Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/79325
But there was more to it than that. Asked what convinced him to stay, Smith ticked off a list of the program's attributes, starting with its fans. "On Saturdays, we play in front of 109,000," he said. "And there's the academics of the university and the community around it." So he's back after redshirting as a true freshman last year. And that's very good news for an offensive line that re- turns only one full-time starter – senior center Matt Stankiewitch – from last year's unit. While players and coaches are quick to acknowledge that the depth chart is still in flux, line coach Mac McWhorter has been impressed with what he's seen, noting that by the end of spring practice, Smith was "probably our best left tackle." "He's a big, massive guy with a lot of strength," McWhorter said. "He's got a lot of weight room strength, but he's also got a lot of what I call playground strength – he was just born with it. He's a very fluid athlete, really good balance, can stay on his feet. And he's smart. He understands what we're do- ing." Smith, who appeared briefly on the depth chart last season before the de- cision was made to redshirt him, didn't take part in the start of preseason practice because he was bothered by a hamstring injury. Assuming he's healthy by Sept. 1, he will likely be on the field when the Nittany Lions' new-look of- fense takes its first snap. McWhorter likes to make sure that his tackles have experience at both positions in case of injury, but the left tackle spot – the one that will be protecting Matt McGloin's blind side – will almost cer- tainly be where Smith starts out. Smith said a number of players, him- self included, took the coaching staff's college and pro expertise into account when they thought about whether they LETTERMEN RETURNING Mike Farrell, Ty Howle, Matt Stankiewitch*, John Urschel LETTERMEN LOST Quinn Barham*, Chima Okoli*, DeOn'Tae Pannell*, Johnnie Troutman* RISING STAR It's uncommon for a red- shirt freshman to claim a starting po- sition on the offensive line, but it looks as though Donovan Smith will be the Nittany Lions' first-team left tackle on opening day. BIGGEST LOSS Troutman was an under- rated guard who likely would have gone higher than the fifth round in the NFL Draft had he not been slowed by knee and pectoral injuries. NUMBERS GAME Penn State was ranked 74th in rushing in the Football Bowl Subdivision last season, averaging 142.5 yards a game. On the other hand, the Lions gave up only 14 sacks, the fewest of any Big Ten team. OUTLOOK Despite heavy personnel losses – Stankiewitch, a senior cen- ter, is the only returning starter – the Nittany Lions might be OK up front. They've got an experienced leader in wanted to stay or go. O'Brien was an offensive assistant for four seasons with the New England Patriots, and part of the pitch to players – both cur- rent players and those Penn State will be looking to recruit in the coming years – is that the staff knows how to groom them for professional football. "Coach O'Brien, coming from the NFL, knows what good NFL offensive tackles look like," Smith said. "And we're going to run an offense like the ones that play in the NFL. It would be crazy to leave that." Those NFL-caliber offensive tackles look a lot like Smith will probably look by the time he wraps up his Penn State career, whenever that may be. Even as a redshirt freshman, he ap- pears to be a special player. "He has great strength, great char- acter, and he's very athletic," Stankiewitch said. "Those are big pos- itives." Stankiewitch, a potential star in Smith, and a number of promising returnees in Urschel at right guard, sophomore Miles Dieffenbach at left guard and junior Adam Gress at right tackle. The arrival of former Texas of- fensive line coach Mac McWhorter has helped, too. This is one area in which the modernization of the strength program is expected to pay major dividends. The new program has been embraced wholeheartedly by players, who say they have made considerable gains during the past seven months. PHIL SAYS One of the few pieces of good news to emerge from Penn State's chaotic off-season was that all five members of the projected starting offensive line – Smith, Dieffenbach, Stankiewitch, Urschel and Gress – opted not to transfer. If they are able to jell, this group could be Penn State's most physically dominant line since 2005. Depth looks good, too, with only one lineman – Ryan Nowic- ki – having decided to transfer. * Starting experience in 2011 LEFT TACKLE NO NAME 76 Donovan Smith Fr. 6-5 316 70 Nate Cadogan 52 Luke Graham YR HT WT Jr. 6-5 293 So. 6-4 265 LEFT GUARD 65 Miles Dieffenbach So. 6-3 300 66 Angelo Mangiro Fr. 6-3 291 73 Marc Arcidiacono Jr. 6-4 293 CENTER 54 Matt Stankiewitch Sr. 6-3 301 62 Frank Figueroa Jr. 6-3 298 66 Angelo Mangiro Fr. 6-3 291 RIGHT GUARD 64 John Urschel 75 Eric Shrive 56 Anthony Alosi RIGHT TACKLE 58 Adam Gress 78 Mike Farrell Jr. 6-3 307 Jr. 6-6 305 Fr. 6-4 287 Jr. 6-6 311 Sr. 6-6 306 79 Kevin Blanchard Fr. 6-7 311