Tag: Anthony Donkoh

What will Penn State’s offensive line look like following retirement of Landon Tengwall?

Penn State’s offensive line took a hit with Landon Tengwall’s retirement, but it still looks to be a strength in 2023.

One of the biggest strengths Penn State had to look forward to entering the 2023 season was the offensive line. In the 10 years with James Franklin as the head coach, this is expected to be the best offensive line the program has had after years of rebuilding the quality depth for the line through recruiting efforts and continued development. That outlook took a little bit of a hit just days before the start of the regular season with the news of the sudden retirement of Landon Tengwall.

Tengwall announced his retirement from playing football due to a result of an injury he described as one that would prevent him from continuing to play safely. Tengwall was projected by many to be a starter at left guard alongside returning starting left tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] and center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag]. Now, a new opportunity to start is up for grabs.

Who will start at left guard now?

The most likely name to move into a starting role will be [autotag]JB Nelson[/autotag]. Nelson is a redshirt junior and one of the many players to come through the Penn State program as a JUCO transfer from Lackawanna College in Scranton. Penn State has had success with their Lackawanna College transfer additions with players like Jaquan Brisker and Ji’Ayir Brown on the defensive side of the football. Nelson has been praised for his development and was expected to be the first name on the depth chart behind Tengwall. Moving him into a starting role seems like the most natural move for James Franklin and offensive line coach [autotag]Phil Trautwein[/autotag].

Franklin’s comments in his Wednesday post-practice media availability suggested fans should see Nelson getting the starting nod this Saturday as the Nittany Lions host West Virginia in the season opener.

If Nelson is going to be the new starting left guard, the entire offensive line is still looking to be in good shape across the line. Here’s how it may look:

  • LT Olu Fashanu
  • LG JB Nelson
  • C Hunter Nourzad
  • RG [autotag]Sal Wormley[/autotag]
  • RT [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag]

By moving Nelson up to the starting job, Penn State will be slightly more vulnerable with guard depth. [autotag]Vega Ioane[/autotag] is the top backup as a redshirt freshman, but Penn State did just add [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag] in the Class of 2023. Birchmeier was among the top offensive line recruits in the class and is expected to be a big piece of the future offensive line. Whether he is ready to be a top backup option at the start of the season remains to be seen.

Penn State also added [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] in the Class of 2023, and he would be another backup option at guard if needed. With Tengwall retiring and Nelson likely moving into the starting job, Donkoh’s position on the depth chart may have been boosted up faster than Birchmeier as he has been working the left guard position since his arrival (Birchmeier has played on the right side).

Penn State still has what appears to be the best offensive line of Franklin’s career despite losing Tengwall. And the efforts on the recruiting trail in recent years have ensured the Nittany Lions have quality backup options in play, even if a couple are considered raw and untested to start the season.

Penn State opens the 2023 season on Saturday, Sept. 2 with a primetime matchup on NBC against West Virginia.

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2023 Penn State football snapshot profile: No. 68 Anthony Donkoh

Looking at four-star offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh entering his freshman season at Penn State

Going into the 2023 football season, Nittany Lions Wire will be looking at each scholarship player listed on the Penn State roster. Over the preseason, each profile will cover where the player is from, how recruiting websites rated them coming out of high school, and what role they will play for [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] this season.

Today is a look at big offensive lineman [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] who is one of the many players from Virginia in the program. Donkoh is one of the many offensive lineman who have some buzz surrounding them about what type of player they can become for Penn State. Here is a snapshot look at Donkoh ahead of the 2023 season.

Top five true freshman interior offensive linemen in the Big Ten for 2023

Top five true freshman interior offensive linemen in the Big Ten for 2023 #GoBucks #B1G

It is always fun to look at recruiting rankings. The recruiting landscape receives more coverage every year and is a very important aspect of building a program. Still, it is important to remember these players and prospects are not defined by these rankings.

I was diving into the most recent class and trying to figure out which future Buckeye is going to shine brightest and fastest but noticed that the Big Ten as a whole was pretty interesting recruiting-wise this cycle. We already dove into the quarterback position, running back position, wide receiver position, tight end position, offensive tackles, and now we dive into the interior offensive linemen.

Penn State’s Class of 2023 recognized for offensive line strength

247Sports says Penn State’s offensive line effort paid off in the Class of 2023

Penn State made a concentrated effort to beef things up on the offensive line in the Class of 2023. After locking down commitments from three four-star linemen in the early signing period, the Nittany Lions capped the recruiting class with one more four-star player for the offensive line on the traditional national signing day this week with the addition of Chimdy Onoh. As the recruiting classes around the country settle as it looks like Penn State’s class is now complete barring any potential transfer portal adjustments moving forward, the effort made with the offensive line is being recognized in the recruiting roundup summaries.

