Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall announces retirement from football

Penn State offensive lineman Landon Tengwall will retire from football, he announced via Twitter on Wednesday. He cited a recent injury he suffered as the reason for his decision.

Tengwall was set to enter his third season with the Nittany Lions and was projected to be a starter. He started five games at left guard for Penn State in 2022 before missing the rest of the season with injury.

“It is with a heavy heart that I am announcing my retirement from football,” Tengwall wrote in his tweet. “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.”

The 6-foot-6, 317-pound offensive lineman returned for spring practice and was emerging as the favorite to again start at left tackle over JB Nelson unfortunately, he suffered another setback that kept him out for most of preseason camp.

Tengwall was a four-star prospect in the Class of 2021 out of Olney (Md.) Good Counsel after transferring from St. Vincent Pallotti. He ranked as the No. 72 overall prospect and No. 10 offensive tackle in the 2021 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Tengwall chose to play for Penn State over offers from 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. Amid the tough news, he made sure to let Nittany Lions fans know he will always consider himself a part of the team.

“Penn State will always be my home,” Tengwall said. “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.”

With Tengall now gon from the team, Nelson figures to slide in as the starting left guard to replace him. Penn State also has true freshman Anthony Donkoh behind him. The Nittany Lions kick off the season at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday against West Virginia.