Sal Wormley, bouncing back from lost year, making strides

On3 imageby:Nate Bauer06/20/22

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Penn State head coach James Franklin is confident the running game has improved. Nittany Lion offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich said the same, insisting that the group “got better running the football this spring.”

And, along the offensive line, assistant coach Phil Trautwein expressed his excitement over the progress he’d seen this spring. Expecting that same development to continue through the summer, the inconsistencies that dogged the Penn State offensive line a year ago could be reduced ahead of the program’s opener at Purdue on Sept. 1.

While the Penn State staff has lauded the bookends it has at tackle in Caedan Wallace and Olu Fashanu, and its anchor in the middle in center Juice Scruggs, starting spots and depth are still to be resolved at guard. On the left side, Landon Tengwall is in line to assume the starting role ahead of his redshirt freshman season in the program.

Penn State’s guard competition

But, as Franklin noted earlier this month, Penn State is hoping to see dividends from a competitive environment this season.

“I think we got five guys that legitimately will be competing for those two starting jobs with Golden [Israel-Achumba], and Landon [Tengwall]Sal Wormley, Hunter, and JB [Nelson],” Franklin said.

“JB, we’re excited about as well. So that’s a really good group. I think it’s going to create a lot of competition. And then obviously, one of those guys besides Nick Dawkins as well, also being able to train at center too. So so hopefully it’ll be legitimate two-deep.”

Grad transfer Hunter Nourzad transitions into the program from Cornell this summer. An All-Ivy League performer, the 6-foot-3, 310-pounder is expected to compete from the jump. 

“I wouldn’t necessarily say we got like a trend, but, being able to get some of these Ivy League guys that have had really good careers. We had some success with that last year,” Franklin said. “So, that’s helped. But, so far, so good. He is a big, strong, powerful, thick guy. He tested really well, arriving on campus with his athleticism. He learns the playbook well, so that’s been very impressive. We’ve been very impressed with him.”

Sal Wormley’s next steps

The other unknown at the position, Sal Wormley continues to make his way back from an injury that ended his 2021 season before it began. 

In line to start at guard before the injury, Wormley worked his way back to participate in spring practices. And, as Trautwein indicated earlier this month, Wormley’s progress has set him up to be a factor this preseason.

“He’s rehabbing great, he’s doing everything we asked him,” Trautwein said. “He played a lot in the spring and he took a lot of reps and did a great job and he’s competing right now for the right guard spot. He’s taken that challenge and he’s taken every day and he’s working his tail off. 

“I love to see that in him because he’s grown up. This is his fourth year here at Penn State. He’s looking like he’s been here for a while, which is great. Seeing those guys mature, seeing him mature, it’s just part of his growing up, and I’m excited to see how the summer holds out. And then, of course, training camp is going to be key for that competition and seeing where he ends up. But, I’m excited about what he’s doing.”

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