247Sports took a look at a number of the recruiting classes that best improved their school’s rosters, with the idea that not every recruiting class needed to attack the same positions in order to improve the roster. For instance, Penn State got the help it needed at some skill positions in the Class of 2022 with players like running backs [autotag]Nick Singleton[/autotag] and [autotag]Kaytron Allen[/autotag] and quarterback [autotag]Drew Allar[/autotag], so the focus on those positions in 2023 was not nearly as pressing. Instead, Penn State worked on the offensive line that will allow those players to continue to shine in 2023 and beyond.

Penn State’s offensive line was the key area of improvement highlighted by 247Sports, and it is understandable why. With [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] deciding to return next season, along with [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] and [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag], the Nittany Lions have the look of a solid offensive line going into the 2023 season, but the Class of 2023 will help keep things stabilized for big offensive line play after the 2023 season.

Here’s what 247Sports had to say about Penn State’s offensive line focus in the Class of 2023;

Penn State solidified its future along the offensive line with four bluechip signees, including two interior players and two offensive tackles. The Nittany Lions grabbed two of the top six tackles, with Alex Birchmeier (6-5, 285) leading the pack as the nation’s No. 2 player at the position. Fast riser Chimdy Onoh, a four-star tackle, picked Penn State over Michigan State on National Signing Day, providing yet another boost to an impressive class. Onoh’s meteoric rise through the 247Sports rankings in December was somewhat surprising. He went from an Old Dominion commitment in mid-December to garnering multiple Power Five offers in a matter of days as a four-star prospect. Most of the attention he generated was from the Big Ten and SEC. He entered National Signing Day as the nation’s No. 13 offensive tackle prospect.

The 247Sports summary goes on to highlight the idea that the new additions to the offensive line will not feel the pressure of being thrown into the mix right away. The returning linemen for Penn State will allow the Class of 2023 signees to take some time to develop and being fully prepared for their roles on the line, but knowing that any one of them could step in early if needed is a luxury as well.

Penn State signed the top-rated player in Pennsylvania with [autotag]J’ven Williams[/autotag] at offensive tackle, the top-rated player in Virginia with [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag], and another top 10 player from Virginia with [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] in the early signing period. Onoh joined the class this week on the traditional signing day.

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Penn State’s 2023 football commitment tracker

The Penn State football Class of 2023 commitment tracker has been updated with the latest recruiting development

The Class of 2022 was great for Penn State, but it’s already time to turn the page toward the Class of 2023. And James Franklin and the Nittany Lions already had a few commitments on the board for the Class of 2023 as the signed letters of intent were coming in for the Class of 2022.

We’ll be keeping track of every commitment that goes on the board for Penn State in the Class of 2023. But knowing that odds are pretty good at least one player will have a change of heart somewhere along the recruiting process, we’ll keep tabs on what they are doing up until signing day.

This tracker will be updated accordingly when needed. It was last updated on February 1, 2023.

Penn State Class of 2023 signee gets big bump in final On3 player rankings

One key member of the Penn State Class of 2023 just saw his stock skyrocket.

With the traditional national signing day approaching quickly, On3 has provided its final update to its player rankings for the Class of 2023. And as a result, it turned out to be a big update for Penn State commit [autotag]Andrew Rappleyea[/autotag].

Rappleyea was among the biggest movers up in the On300 ranking, moving from no. 82 in the last update all the way up to no. 41 in the final player rankings from the recruiting service. He is now the second highest-ranked player in Penn State’s Class of 2023 behind offensive lineman [autotag]J’ven Williams[/autotag]. He passed another offensive lineman, [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag], in moving up as high as he did.

Penn State ended up having a number of players ranked in the final On300 rankings, and there could still be room for another. Offensive tackle [autotag]Chimdy Onoh[/autotag], from Maryland, is ranked no. 210 in the nation on the rankings from On3, and he is believed to be considering Penn State as his commitment announcement approaches.

Other Penn State commits in the On300 rankings include:

  • OL J’ven Williams (no. 9)
  • OL Alex Birchmeier (no. 74)
  • LB [autotag]Tony Rojas[/autotag] (no. 86)
  • S [autotag]King Mack[/autotag] (no. 113)
  • DE [autotag]Jameial Lyons[/autotag] (no. 155)
  • TE [autotag]Joey Schlaffer[/autotag] (no. 158)
  • LB [autotag]Kaveion Keys[/autotag] (no. 171)
  • CB [autotag]Elliot Washington[/autotag] (no. 194)
  • CB [autotag]Zion Tracy[/autotag] (no. 200)
  • OL [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] (no. 216)

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Penn State football locks in Class of 2023

Here is every player Penn State has announced in its Class of 2023.

