James Franklin updates Penn State's battle at right tackle

Penn State is a program known for developing offensive line talent. With the high-caliber players featured along the Nittany Lions offensive line, every offseason is expected to be filled with highly anticipated position battles. This year, for head coach James Franklin and Penn State, there is such a competition brewing at right tackle.

During a recent press conference, the Nittany Lions head coach discussed the position battle at right tackle and revealed which players are in contention to receive playing time there this season.

“Donk (Anthony Donkoh) and (Nolan) Rucci are in a battle,” said Franklin. “Rucci is steady Eddie. A lot of times with O-lineman, if you don’t notice them, it’s a good thing. 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), which are two very different types of players. He’s doing really well.

“I think you guys have all seen what Donk was able to do as a true freshman. [It] was pretty impressive. So that’s been good. And then, we also think J.B. Nelson can and will play right tackle for us. J.B. is kind of a Swiss army knife. We think he can play right tackle, both guards, and play left tackle as well. We’re very pleased with J.B. [and] think he’s got a very, very bright future. So, he’ll factor in as well.”

The competition for Penn State at right tackle is an essential one. The players Franklin mentioned above are battling for the right to protect quarterback Drew Allar, keeping would-be rushers out of his throwing lanes. But the competition could run much deeper than that.

Franklin highlighted that Nelson could find himself protecting his quarterback’s blind side at left tackle in the near future. If he accomplishes that feat,it would make him next in line in a long line of elite offensive line talent to feature at Penn State, with the most recent being Olu Fashanu, who was selected with the No. 11 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the New York Jets.