Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/775386
F A S T F O R W A R D >> A N E A R L Y L O O K ern beat out the veteran Dowrey at right guard and made nine starts during his true freshman season. Gonzalez is also back, and if Menet doesn't figure into the team's plans at center, this is probably where he, too, will fit in. Based on ac- counts of his performance in practice this past year, he's going to see action some- where in 2017. The tackle spots appear solid. At 6-4, 305 pounds, Bates may not be quite as rangy as the rest of Penn State's offensive tackles, but he showed plenty of potential at the position after making an emer- gency switch late in the season. "Ryan has great feet. He has a great mentality. He's very physical. He's light on his feet for his size," Moorhead said. "And I think that progression to tackle was a pretty easy transition for him." Will the move turn out to be perma- nent? With so many talented players stockpiled here, it seems unlikely. Wright has gained five games' worth of starting experience, Fries and Gellerstedt are coming off redshirts, and Jenkins will be looking to compete for playing time now that he's entering his redshirt sophomore year. But the big question in the off-season will concern the health of Mahon and Nelson. If they're able to return to their left and right tackle spots, respectively, the Lions should be in very good shape here. Nelson went down with a knee in- jury in October and didn't play the rest of the year. He also missed four games due to injury as a sophomore, and was slowed by knee problems as a redshirt freshman. THAT'S A WRAP Cabinda drives Southern Cal running back Justin Davis to the turf after an errant pass in the Rose Bowl. The junior linebacker, who led Penn State with 11 tackles against the Tro- jans, announced prior to the game that he will return for his senior season at PSU. Photo by Steve Manuel