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Penn State Football Early Position Preview: Offensive Line

By Barry Leonard Jr.

COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Offensive lineman Connor McGovern #66 of the Penn State Nittany Lions signals from the line against the Maryland Terrapins defense in the second quarter at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - NOVEMBER 25: Offensive lineman Connor McGovern #66 of the Penn State Nittany Lions signals from the line against the Maryland Terrapins defense in the second quarter at Capital One Field on November 25, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /
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Penn State football heads into the 2018 season with a lot of promise up front

Despite losing three top players on offense this season, Penn State has a chance to be even better on offense this year. Depth at running back and wide receiver will ensure the Nittany Lions still have a stockpile of talent at the skill positions. One area that should really see a big improvement this season — and help the offense as a whole — is the offensive line.

There’s no doubt that the play on the offensive line has been holding the Nittany Lions back a bit over the past few seasons. Decimated by scholarship reductions a few years back, Penn State was forced to convert several defensive players to the offensive line. Just a few short seasons ago, the Nittany Lions had arguably the worst offensive line in both the Big Ten Conference and the nation.

Fortunately, head coach James Franklin saw the need up front and recruited accordingly. He spent the last three years bringing in some of the best high school talent available to help build both depth and talent on the offensive line.

The unit showed improvement last season, but 2018 could finally be the year it all comes together.

Penn State has the luxury of returning a very experienced line for the 2018 season.  Will Fries started the final seven games last year and Chaz Wright made nine starts. Center Connor McGovern and left guard Steven Gonzalez both started every game.

McGovern and Gonzalez seem set in their starting positions. The other three spots, however, are still a bit up in the air.

Fries and Ryan Bates (who started eight games last year before missing three games due to injury) are the most likely to start at tackle, with Fries playing the ever-important left tackle position. Wright will be an experienced backup at tackle. Alex Gellerstedt and true freshman Rasheed Walker are both names that could be in the mix at tackle this year.

At guard, the likely candidate to line up on the right side is redshirt sophomore Michal Menet. A to recruit out of high school, Menet was given a red shirt to take an extra year to develop. He saw time in 12 games last year and is poised to step into a starting role.

Two redshirt freshman that could play key reserve roles at guard this year are Mike Miranda and C.J. Thorpe.

Related Story: Penn State Football Early Position Preview: Running Back

It’s been a number of years since Penn State has had the benefit of a really solid offensive line. Through great recruiting by Franklin, and coaching my Matt Limegrover, the Nittany Lions appear to finally have a top-notch unit up front. Confidence among the group seems high, as McGovern recently deemed 2018 the “Year of the offensive line at Penn State.”

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