Penn State lineman Cooper Cousins makes On3 preseason true freshman All-American team
Penn State interior offensive lineman Cooper Cousins is a preseason true freshman All-American, according to On3. The outlet released its team of potential first-year starts on Monday, just days before the first 2024 college football games are played and 12 days before the Nittany Lions open the 2024 season at West Virginia on Aug. 31.
“Cooper Cousins was among the most ready-to-play offensive linemen that we were able to evaluate both on film and in-person in the 2024 cycle and is already running second team at Penn State,” On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power writes.
“His plus size along the interior creates an advantage in the run game and he has the versatility to really play all five positions on the offensive line, along with his ability to snap as a high school center. It sounds like there’s been nothing but positive reviews for Cousins early on in State College, and were there to be an injury along the offensive line or a scenario where he would have to play, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get in. Cousins, I think given his skill set, could be in a position to see time, whether in a rotational role or if he’s pressed into service early on as a true freshman.”
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Cousins is not yet set to be a first-time starter. However, he has progressed since coming to campus and made big strides during spring practice and preseason camp.
“He shows up on campus, he is competitive,” Lions coach James Franklin said in August. “A lot of guys say that they want to play as true freshmen, but they’re not willing to do necessarily what it takes. The guy is either in class or in the building,” said Franklin. “And he’s asking a ton of questions. He’s super aggressive. He’s not intimidated or afraid of anybody.
“Then every night, I’ll come from watching film, go to the bathroom at like 9:45 and I walk to my office and he’s out there on the field, every night, at like 9:45 with like headsets on doing pass sets. It’s kinda weird, to be honest with you, but he is as driven and as committed as a young player that I’ve ever been around. Specifically on the O-Line, because it’s hard to play those grown man positions [on the] O-Line and D-Line as true freshmen. But he’s going to be hard to keep off the field.”
More on Penn State freshman Cooper Cousins
Cousins was a four-star and the No. 50 overall in the On3 Industry Ratings. He was one of the Nittany Lions’ longest-tenured Class of 2024 commits. He never wavered and was a leader of the group. Now, he’s trying to find his way to the field this fall.
“Coop, that’s a freshman coming in is playing really good football,” center Nick Dawkins told BWI. “I mean, he’s going to be great here. He’s a young guy, but he gets it. Sometimes we have to have conversations where we say, hey, maybe invest this here instead of there. But, he’s a hard worker. It’s simple. You can control that. It’s impressive that he came in with that mentality.”
Added offensive line coach Phil Trautwein:
“Coop is battling. Playing center and guard. So, he has to mentally be ready,” Penn State offensive line coach Phil Trautwein said last week. “Physically, he’s probably there. He just has to work on some technique things. But there’s always competition.”
