Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall forced to step away from football

Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall’s college career has come to an end, BWI has learned. The redshirt sophomore guard, who was projected to start for the Nittany Lions in his third year on campus, has chosen to medically retire from the sport, sources have indicated. Tengwall himself confirmed on Wednesday afternoon. He missed nearly all of preseason camp after his last setback.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from football,” Tengwall wrote in a statement. “Unfortunately, I have sustained an injury that will not allow me to safely continue to play the game I love and that has given me so much. 

“I want to thank my family, my friends, Coach Franklin, Coach Trautwein, my teammates and all the Penn State coaches and staff. They have all provided invaluable support through this difficult time. 

“Penn State will always be my home. I will always be a proud Penn State football player. Penn State has the greatest fans in the world and I want to thank all of you for supporting me during my time on the field and now in my next chapter.”

The 6-foot-6, 317-pound prospect has been on the radar for the Nittany Lions since early in his high school career, where he was identified as one of the top young offensive line prospects ever to come out of the state of Maryland. Tengwall was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2021 out of Olney (Md.) Good Counsel after transferring from St. Vincent Pallotti. 

Tengwall started five games at left guard to open the 2022 season before a shoulder injury suffered in pregame warmups against Michigan put him on the shelf for the remainder of the season. 

“Obviously, it’s tough,” Tengwall told BWI at team media day before the Rose Bowl. “But, you have to keep your head down and work and support your teammates and be happy to see other guys get that opportunity and keep grinding.

“You have to keep working, and look ahead for the future. You can’t dwell on the fact I’m not playing; you just focus on the comeback and support the guys.”

Penn State OL Tengwall started five games in 2022

Tengwall returned to practice in the spring and battled with JB Nelson for his left guard spot. He entered preseason camp as the favorite to win the job. He played in three games in 2021, preserving his redshirt season. 

Originally recruited for the Nittany Lions by Tyler Bowen and Phil Trautwein, Tengwall was a vital piece of the Class of 2021 for Penn State. He chose the Nittany Lions over Notre Dame and a host of offers that also included Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Michigan, Ohio State and Tennessee, where his grandfather David Tengwall played football for the Volunteers in the late 1960s. 

According to the On3 Industry rankings, Tengwall was the No. 72 overall prospect in the Class of 2021 and the No. 10 offensive tackle nationally. He was the No. 4 prospect in Maryland in the cycle. Tengwall was an Adidas and Under Armour All-American in 2021, when the games were not played due to Covid. 

Tengwall a leader on the offensive line for Nittany Lions

He is also one of the Nittany Lions’ most engaging young players. Tengwall is one of the more visible figures on the roster in terms of not only NIL exploits, but also philanthropic efforts. He traveled to Guatemala in the spring as part of a trip to distribute shoes to youth in the country. He also partnered in releasing a children’s book this offseason, “The Men Up Front,” based on his rise to becoming a Penn State offensive lineman. 

“It’s just cool to have an impact on kids,” he told BWI of the project. “And anytime I signed it, especially if it was a younger kid that played football or any sport, I’d sign it, ‘Dream big.’ It’s just cool. It reminds me of where I came from.”

The Nittany Lions will host West Virginia in the season opener Saturday evening.