Boasting useful versatility, Landon Tengwall narrowing specialization

Admittedly, the thought of burning Landon Tengwall’s redshirt was considered by Penn State’s coaching staff during the 2021 season. An early enrollee to the program, with the Nittany Lions’ struggling to find consistency up front, Tengwall had gradually demonstrated his progress to the coaching staff.

But in balancing the benefits and drawbacks of the proposition, though, offensive line coach Phil Trautwein detailed a path that made the most sense both for the player and the program.

“We were thinking about it. But I think we also knew that it would be the best thing for him to get him in games and try to keep that redshirt if we can,” Trautwein said. “Him coming early helped a lot. He got a lot of playing time in that spring, he got a lot of reps. And then coming into the season, he was pretty far ahead than a lot of freshmen.

“So being able to play him in three, four games, and being able to play him for 100-some snaps, I think is huge for him.”

Landon Tengwall’s freshman season

Tengwall’s first career appearance at Penn State was a critical one, too.

Stepping in for Rasheed Walker at left tackle in the Rutgers “flu game,” Tengwall appeared in 63 snaps on offense. Following it the next week with another 18 reps at left tackle at Michigan State, between the OL and special teams, Tengwall had quickly built up 99 combined snaps over the two games to propel him into bowl prep.

In the absence of Walker for the bowl, Penn State took a by-committee approach to the position group. And, in the process, Tengwall took on a demeanor of willingness to help the team that has carried over in the time since.

Understanding that he’d need to play extensively in the game against Arkansas, Tengwall lived up to the challenge as presented by Trautwein.

“The great thing about him, we went into Arkansas game and he played both left and right guard, and he was my backup left tackle, left guard, right guard, right tackle,” Trautwein explained. “All week, those 15 practices, he got even better and better and better for the bowl game. He ended up playing every single position, every single day. So, it’s great for his development mentally and as a football player to understand the game.

“He’s smart. He loves it. When I put them at right tackle (even though he hadn’t practiced there previously), he just went out there and competed. And that was just great to see that from him. That’s the kind of player he is. The more you do, the more versatile you are, the better you are.”

Next steps

While praising Tengwall’s competitiveness, that versatility is something Trautwein is hoping he won’t have to rely upon as much moving forward.

Set on Olu Fashanu at left tackle and Caedan Wallace on the right side, with Juice Scruggs manning the center spot, Penn State is exploring its options between left and right guard with Tengwall, Sal Wormley, and Cornell grad transfer Hunter Nourzad. And, according to Trautwein, with a year already under his belt, the goal for Tengwall is to start to specialize his talents ahead of the 2022 season.

“I want to start to narrow it now, now that he’s older,” Trautwein said. “He’s only still a redshirt freshman, so he still has a lot of growing to do. Maybe not growing physically, but mentally, and just keep getting stronger, getting better in his change of direction… movement skills, and technique. 

“But I’m excited to be able to just concentrate him a little bit more at guard and just kind of just see that. He will also play tackle when I need him to, but being able to do that would be key for him, I think.”

Appearing primarily at left guard, and some right guard throughout the spring, Trautwein added that Tengwall can still play either side moving forward.