STATE COLLEGE — The Penn State football team will begin this season as one of the top 10 teams in the country and one of the legitimate contenders for the national championship.
Nittany Lions coach James Franklin has implied, if not said, that in so many words over the last few weeks.
It’s not just because they have a potentially elite quarterback in Drew Allar. It’s because this is the strongest they’ve been on the line of scrimmage on offense and defense in a long while.
Defensive line has probably been Penn State’s most productive and consistent position since Franklin arrived in 2014. The offensive line? Not so much.
This year is different, however, with left tackle Olu Fashanu’s decision to return for another season, the presence of several veterans and the best offensive line depth the Lions have had in decades, perhaps since the undefeated 1994 season.
“There’s competition everywhere,” said sophomore tackle Drew Shelton, the former Downingtown West standout. “We have a deep and talented room. We have a lot of trust and respect for one another. We know everyone’s going to be in the right spot.”
Franklin and his staff have focused on improving the offensive line through recruiting in recent years, and it’s paying off. Fashanu, left guard Landon Tengwall, center Hunter Nourzad, right guard Sal Wormley and right tackle Caedan Wallace make up the highest-rated O-line that Penn State has had under Franklin.
Plus, they have Shelton, Vega Ioane, Nick Dawkins, JB Nelson and freshman J’ven Williams (Wyomissing) as backups.
“I just like who they are,” offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said. “We have tough guys, guys who love the game of football, who want to be great, who do the little things no one else wants to do.
“They’re a gritty group. They have great leadership. They go out and try to get better every single day.”
If not having an elite quarterback has been the chief reason why Penn State hasn’t made the College Football Playoff, not having an elite offensive line has been a close second.
As recently as 2021, the Lions rushed for a meager 107.8 yards per game, one of the worst averages in the country, and allowed 34 sacks, among the most in the country.
Last year, Penn State improved to 181.1 rushing yards per game and limited opponents to 21 sacks with Fashanu, Tengwall, Wormley and Wallace beginning the season as starters with Juice Scruggs, who’s in the NFL. Plus, Shelton and Nourzad filled in for the injured Fashanu and Tengwall in the second half of last season.
“It’s the maturity and the depth of the O-line,” quarterback Beau Pribula said. “All five guys are returning. I think that’s really important for them to mesh. They have a great coach. They’ve done a great job so far in fall camp.”
Having a sturdy offensive line will be important against the stout defensive lines of Illinois, Iowa, Ohio State and Michigan. Fashanu, who made a meteoric rise up draft boards last year, allowed no sacks in his eight games.
“There’s a certain kind of focus that we have,” Fashanu said. “It’s a lot different than years before. Right now everyone has the mentality of getting 100% better every day and staying consistent. It’s showing up in training camp. That’s why I’m really excited about this year.”
Fashanu and Wallace pointed to the tight bond among the offensive line as a main factor in their success.
“I thought last year was the closest the offensive line could get,” Wallace said. “But now we’re all brothers. When I’m here, I feel like I’m with my brothers. We’re so intertwined and have such a great time together. Our brotherhood is super strong.
“The O-line is five guys really playing as one. Having that camaraderie really helps us out.”
Several preseason magazines have ranked Penn State’s offensive line as one of the top 15 groups in the country.
“I think depth on the D-line and depth on the O-line are impressive,” Franklin said. “The amount of bodies and the amount of experience are going to impact the team this year. I think it’s impressive.”
If the offensive linemen can protect Allar and Pribula and they can open holes for running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, Penn State can have a special season.
“Never be satisfied no matter where you are,” Trautwein said. “We’re going to try to perform at a high level and be the best O-line in the country.”
Source: Berkshire mont
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