It feels like the Erie, Pa., native has been around a lot longer than that. From his big presence as a recruit to his notoriety for doing pass sets at seem- ingly all hours of the day as a freshman and his frequent appearance in Penn State's in-house social media videos, fans, teammates and coaches alike have been talking about "Coop" for a long time. And yet, as he readies for his junior season, it is only now that he is on track to be a full-time starter for the first time. While it seemed like that might happen last fall, the 6-foot-6, 320-pound blocker did play in all 12 contests during the wayward 2025 sea- son but only drew two starts. After a strong spring, however, under first-year offen- sive line coach Ryan Clanton, who came to State College along with the new leader of the Lions, Matt Campbell, Cous- ins looks ready to man the right guard spot week in and week out this fall. W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Loud And Clear Cooper Cousins has been a vocal leader on the Nittany Lions' offensive line G R E G P I C K E L | G R E G . P I C K E L @ O N 3 . C O M Quick Facts Position coach: Ryan Clanton (first season) Returning starter: Anthony Donkoh (21 career starts) Departing starters: Nick Dawkins (28), Olaivavega Ioane (32), Nolan Rucci (18), Drew Shelton (34) Projected new starters: Malachi Goodman, Trevor Buhr, Brock Riker, Cooper Cousins Top reserves: Owen Aliciene, Donnie Harbour, Vaea Ikakoula, Kuol Kuol II, Chimdy Onoh, Dominic Rulli, Garrett Sexton, Will Thompkins Newcomers: Buhr, Riker, Kuol, Ikak- oula, Tyshon Huff, Will Tompkins, Ma- son Bandhauer, Pete Eglitis Cousins made his second career start in the Pinstripe Bowl last December, helping the Lions roll up 397 total yards in their victory over Clemson. PHOTO BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS