Penn State football facing huge test with No. 1 offensive lineman this weekend

On June 2nd, Penn State football recruiting will kick into high gear for an intensive month of relentless efforts aimed at surpassing the recruiting classes of the Michigan Wolverines and Ohio State Buckeyes in 2024. This weekend holds special significance for the Nittany Lions as they prepare to host one of their most crucial official visits of the month: Liam Andrews, a highly regarded four-star recruit and the nation’s top-ranked interior offensive lineman. Phil Trautwein’s recruiting endeavors have recently borne fruit with several highly ranked offensive line commitments, but none have matched Andrews’ impressive ranking.

Penn State football turning the corner with recent offensive line success

Throughout James Franklin‘s tenure at Penn State, maintaining a solid offensive line to support the team’s elite offensive skill players has been a consistent challenge. Players like Saquon Barkley have often shouldered an excessive workload to achieve the team’s 11-win seasons, which has been a recurring theme over the past nine years.

However, positive strides were made last fall with an improved offensive line performance, aided by the outstanding performances of the team’s two freshman running backs, ultimately culminating in an 11-2 record and a victory in the Rose Bowl game.

The offensive line played a significant role in this newfound success, and it is expected to take another step forward in the upcoming season, potentially propelling the Lions to a Big Ten title and more.

In addition to the on-field improvements, Phil Trautwein, the offensive line coach, has been highly successful on the recruiting trail, securing commitments from a number of top-rated four-star offensive linemen. This weekend’s visit from Liam Andrews, the nation’s top-ranked interior offensive lineman, presents a significant opportunity for Penn State’s 2024 football recruiting efforts.

Photo: @1iamandrews (Twitter)

Liam Andrews: a future Nittany Lion?

According to ON3, Andrews is ranked just outside the top 50 nationally, sitting at No. 55 in the country, No. 1 among interior offensive linemen, and No. 2 in the state of Massachusetts. Currently, Boston College and Penn State are engaged in a closely contested battle for his commitment, with the Nittany Lions holding a nearly 20% lead in the RPM. However, the competition for Andrews’ commitment is far from over.

This weekend’s visit holds immense potential in solidifying Andrews as a top target for Penn State football recruiting. If the Nittany Lions can showcase their program and its advantages as effectively as they are known to do during official visit season, there is a strong possibility that the nation’s top-ranked interior offensive lineman will ultimately choose to don the Blue and White.

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