Thin Penn State offensive line creates roadblocks, opportunity this spring

As Penn State waits for offensive line reinforcements to arrive this summer, the Nittany Lions have been forced into a flexible approach in the trenches during spring ball.

The most overt example will come Saturday, as Penn State deviates from the traditional Blue-White Game format to help its limited number of available offensive linemen combat fatigue.

But the lack of numbers at offensive line has impacted the day-to-day of spring practice, too.

“The way that we look at it is that we have more time and more reps,” fourth-year tackle Caedan Wallace said. “We can make a direct focus on things and we have more reps to go out and directly improve.”

With 11 offensive linemen presently on the roster, the number of available OLs has dwindled into the single digits at times. Among those to miss time is talented second-year player Landon Tengwall, James Franklin revealed Wednesday.

But, the increased rep count has meant increased development for those who have stayed on the field.

The three players highlighted by Franklin as beneficiaries of this dynamic are Wallace, Juice Scruggs and Olu Fashanu.

“I think Juice, Caedan and Olu went the entire spring. And their rep count was through the roof because of our numbers on the O-Line,” Franklin said. “So, those guys, they’ve gotten significantly better.”

Penn State’s offensive line picture this spring and beyond

Wallace — by this point — is a veteran. He’s a two-year starter with 1,286 snaps under his belt. Scruggs emerged to take over a starting spot at guard last season, and he’s expected to play center this fall. Fashanu, by comparison, has only one career start and 85 snaps to his name.

And the Nittany Lions need him.

“Olu’s been good, to me, since he first got here,” Wallace said. “I’d say the thing that he does best — and it sounds more simple than it is — but just taking things from the meetings to the practice field. At least trying them out and really focusing on something like that. Olu I really good at that stuff.”

At a position where they desperately need improvement, the summer will be key for the Nittany Lions.

With four additions on the way — most notably Cornell transfer guard Hunter Nourzad — Penn State’s offensive line picture this spring has been only partially complete.

Three true freshmen are set to arrive, too, in Maleek McNeil, Drew Shelton and Vega Ioane — who Franklin singled out as a potential early contributor.

As will those who have missed time this spring, that group will find their peers well ahead of them.

Still, Franklin is confident that meaningful competition can exist at offensive line this summer.

“It’s gonna be challenging for guys to come in and compete with [Fashanu, Wallace and Scruggs],” Franklin said. “But there will be a pretty good competition, I think, across the offensive line…We’re bringing in a number of them, because we lost a number — even guys that help us from a practice perspective.”