Penn State making a change to its starting offensive line after injury last week

Penn State had plenty of injury concerns coming out of last week’s win over Wisconsin with starting quarterback Drew Allar and star defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton both missing the second half. Allar is expected to play as No. 3 Penn State hosts No. 4 Ohio State in Week 10 and Dennis-Sutton will be a game-time decision, but potentially the biggest loss was along the offensive line. 

Redshirt freshman Anthony Donkoh beat out former five-star and Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci for the starting right tackle job in fall camp. However, in Week 9, Donkoh went out with an injury and was replaced by Rucci for the second-half comeback. On Saturday morning FOX’s Bruce Feldman reported that Rucci would start at right tackle against the Buckeyes. 

While Donkoh is officially listed as questionable on the Penn State injury report, Franklin is giving the nod to Rucci who has played 148 snaps at right tackle this season. In his 80 pass-blocking snaps, Rucci has allowed five quarterback pressures and no sacks while Donkoh has allowed eight pressures and no sacks in 297 snaps at right tackle (156 pass-blocking snaps). 

Last week against Wisconsin, Donkoh played 22 snaps before leaving the game with an injury. He and Rucci combined to allow five quarterback pressures from the right side of the offensive line, but per PFF, Rucci posted a slightly higher run-blocking grade. 

Rucci and starting left tackle Drew Shelton will hope to slow down Jack Sawyer and JT Tuimoloau who gave Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace big problems in Ohio State’s 20-12 win in Columbus last season. Protecting Drew Allar will be even more important today after the junior QB suffered a knee injury last week.