Pair of Penn State football freshmen get “green light” to play from James Franklin

A pair of true freshmen have been given the “green light” from the Penn State football staff to burn their redshirts coming out of training camp. On Monday, James Franklin announced that Nittany Lions newcomers Cooper Cousins and Dejuan Lane are the first freshmen expected to see action beyond their regular season four-game limits in 2024.

According to Franklin, the decision to give Cousins and Lane the go-ahead is based partly on their performance during camp as well as the depth facing the Nittany Lions on the offensive line and at safety.

“Some of that is based on how they have conducted themselves, that we feel like they’re ready,” Franklin said during his game week press conference on Monday. “And some of that also is the position. Like there’s other guys that I think if we needed to, we could green light and go. But maybe there’s more depth at their position. Or is another guy that is in the position [to be green-lighted] because there’s less depth at their position? Proven depth is, I guess, [is] what I’m saying.”

The first and highest-ranked commitment of the 2024 cycle for Penn State football, interior offensive lineman Cooper Cousins has been turning heads throughout camp. A five-star, Cousins was recently named a preseason true freshman All-American by On3 and 247Sports.

“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,” James Franklin said of Cousins earlier this month. “But he’s going to be hard to keep off the field.”

On the other side of the ball, Dejuan Lane was among the top-rated defenders coming in for the Nittany Lions in the previous class. A four-star and a top-25 safety out of Baltimore, Maryland, Lane was recently named one of the standout defenders coming out of camp.

When could other Penn State true freshmen get green-lighted?

© Dan Rainville / USA TODAY NETWORK

Ultimately, Monday’s announcement doesn’t slam the door shut for other freshmen on the Penn State football roster. James Franklin noted that the list will be subject to change throughout the fall.

“… There’s going to be guys after game one that become green lights based on how they play, or based on some bumps and bruises, or whatever it may be,” Franklin stated. “We’re going to try to manage it and be as strategic as long as we can so that we still have the flexibility as long as we can. But this will change throughout the year.”

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned, community-operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on social media.