Penn State right tackle Anthony Donkoh went down with an injury in the Nittany Lion’s 26-25 win over Minnesota in Minneapolis on Saturday, and on Monday, James Franklin revealed his redshirt freshman’s status.
“Anthony is a long-term injury,” Franklin said in his Monday media availability.
Donkoh was helped off the field Saturday after going down and grabbing at his right knee. The 6-foot-5 330-pound emerging stalwart had to be helped off the field before using crutches to make his way to a cart. Donkoh emerged after the game again on crutches, and with a “long-term” injury at this point in the season, will be unlikely to return either for Penn State’s regular-season finale at Beaver Stadium against Maryland this Saturday, or in a potential 12-team College Football Playoff run.
Donkoh was replaced by Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci, who has played considerable snaps in his first year with the Nittany Lions. Rucci is a redshirt junior who was the No. 1 overall player in Pennsylvania in the 2020 recruiting class, and will now take over for Penn State at right tackle down the stretch. Donkoh beat out Rucci for the starting job in fall camp, but Rucci has rotated in opposite starting left tackle Drew Shelton on multiple occasions this season. Rucci even started against Ohio State after Donkoh was injured against Wisconsin the week before.
Franklin has faith in Rucci with Donkoh out. “We felt like Rucci played well,” Franklin said when asked about Donkoh’s injury. “Our offensive line as well as Rucci, I think you could watch 20 plays and be very impressed and then watch a couple of plays and be frustrated. Like always, we got to take responsibility in that, and you have to give Minnesota credit.”
Franklin also announced that defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. will also miss time with a long-term injury.