Penn State football recruiting building for a bright future

Phil Trautwein’s impact for Penn State football starting to show

Phil Trautwein had a hard time in his first year as Penn State offensive line coach.

The Covid-19 pandemic kept him from being able to meet in person and instruct Penn State’s offensive line group until only a few weeks before the 2020 season. On top of that, he was unable to meet with recruits, many of whom he did not have a prior relationship with, in person.

Trautwein was able to help land a top 100 recruit in Tengwall, and added another 4-star in Nate Bruce, but many would consider Penn State’s 2021 offensive line haul underwhelming, considering the amount of talent in the region.

The 2022 cycle has brought more success for Trautwein as he able to nab 4-star Drew Shelton and 3-star Maleek McNeil, along with the second-ranked JUCO offensive tackle in JB Nelson.

Trautwein has also done well in the transfer portal, specifically at Harvard. Following the 2020 season, Penn State landed Harvard grad transfer Eric Wilson. Now, Wilson’s Harvard teammate, Spencer Rolland, has said he will transfer to Penn State for his fifth year in 2022.

Now, Trautwein’s influence is really starting to show on the recruiting trail and on the field. Being able to grab a big-time recruit, like Birchmeier, this early is a sign that recruits believe in what Trautwein is preaching.

With the targets in the region mentioned before, Trautwein has a chance to put together the elite offensive line haul that has escaped Penn State the past few years.

We saw Penn State’s offensive line play better as the season went on in 2020. With a normal off-season, that group should be even better in 2021 under Trautwein’s leadership, and that should lead to more success on the recruiting trail.