Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1546159
3 2 S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M A s part of its ongoing effort to build a cohesive football team out of two squads that had virtually nothing to do with each other prior to last December, Penn State recently traveled to Pine Valley Camp in Beaver County for a midsummer retreat. Players had a chance to unwind and get to know each other better while tak- ing part in the kind of camp activities that have long been luring families into the woods of northwestern Pennsylva- nia. Fish were caught, marshmallows were roasted, canoes were paddled. This being 2026, there was a rap battle in- stead of a campfire singalong. It all made for a fun respite from the workaday grind of the college football offseason, but the moment that left the strongest impression on veteran offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh was when the team welcomed a group of young campers from underprivi- leged backgrounds into its gathering to share in the camaraderie. There was a community-service component to the retreat, and Donkoh, a redshirt junior tackle with what looks to be a bright NFL future, relished the opportunity to spend time with kids who just needed to feel like they mattered. "They might need people in their life to be there for them and show them love and show them how to be loved," Donkoh said. "For me, in this life, everything is bigger than myself. I'm a child of God, and I need to be able to give back to peo- ple and make their day, make their year. "I remember toward the end of it, the part that really stuck out to me was when I was doing autographs. I had fin- ished, and [the organizers] were saying we had to leave. As I was leaving, the kids were grabbing my arms, my legs, saying, 'Don't go, don't go.' I was like, dang, are we really going to go? Just being able to be that light in their life that they need, it's always im- pressive." Donkoh's commitment to others extends to other facets of his life, includ- ing his football career. He could have bailed on the Nittany Lions following the program's leadership purge, which included the departure of offensive line coach Phil Trautwein in addition to head coach James Franklin. No one would have blamed him, and he would have had plenty of company. Instead, after discussions with head coach Matt Campbell, offensive coordi- nator Taylor Mouser and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton, Donkoh opted to come back. "I have full confidence in Coach LEADING FROM THE FRONT Anthony Donkoh sets a winning example for the Nittany Lions' offensive line M A T T H E R B | M A T T . H E R B @ O N 3 . C O M Despite being slowed by an injury, Donkoh saw action in all 13 games last season, including a start at right tackle in Penn State's vic- tory over Clemson in the Pinstripe Bowl. PHOT0 BY MARK SELDERS/PENN STATE ATHLETICS