Penn State Football: 3 Questions Answered by the Offensive Line
By Andrew Adair
Penn State had sweeping questions on the offensive line heading into the 2022 season. James Franklin and Phil Trautwein substantially answered those questions.
One of the biggest questions facing Penn State entering the 2022 season featured the offensive line. Depth, talent, development, and coaching were all questioned before the Nittany Lions took the field against Purdue.
Head Coach James Franklin and Offensive Line Coach Phil Trautwein were tasked with fixing the offensive line. James Franklin brought Trautwein in after the 2019 season to address a weakness that has plagued Penn State for years. After two years of up-and-down performances, mainly down, 2022 felt like a make-or-break year for Phil Trautwein.
Well, after thirteen weeks, we now have answers to those questions. The offensive line outperformed expectations and finished the season as one of Penn States’ deepest position groups. Here is what we learned about the offensive line in 2022.
Does Penn State have the Depth to compete?
Over a twelve-game college football season, injuries are going to happen. In years past, Penn State Football struggled with their offensive line starters healthy, let alone when one or two went down with injuries. This season was different.
Penn State Football started the season with the following lineup across the offensive front: LT Olu Fashanu, LG Landon Tengwall, C Juice Scruggs, RG Sal Wormley, and RT Caedan Wallace.
With this lineup, there was a rotation at LG with Tengwall and Hunter Nourzad. There was also a rotation at RT with Wallace and Bryce Effner.
This is how the offensive front looked at the end of the season: LT Drew Shelton, LG Hunter Nourzad, C Juice Scruggs, RG Sal Wormley, and RT Bryce Effner.
Injuries decimated the offensive line and forced ten players to see significant time. Unlike previous seasons, the depth performed at or above expectations.
The depth on the offensive line is now a strength for this Penn State Football program. The 2023 season will feature even more depth with highly ranked commits Alex Birchmeier and Jven Williams arriving in Happy Valley.