Penn State football signee named top performer after ‘dominant’ showing at All-American Bowl

On Monday, 16 members of the Penn State football 2024 signing class begin their college careers as early enrollees. But before that chapter starts, several Nittany Lions had to put the finishing touches on their high school careers at the All-American Bowl in San Antonio last weekend. One Penn State signee stood out above the rest, as incoming IOL Cooper Cousins was named a standout performer for his “dominant” showing at this weekend’s all-star game.

Penn State football signee named top performer at All-American Bowl

Cooper Cousins was the first recruit to commit to Penn State football in the 2024 cycle, and ultimately ended up playing a major role as the anchor of the class. The McDowell (Erie) prospect was also one of the Nittany Lions’ highest-rated recruits of the 2024 class. Cousins signed his letter of intent as a four star, the No. 2 recruit in Pennsylvania, and the No. 4 IOL in the country, according to the On3 Industry Rankings.

But before he begins his Penn State football career, Cousins, along with fellow Nittany Lion signee Luke Reynolds, took part in the All-American Bowl in Texas last week. Cousins spent the week proving why he was one of the top IOL recruits in the entire country, and was named a top performer by On3.

All-American Bowl week overall top performers‼️ @AABonNBC

Full breakdown via @CharlesPower and @CodyBellaire: https://t.co/TmIIwsG3Gi pic.twitter.com/Odaolec7ZP

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) January 6, 2024

“Cooper Cousins was the most dominant offensive lineman throughout the entire week of All-American practice, and he shined during the game on Saturday afternoon,” wrote On3 national scout Cody Bellaire. “Cousins was one of the more physically dominant players throughout practice, using his leverage to get underneath defenders’ pads and create lanes in the run game during team periods and the game.

“The Penn State signee showed excellent burst off the ball and was striking defenders with power and precision. He was the most consistent people mover along the offensive front, and if today’s game is a glimpse into his future as a Nittany Lion, he will be a problem for years to come at the next level.”

James Franklin explains what makes Cooper Cousins so special

It’s clear that Cooper Cousins has the make-up to be an instant-impact player with the Nittany Lions. During National Signing Day last month, Penn State football coach James Franklin explained how Cousins’ versatility will allow him to compete immediately.

“So Coop is kind of an unusual guy,” Franklin said. “I think, first of all, he could play all five positions. You don’t usually see a 6-6, 320-pound guy play center. I think that’s unusual. In some ways, I think it hurt him in the rankings because I think when they ranked him as an offensive lineman, they ranked him as an interior guy, and they always rank the interior guys lower than the tackles.”

But more importantly, Cousins has the potential to be a leader for years to come. Committed to Penn State football since January 2022, Cousins never wavered from the Nittany Lions. He also became a de facto extension of the coaching staff with his recruiting efforts.

“He was a high-production, highly-rated guy who was low maintenance,” Franklin said of Cousins. “I mean, literally, we offered him, they all looked at us, the whole family, he walked around the corner, I think we did this, I want to say, it was maybe during COVID or somewhere around that time because I think we were meeting outside. He walked away and came back, like, four minutes later, and said, ‘We’re coming.’ And that was the end of it.

“You know, a high-profile guy that knew this is where he wanted to be. The family was comfortable, and they never wavered. They never wavered. They were awesome the whole time. He became a leader within the class in helping us get other guys. He’s coming in early. [He] is going to have a chance to compete. So I love him.”

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