Penn State adds most important offensive line addition yet in transfer Hunter Nourzad
Penn State football’s run of offensive line commitments over the past two weeks has been one for the record books.
Since Jan. 28, offensive line coach Phil Trautwein has added commitments from four quality prospects in three different classes. Now, there’s a fifth, and it’s most important addition yet.
Former Cornell offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad, a 6-foot-4, 300-pound graduate transfer, announced his decision to join the Penn State’s football program Monday afternoon.
“Thank you to everyone who recruited me during this process,” Nourzad tweeted. “I’ve decided to commit to [Penn State Football] to continue my football career!”
This past season, Nourzad earned second-team All-America honors by the American Football Coaches Association at the Football Championship Subdivision. He was also named the Ivy League Offensive Lineman of the Year.
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Statistically, Nourzad was second in the Ivy League for the fewest tackles for loss allowed in 2021, while finishing 16th nationally at the FCS level. Cornell’s offensive line as a whole also set a school record this past season for the fewest sacks allowed.
Although he’s expected to be a guard for Penn State, Nourzad started 20 consecutive games at right tackle for Cornell. He’ll graduate in May and has two seasons of eligibility remaining.
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Penn State was one of 15 programs to extend a scholarship to Nourzad after he entered the transfer portal. After declaring his intentions at the end of November, he announced a top five on Jan. 3. That included Penn State, Auburn, Illinois, Iowa and Virginia Tech.
Of those schools, Virginia Tech was the only one to not host him for an official visit. Illinois got Nourzad on campus first, Jan. 14-15, followed by Auburn later in the week, Jan. 18-20. Penn State and Iowa got the last two visits. He came to State College Jan. 21-22, then went to Iowa, Jan. 28-29.
With Nourzad now on board, he’s become the fifth addition along the offensive front to join Penn State since the end of January. In the Class of 2022, Washington native Vega Ioane, a three-star in the On3 Consensus, committed on National Signing Day.
The Nittany Lions also added two Class of 2023 prospects in Anthony Donkoh, from Virginia, and Jven Williams, from Pennsylvania. Donkoh holds a three-star rating, while Williams is a top-100 prospect. Erie, Pa., native and Class of 2024 prospect Cooper Cousins also committed on Jan. 29. He holds a four-star rating by On3.
