Penn State Might Be Underrated Up Front This Season

The Lions have developed offensive and defensive lines capable of fronting a Big Ten contender.
Dan Rainville/USA Today Sports Network

Penn State's skill-position talent has drawn big raves and high grades from evaluators across college football. The running backs and tight ends lead the offensive showcase, linebacker is a unique strength and the secondary once again is among the Big Ten's best. And of course, Drew Allar is a captivating presence at quarterback.

But coach James Franklin long has subscribed to the adage that front lines win championships, and his team has both this year. After several seasons of struggles, Penn State's offensive line took a major leap in 2022 by generating rushing room for freshmen Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen to total nearly 2,000 yards. Now, the Lions return six linemen with starting experience and several others eager to supplant them. Little wonder that offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has made the grind his motivational tool. He has the talent. It needs to nurture the want.

"Our saying in the room is 'No Talent Things,'" Trautwein said. "That's what makes us great, so that's what we thrive on every single day, and that's what will end up being who we are. The little things, all the things that take no talent."

Meanwhile, Franklin has catapulted his defensive line onto his preseason favorites list. The coach closed a recent media availability in State College by bringing up the defensive front without being asked. He wanted the country to know how far the line has come and how much that matters.

"Now that's a position group that I'm really excited about," Franklin said in early June, "that I think has the chance to take us to another level on defense."

On Offense, a Mix of Experience and Youth

Left tackle Olu Fashanu is the centerpiece of Penn State's offensive line, the player whose "very, very elite" skills make him one of the nation's best at his position. In addition to Fashanu, the Lions return more than 75 career starts with veterans Sal Wormley, Caedan Wallace and Hunter Nourzad and half-year starters Landon Tengwall and Drew Shelton. Tengwall said he's at full strength after missing the second half of last season with an injury, while Wallace "has a chip on his shoulder" after missing significant time as well, Trautwein said.

Joining them is a collection of players that provides more than depth. Shelton won praise last season for ascending to play left tackle as a true freshman, which will earn him a rotational spot at both tackle spots. Interior lineman Nick Dawkins, injured most of last season, is eager to make his first major impact. And JB Nelson, who played in three games last year, is earning time at tackle. "He's a guy who needs to be in the game," Trautwein said.

But the most interesting young lineman might be Vega Ioane. A redshirt freshman from the state of Washington, Ioane was a late addition to last year's recruiting class, a joint effort of Trautwein and special teams coach Stacy Collins. Ioane emerged as developmental player to watch and now is among Trautwein's most prized prospects. At 6-4, 352, Ioane can play across the interior, is powerful and smart and has drawn some unique praise from Trautwein.

"He'll be an NFL guy for sure," Trautwein said. "He'll be a guy who's knocking on the door to play a lot, maybe even beat out someone. That's the kid's mindset."

Rising Stars on the Defensive Line

Penn State's defensive line lost its top two leaders (coach John Scott, Jr. and tackle PJ Mustipher) to the NFL. In their place come two hungry talents in Deion Barnes and Dvon Ellies. Barnes, the former graduate assistant promoted to defensive line coach, jumped into the position by quickly turning a spring question mark into a summer exclamation point. By praising his defensive line's development, Franklin also indicated how Barnes has responded to his promotion.

"I'm passionate as an alum to make sure we're the best defensive line we can possibly be," said Barnes, the Big Ten Freshman of the Year at Penn State in 2012. "It's always been that way since I stepped back in the door."

The Lions are loaded at defensive end, returning a combined 24.5 tackles for loss with Chop Robinson, Adisa Isaac and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Where they've made the most offseason strides is at tackle. In particular, Franklin raved about Ellies, a fifth-year senior who started one game last season. Ellies (6-1, 302) is making a strong push to take Mustipher's role, both at tackle and in a leadership capacity.

"Dvon Ellies is a guy I’m super-proud of right now," Franklin said. "He’s always had the ability. He’s as charismatic a leader as we have. But he is working at a level that he’s never worked at before."

Meanwhile, Franklin added that tackles Hakeem Beamon, a returning 12-game starter, and Zane Durant have added the necessary size and strength to be Big Ten presences. He called both players bigger and stronger than they've been, adding another level of depth to Penn State's defensive line.

"We've got a chance to have one of the best defensive lines in the country from a depth and talent standpoint but also from a size standpoint," Franklin said.

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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.


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Mark Wogenrich
MARK WOGENRICH

Mark Wogenrich is Editor and Publisher of AllPennState, the site for Penn State news on SI's FanNation Network. He has covered Penn State sports for more than two decades across three coaching staffs and three Rose Bowls.