Penn State assistant Phil Trautwein talks freshmen linemen, Caedan Wallace, and more

The Penn State offensive line will need to play its best game of the year on Saturday when No. 3 Michigan visits Beaver Stadium. The No. 10 Nittany Lions are in for a physical test upfront, as they will need to deal with a big and tough Wolverines front seven. How the group plays will have a big role in the game, as points could be at a premium and every inch will count.

“We’re healthy, we’re able to play a bunch of guys and be able to develop them, and I feel really good with where we’re at health-wise,” Lions offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said Thursday. “Guys are at practice working hard. I feel good about where we’re at.”

What will the Nittany Lions have to deal with against the Michigan defensive line?

“They are very physical,” Trautwein said. “They are a physical front seven and have some really good d-tackles that could move, [and] they play really heavy into guards and double teams. The d-ends are quick and have power moves and speed moves and play at a high level. The linebackers are downhill and will hit you in the face. It’s a front seven that is physical and that’s what we’re building here. We want to be a physical offensive line. We have to give everything we got on Saturday.”

Caedan Wallace is playing his best

Penn State offensive tackle Caedan Wallace has had an interesting career at Penn State. He has had great moments and also battled bouts of inconsistent play. Sometimes, injuries have been a factor. But, in his final year, his position coach thinks he’s hit another level with three regular season games to go.

“Caedan is playing his best ball,” Trautwein said. “He’s out there playing physical. He’s doing some great things. His mindset has changed overall in a better way, and it’s fun. This is why I coach. Being able to see someone change and play their best ball because they believe in what Coach [James] Franklin has told him and what I have preached to him, and being able to see that, is why I coach. H

“He started strong, in the middle he was strong, and I want to do everything for him to finish strong. He’s making sure he does everything he can to do that. I’m excited to see what he can do on Saturday. He’s had a great week of practice. His preparation has changed to an elite level, and that’s why you’re seeing a more consistent Caedan Wallace on Saturday.”

Praise for Penn State center Hunter Nourzad

Penn State brought Hunter Nourzad in from the Ivy League before the 2022 season. The former all-conference tackle at Harvard played guard last year. This year, he is the Lions starting center. Some fans have griped about high and low and wide snaps throughout the season. Those have been fewer and further between as the regular season has played out. And, that’s because of development and a growing sense of comfort.

“Hunter’s playing and getting better every single week,” Trautwein said. “It was his first time playing center. As he’s been able to just get through it and grow, and he’s gotten better and better and more comfortable, and right now he’s playing his best ball, which is great. He’s communicating to everyone on the offensive line every single play. When you play a team like Maryland, he has to get everybody on the same page, and he’s done that on the high level.”

On the snapping specifically, Trautwein said:

“His snaps are good. He’s continued to work on it. He did have a couple of high or low snaps [earlier in the year]. It was mostly because it was his first year ever playing center. He’s been able to develop, feel more comfortable, and as that happens and is evolving, he’s feeling more comfortable being able to point and snap and move and snap.

“He has to ID, make a call, listen for snap count, snap it on time, then step while he snaps the ball so he can get into a combo. Sometimes he’s pulling so he has to make sure he pulls but gets the ball right to the quarterback. Doing those things in a hostile environment, and live, he’s starting to feel great at it. And, it’s awesome to see that he’s feeling comfortable.”

Sizing up the Lions freshmen along the offensive line

Penn State brought four freshmen in last offseason. Two of them, J’Ven Williams and Anthony Donkoh, have been on the field for two games this season. Would they play more if the redshirt eligibility rules did not have to be accounted for?

“Going into every game, you have to balance who’s going to be able to play, how many games do they have left, if you play them in this game, how many are left?” Trautwein said. “Both have three [regular season games] to play two [and still preserve a year of eligibility. We hope everything goes to plan on Saturday. And, then, they have two for two.

“Trying to do that is something a lot of people don’t think about during the game, and also making sure you don’t play them for five or six plays but rather make it worth it for their development. They are two guys if the NCAA came out and said you have five years no matter what, I would probably play them late in some games or more than I have so far, for sure.”

More: Penn State vs. Michigan Predictions: What should fans expect against the Wolverines?

Trautwein also discussed the development of first-year Penn State offensive linemen Alex Birchmeier and Chimdy Onoh.

“Both young guys, and both of them kind of do both,” Trautwein said. “They’re with us when we go against our scout team. They’re with us some periods and over with the d-squad some periods. They have a great role of doing that and helping with [scout team offense work against] the defense. They’re on both, and they’re doing a great job. They’re working in the weight room.

“They continue to gain weight and work on their nutrition. All the four freshmen that came in, they’re taking coaching, working hard, and it’s great to see. They’re going to be guys they talk about in the years ahead that you ask about how they’re playing and hopefully I say playing great because they have the right mindset.”