Penn State’s start to the early signing period on Wednesday ended with the official signing of 22 members of its Class of 2023. The recruiting class is one balanced with offense and defense and will add some terrific quality and depth on the line of scrimmage a year after addressing some skill positions in the Class of 2022. And while the latest recruiting class didn’t necessarily go off without a mild bump in the road on the first day of the early signing period, it is getting head coach James Franklin excited about the program’s future.

Penn State made sure to sign some of the top players from in the state but also did some solid work beyond the state’s borders. This was especially true in Virginia as the Nittany Lions kicked the class off with the first commitment on the board from Virginia offensive lineman [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag] and continued to add help from the state right up until the final days of the recruiting efforts before the early signing period opened. In all, Penn State added players from nine different states ranging from Alabama to New York.

Here is the full rundown of the confirmed additions to the Penn State program in the Class of 2023.

247Sports bumps Penn State commit to four-star rating

Penn State Class of 2023 commit gets upgraded to four stars by 247Sports

The future outlook for the Penn State offensive line continues to improve as one of its commits in the Class of 2023 has officially been bumped up to four-star status. [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] benefitted from a recent update to the player rankings from 247Sports, and it has given Penn State a bit of a boost with its next recruiting class as a result.

Donkoh, from Aldie, Virginia, was given a fourth star on his latest 247Sports recruiting profile on Friday. At the moment, Donkoh is still getting a three-star rating from the 247Sports composite rankings, which averaged the rankings from multiple recruiting outlets, but the fourth star from 247Sports’ own ranking is promising.

With the updated player rankings, Penn State now has 13 four-star players committed to its Class of 2023 as we inch closer and closer to the start of the early signing period in December. Penn State’s recruiting class is still holding firm to second in the Big Ten, behind only Ohio State. Donkoh is the third offensive lineman in the class to have a four-star rating from 247Sports, joining [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag] and [autotag]J’Ven Williams[/autotag], the top prospect in Pennsylvania.

Donkoh committed to Penn State back in June. Penn State’s Class of 2023 is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation according to 247Sports.

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Penn State stung by recruit flipping commitment to Georgia

Penn State just had a key recruit flip a commitment away from the Nittany Lions

Penn State has been putting together a terrific Class of 2023, but on Monday the Nittany Lions saw one coveted offensive lineman commitment flip to the reigning national champions. [autotag]Joshua Miller[/autotag] announced soon Monday afternoon he was flipping his commitment to Georgia, a move that surely was unsettling for Penn State head coach [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag].

“I want to thank Penn State and the fans for taking a chance on me, supporting me, and loving me,” Miller said in a statement posted on his Twitter account. “However, after sitting down with family, other role models, and listening to my heart I want to take my recruitment to another level.”

“With that being said, I will be flipping my commitment to the University of Georgia,” Miller concluded his statement.”

Miller is a three-star recruit according to 247Sports and Rivals, but a four-star recruit according to his On3 rating. Miller was lined up to beef up the Penn State offensive line with the other additions of [autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag], [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag], and [autotag]J’ven Williams[/autotag].

Miller is the second player to de-commit from Penn State’s Class of 2023. Previously, athlete Neeo Avery backed off his commitment to Penn State nearly four months after committing to the program.

Penn State’s current recruiting class is still in solid shape overall, but the loss of a decent offensive lineman certainly stings as the program is attempting to rebuild its offensive line stability.

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Alex Birchmeier plans to enroll early at Penn State

One of Penn State’s biggest commits in the Class of 2023 says he will be enrolling early.

Penn State has invested its time and effort immensely in the Class of 2023 in improving the quality of the offensive line, and one key member of that recruiting class intends to join the program in January.

[autotag]Alex Birchmeier[/autotag], the first commitment for Penn State in the Class of 2023 and a five-star offensive lineman, says he plans on enrolling at Penn State in January, according to Lions247. That will allow Birchmeier to participate in Penn State’s offseason workout conditioning and spring football practices next year. All of that will put him on a fast track to finding a role on the Penn State offensive line, possibly as early as the 2023 season.

Penn State’s entire offensive line is under a microscope in 2022 after a tough 2021 season. The Nittany Lions lose Rasheed Walker to the NFL draft and welcome in one of the top offensive linemen in the transfer portal, Hunter Nourzad. The expectation is the offensive line will be improved in 2022, and it will have to be in order for Penn State’s offense to have any chance of being consistently productive.

Penn State had a rough season running the football and quarterback Sean Clifford was knocked out of two games last season due to injury. Having an improved offensive line will help both of those causes in the fall. But the Class of 2023 is showing Penn State is attacking the overall offensive line picture pretty heavily.

In addition to the five-star Birchmeier, Penn State also has commitments from [autotag]Joshua Miller[/autotag] (four-stars according to On3) and [autotag]Anthony Donkoh[/autotag] (three-stars) out of Virginia (Birchmeier’s home state as well), and five-star [autotag]J’ven Williams[/autotag] from Reading, Pennsylvania.

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