Penn State doesn’t have a quarterback battle dominating headlines or a flashy new freshman stealing the show in Matt Campbell’s first fall camp. So, much of the spotlight has been focused on left tackle and a three-way competition between former five-star Malachi Goodman, fellow redshirt freshman Owen Aliciene, and redshirt sophomore Garrett Sexton.
Goodman never thought to entering the transfer portal this offseason and was one of Penn State’s most high-profile retentions. However, that doesn’t mean he’s a shoo-in for the starting left tackle job. He may have the highest upside, at least in reference to his high school recruiting ranking, and that may make him an alluring option on veteran QB Rocco Becht’s blindside, but Campbell is tempering expectations.
“Impressive moving around, impressive human being,” Matt Campbell began, responding to a question from longtime Penn State reporter Audrey Snyder at his first press conference of fall camp.
“One of the best humans I have met since being here, and yet falls under the same mode as some of those really talented young guys. I think we all can get caught up in the flash and the sizzle, but can you do it every day?”
Matt Campbell tempering expectations for Malachi Goodman to win starting LT job
Goodman didn’t play a single snap last season as a true freshman. Aliciene and Sexton haven’t had much more experience in their young collegiate careers, either, but Goodman’s lack of experience seems to be showing up in fall camp. It could also prevent him from being the Day 1 starter when Penn State hosts Marshall at Beaver Stadium in Week 1.
It almost seemed as though Campbell was issuing a challenge to Goodman: “Can you be the guy that consistently shows up and separates yourself from the pack?”
“He’s going to be in a really great race,” Campbell continued, praising Sexton and Aliciene. “I think there’s going to be a great competition, but there is no question that Malachi has elite traits in every way, shape, and form.”
Ultimately, those elite traits will likely win out at left tackle. If Campbell and offensive line coach Ryan Clanton had a veteran option to go to instead of Goodman, it would make this battle even more interesting, but in this case, Goodman should prevail. It’s just not a foregone conclusion unless Campbell sees more of the consistency that he’s looking for.
And the answer may not come in fall camp. With three non-conference games against non-Power 4 teams to open the season, Campbell hinted that he’s likely going to use that time to continue evaluating his left tackle options in live game action before settling on a starter.
Penn State’s offensive identity will help a young LT
The rest of Penn State’s offensive line is set with Trevor Buhr at left guard, Brock Riker at center, Cooper Cousins at right guard, and Anthony Donkoh at right tackle. Cousins has never been a full-time starter, and Riker is making a big jump from the Sun Belt to the Big Ten.
Still, though, the left tackle starter, whoever it may be, will be the biggest question mark.
Luckily for that player, he’ll likely have some help to his left pretty often in offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser’s scheme.
Speaking about the team’s offensive identity on Friday, Campbell said, “we’d be disappointed if” 12 personnel is not their ‘home-base’ on offense this season. “You could challenge is 13 personnel (1 running back, 3 tight ends) the home base.”
With Benjamin Brahmer, Andrew Rappleyea, and Gabe Burkle all figuring to factor into the offense from the tight end position, Mouser’s heavy personnel looks will allow him to protect Goodman by keeping in an extra blocker, chipping defensive ends on obvious passing downs, and giving him help setting the edge in the run game.
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