James Franklin: Penn State football true freshman is ‘going to be hard to keep off the field’

Cooper Cousins led the way for Penn State football in the class of 2024, kicking off the cycle with his commitment in January 2022. Now finally on campus, the true freshman’s work ethic is that of someone who has been waiting to become a Nittany Lion for over two years. Eight months into his Penn State career, the five-star in-state recruit is garnering immense praise from James Franklin this week.

Although he is typically cautious to temper expectations, especially for true freshmen, Franklin’s comments about the former McDowell offensive lineman will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows.

“I don’t like to talk in ways that’s going to create, you know, crazy expectations, but I could not be more impressed with him,” Franklin said when asked about Cousins following practice Thursday evening. “Really from the beginning, he was as low maintenance and highly-rated recruit I’ve ever been associated with. You know, we offered him, they [his family] walked around the corner building, they walked back, said, ‘We’re coming.’ And it was over. That was it. Like, and that was early. I think you guys remember he was committed, like, two years early. No issues, no wavering. Family [was] so appreciative. Awesome.”

James Franklin: Cooper Cousins is “going to be hard to keep off the field”

© Alex Disabella / Basic Blues Nation, 2024.

Cooper Cousins arrived in Happy Valley in January as a mid-year enrollee. While it isn’t common for offensive linemen to see extensive playing time as true freshmen, according to James Franklin, Cousins may be an exception.

“[He] shows up on campus. He is competitive,” Franklin continued. “A lot of guys say they want to play as true freshman, but they’re not willing to do necessarily what it takes. And the guy is either in class or in the building. And asking a ton of questions. He’s super aggressive. He’s not intimidated or afraid of anybody.

“And then every night, I shouldn’t tell you this, because you guys will be out here with your cameras. But like, I’ll come from watching film, and I’ll go to bathroom from watching film it’s like 9:45 and I walk to my office, and he’s out there on the field every night at like 9:45 with headsets on, like, doing pass sets.

“And it’s kind of weird, to be honest with you, but he is as driven and as committed as a young player as I’ve ever been around, and specifically on the O-line, because it’s hard to play those grown man positions, O-line and D-line, as a true freshman. But he’s going to be hard to keep off the field.”

Cousins’ work ethic getting noticed around Penn State football locker room

The highest-rated recruit for Penn State football in the class of 2024, Cooper Cousins was the nation’s top interior offensive lineman and the No. 27 recruit overall, per On3. But more than talent, it’s Cousins’ work ethic that is standing out to his Nittany Lion teammates.

Drew Shelton took it a step further than James Franklin when discussing Cousins’ propensity to burn the midnight oil in the Lasch Building. The projected starting tackle told reporters this week that he now has to tell the true freshman to leave the football complex.

Drew Shelton said he called OL Cooper Cousins and told him he needed to go home the other night. It was 11pm and Cousins was still in the building and texted Shelton with a question. pic.twitter.com/RcH9mEhXzE

— Audrey Snyder (@audsnyder4) August 8, 2024

Cousins ultimately may not be the Nittany Lions’ starting center in 2024, a role likely to be filled by redshirt senior Nick Dawkins.

But there seems to be little doubt as of now that the Penn State football faithful will be introduced to the true freshman early, and quite possibly often, this fall.

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