Penn State has plenty of 2025 options on a deep and veteran offensive line

Penn States offensive line may be its strongest unit heading into 2025.

The running back room, with returns from Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen, certainly has an argument, but the big boys up front were a strength in 2024 and are only losing one player from the regular rotation.

Starting right guard Sal Wormley, who had an extremely underrated career across 42 straight starts the past three years, has run out of eligibility and will take his shot at the NFL.

But everyone else is back for a line that only allowed 20 sacks in 16 games this season.

They really hit their groove down the stretch, as Singleton and Allen both finished with over 1,000 yards in the College Football Playoff run.

So lets review where Penn State stands heading into next season.

Left tackle Drew Shelton, the incumbent, didnt have a dream season that turned him into a high-level NFL Draft pick, but he was consistent all throughout at the most important position on the line.

He has the chance to take another step in 2025 and solidify himself as one of the nations best tackles.

Shelton allowed just two sacks in 2024, according to PFF.

JB Nelson, who announced his 2025 return this week, will continue to be a frequent rotational piece with the ability to play at left tackle.

2024 freshman Eagan Boyer made some serious strides in the weight room and should be a factor.

Theres also still hope that former No.

1 Pennsylvania recruit Jven Williams can take a big step in his development.

Left guard Left guard is Vega Ioanes spot to lose after starting all 16 games as a redshirt sophomore in 2024.

Hes a mauler up front and a great fit for Andy Kotelnickis offense.

The only question now is, will Kotelnicki scheme up a touchdown for Ioane in 2025? (Kidding, kind of).

Budding star freshman Cooper Cousins backed up at all three interior spots this season and could play behind Ioane again in 2025, but he seems best suited as a starter or at least as someone getting starter-type reps, which wont come at left guard.

Nelson will factor in at this spot, while Williams has additionally gotten some guard work over the past year or so.

The wildcard here will be recently added Texas A&M transfer TJ Shanahan, who started five times in nine appearances in 2024.

He stands 6-4 and 315 pounds with three years of eligibility remaining, an important depth piece to provide some interior competition.

Center Nick Dawkins will be the starting center in 2025, plain and simple.

The Penn State captain had a great season in 2024 that exceeded the coaching staffs expectations, and hes now back for one more ride.

Behind Dawkins, Ioane has served as the emergency backup at center.

Cousins can snap the ball, too, while walk-on Dom Rulli has played at the spot often in garbage time.

That group should all stay the same next season.

Right guard The only spot losing its 2024 starter, right guard has plenty of options for Penn State.

Cousins will be the favorite to win the job heading into spring practices, considering how highly the staff thought of him as a freshman.

Similar to left guard, Shanahan and Nelson will similarly factor in.

The question will be how much push Penn State can get from names who havent emerged yet, like redshirt freshmen Alex Birchmeier and Chimdy Onoh or freshmen Donnie Harbour and Caleb Brewer.

Right tackle Its telling when you can name two-to-four starting-caliber players at the other four offensive line positions but still mention that the final spot will be the strongest in 2025.

Anthony Donkoh was a budding star at right tackle before a late-season injury ended his year.

But Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci took over and became one of Penn States best players down the stretch.

Rucci will go into the spring as the favorite for the job while Donkoh rehabs, but theres a fantastic level of depth at the spot right now.

Rucci has just one year of eligibility remaining and Donkoh has three, so perhaps it makes sense to let Rucci take the reins next season while Donkoh heals up.

The super-utility man Nelson will be a factor at right tackle, as will Boyer and fellow freshman tackle Garrett Sexton farther down the depth chart.

The freshmen Penn State signed four offensive linemen in the 2025 class, two of which are enrolled in Happy Valley already: three-star Michael Troutman and four-star Owen Aliciene.

The others, four-star Malachi Goodman and three-star Brady OHara, will have to wait to make their first impressions.

Regardless, offensive line might be the hardest position at which to contribute as a freshman.

So dont expect much from this group.

Goodman, fresh off a trip to the All-America Bowl, has the highest perceived ceiling of any of these players.

BETTING: Check out our guide to the best PA sportsbooks , where our team of sports betting experts has reviewed the experience, payout speed, parlay options and quality of odds for multiple sportsbooks.

Sign up for the PennLives Penn State newsletters, the daily Penn State Today and the subscriber-exclusive Penn State Insider 2025 Advance Local Media LLC.

Visit pennlive.com .

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC..

This article has been shared from the original article on dailyitem, here is the link to the original article.