James Franklin details ongoing camp ‘battle’ along the Penn State football offensive front

The competition for Penn State football’s starting right tackle spot will continue into the second week of training camp, James Franklin said on Thursday. But as the Nittany Lions approach three weeks until kickoff in Morgantown, a position that is up for grabs between redshirt junior transfer Nolan Rucci and redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh appears to be one that may still be filled by committee in the fall.

“Donkoh and Rucci are in a battle,” Franklin noted following practice on Thursday evening. “Rucci is another guy, I don’t want to use the same expression twice, but [he’s], you know, ‘Steady Eddie.’ You know, and a lot of times with o-lineman, if you don’t notice them, it’s a good thing, you know.

“He’s just kind of doing his job and getting better. I think he’s gotten comfortable with the weight that he’s put on as well, and then finding that sweet spot of what the right weight is for him to play so that he’s got a chance to block Abdul [Carter] and also Dani [Dennis-Sutton], you know, which are two very different types of players. But he’s doing really well.

“And I think you guys have all seen, you know, what Donkoh was able to do as a true freshman was pretty impressive. So that’s been good.”

James Franklin: Penn State football’s “Swiss Army knife” will also play a role at right tackle in 2024

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

In reality, regardless of whether Anthony Donkoh or Nolan Rucci wins the starting job for Penn State football out of fall camp, both will likely see the field regularly in 2024. The Nittany Lions also plan to utilize redshirt senior JB Nelson at multiple positions along the offensive front, including right tackle.

“And then we also think JB Nelson can and will play right tackle for us as well,” James Franklin added. “JB is kind of a Swiss army knife, you know? We think he could play right tackle. We think he played both guards, and we think he could play left tackle as well. We’re very pleased with JB. We think he’s got a very, very bright future. So he’ll factor in as well.”

The Nittany Lions coaching staff has emphasized creating depth across the roster, perhaps best illustrated by the situation in the offensive line room heading into 2024. Roster versatility is now more critical than ever on the cusp of the 12-team College Football Playoff era.

“I would say the first thing [challenge of the 12-team playoff] is the length of the season,” Franklin said at Penn State football media day. “I think you guys know we have always talked about trying to create depth. That was always important playing in a conference like the Big Ten.

“So that was philosophically something that we’ve always believed in, but I think your point is a good one. It’s magnified now, right? You have the potential of 17 games.

“So how are you going to do that? I think that coupled with some of the rule changes over the last couple years where you can play in four games, save your redshirt, but then you also get to be able to play in all of the postseason games and not burn your redshirt, I think that factors into strategy in how we do these things.

“And then, you know, just making sure we are doing a really good job of rotating and playing guys for the fourth quarter, for late in the season, and now a playoff run, all those types of things.”

Transfer offensive lineman is “motivated” to go out and compete

Anthony Donkoh got a jump start on his case for a starting role as a true freshman, appearing in four games, including a strong outing in December’s Peach Bowl.

Joining the program in January, former five-star in-state recruit Nolan Rucci had to make up ground quickly this winter to compete this fall. By all accounts, the Penn State football legacy recruit has done just that on the field, in the locker room, and in the weight room.

“He’s competing for a starting job right now,” James Franklin said of the ex-Wisconsin Badger at Big Ten Media Days. “He is happy and healthy. I have a very strong relationship with both his mom and dad. Both are Penn State alums. Both are former athletes at Penn State, and it’s been very clear to me that Nolan is thriving right now. When you talk to our strength coaches, he’s thriving. When you talk to his parents, he’s thriving.

“And I thought he did enough this spring to give himself a ton of confidence and also give us a ton of confidence as a coaching staff that he’s got a chance to play for us and play at a high level and allow us to win games in the Big Ten.”

Now locked in a position battle with Anthony Donkoh, Nolan Rucci is ready to make the most of his new opportunity.

“He’s motivated, you know,” offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said last week. He knows he’s a big kid and had his parents both come here, and it’s great. He feels like he’s being coached by all of us. He loves football, and he just wants to get better, and I could tell that he’s motivated. He’s ready to go and he wants to go out there and compete and play.”

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