Penn State Football: 4 reasons Mike Yurcich’s offense will be more effective in 2022

Reason No. 2 – Overhauled Offense Line

This is what the so-called experts would consider the proverbial “elephant in the room” when it comes to breaking down the success (or lack of success) that Penn State Football had on offense last year. However, I’m here to tell you things this year will be different!

It never hurts to bring in a star-studded recruiting class in the running backs department. James Franklin and company delivered in the 2022 class by signing both Nick Singleton (five-star) and Kaytron Allen (four-star).

These guys won’t fix the offensive line problems by themselves, because even in their prime, it would have been a monumental feat for Barry Sanders or Walter Payton to amass any 100 yard games running behind last year’s offensive line.

Here’s why this coming season will be different.

Almost the entire line will be different!

Now in most cases, this wouldn’t be seen as a positive. However, I will make the argument that it will be a good thing.

Coming out of high school, Juice Scruggs was one of the most talented centers in the nation. Unfortunately, due to an injury to Sal Wormley last year, he had to be shifted to guard and Mike Miranda took over the duties in the middle of the line. Center is Scruggs’ native position, and with him being back at that spot this year, he will excel.

Speaking of impact, Wormley is an impact player himself. Coming off an impressive spring last year where many coaches were raving about his abilities, Wormley was slotted to be the starting right guard until an injury derailed his season and left a huge hole in the line.

Wormley is now fully healthy and once again slotted as the starting right guard next to Juice Scruggs at center.

On the opposite side of Scruggs, there will be a new starter at left guard, Landon Tengwall.

Tengwall was a top-seven offensive tackle coming out of high school, but most experts saw a move to guard being highly likely, and that’s where he will be this season. So far, Landon’s reps have been limited in the spring, which makes a full evaluation difficult.

He’s a redshirt freshman, so there will be mistakes to be made in the upcoming season, but Tengwall has the ability to be a special player in the blue and white.

The last new face on the offensive line is Olu Fashanu, who is projected to start at the ultra-important left tackle position. Fashanu first appeared for Penn State in last year’s Outback Bowl, as Rasheed Walker sat out to prepare for the NFL draft, and Olu took full advantage of the opportunity as he looked really good in the process.

Fashanu has excellent size, footwork, and reach. However more importantly, he’s a tireless worker. I have a feeling his work ethic will be seen by Penn State Football fans next year and felt by the opposition.

Olu won the “Competitor of the Day” award twice during the Nittany Lions’ winter workouts, which tied for the most on the team. This can’t be seen as anything other than a positive and hopefully he continues to improve in anchoring down the left side of the line.

Oh, and the Penn State player Fashanu tied in the competitor award? The only returning offensive line starter at his position from last year, right tackle Caedan Wallace.

Eventually the stars have to align, and the Nittany Lions’ offensive line will be better than “a liability game in and game out”, and with this group I truly believe the Penn State faithful will see a difference this season.