Penn State center Juice Scruggs accepts East-West Shrine Bowl invitation
Penn State redshirt senior and center Juice Scruggs has accepted an invitation to play in the 2023 East-West Shrine Bowl. The game announced the news on social media Wednesday.
Scruggs has one year of eligibility remaining thanks to the NCAA’s decision to award an extra opportunity for all players affected by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 to suit up for another season. Accepting the Shrine Bowl invitation does not mean Scruggs has made his stay or go to the NFL decision. By way of an example, former Lions safety Jaquan Brisker accepted a Senior Bowl invite in 2020 before returning to Penn State for the 2021 season. Scruggs did go through Senior Day festivities, however, before the Lions knocked off Michigan State 35-16 back on Nov. 26 at Beaver Stadium. That said, he has not yet made an announcement about his future.
A team captain this past fall, Scruggs was a key cog in a Lions offensive line that dealt with numerous injuries during the second half of the season. He played in all 12 regular season games. And, he allowed just one sack and was penalized only twice, per Pro Football Focus.
“I’m a huge Juice Scruggs fan and I’m a huge Karen Scruggs fan, that’s his mom, they are awesome,” Penn State coach James Franklin said in November. “She’s been phenomenal, he’s been phenomenal. Right now, we’re not in an ideal situation. Here’s a guy who’s played a ton of football for Penn State and we got him in at the end of the game because there’s no one else to put in right now.”
The Shrine Bowl, which is an all-star game on the path to the NFL Draft, is Feb. 2, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nev.
Scruggs’ looming decision is a large one for Penn State
Scruggs has a unique story. He suffered an injury in a car accident that caused him to miss the 2019 season. He returned to action in 2020, started every game in 2021 and 2022, and has been one of the Lions’ most consistent linemen while playing guard and center.
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“You talk about a guy that literally practices every day, bumps and bruises, plays in every game, bumps and bruises,” Franklin said. “Not only is he playing at a high level. He is durable, is consistent.
“He’s the quarterback of the OL, quarterback of the protections and run game, getting us all on the same page. He makes us go. Got a huge smile on the face all the time.”
If Scruggs returns, Penn State will have at least seven players back who started at least one game up front in 2022. If not, the Lions will likely move guard Hunter Nourzad to center. But, it also has other options there should it decide to keep Nourzad, who already announced his intent to return in 2023, at guard.
The Lions will have Olu Fashanu back at left tackle next season. Tackles Drew Shelton and Caedan Wallace, plus guards Landon Tengwall, Nourzad, and Sal Wormley started at least one game. All are expected back, too. JB Nelson and Vega Ioane are two players, then, who are expected to contribute more in their second season with the program. That will be so regardless of whether or not Scruggs is back.
Penn State concludes the 2022 season when it faces Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2.
