"This is our year."
That's the message on the poster hanging in offensive line coach Phil Trautwein's office with the Joe Moore Award right below.
In a recent media availability, the Penn State Nittany Lions' coaching staff shared their 2025-26 goals as a team, according to Penn State Nittany Lions On SI. Trautwein, though, has one big personal goal for his offensive line.
The Joe Moore Award is presented to the most outstanding offensive line unit in the NCAA "that best displays toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and 'finishing.'"
Trautwein and his offensive line are confident that they are a force to be reckon with this upcoming season for the award.
"I think this is the first time that I truly believe that," Trautwein said.
The Nittany Lions' offensive line is one of the top facets of the 2025-26 team with five returning starters who each played at least 400 snaps last season.
Sixth-year senior and center Nick Dawkins, left tackle Drew Shelton, right tackle Anthony Donkoh, right tackle Nolan Rucci, and left guard Vega Ioane are set to return. Having this veteran core only allows the offensive line's depth to strengthen.
Likely breaking into a starting role, right guard Cooper Cousins will have some shoes to fill in Sal Wormley's absence. In lieu of Penn State's loss in the Orange Bowl to Notre Dame, Wormley declared for the 2025 NFL Draft.
As the No. 1 interior offensive line recruit of the class of 2024 and 152 snaps as a freshman under his belt, though, Cousins' adjustment to a starting role is not a cause of concern.
A new face to Trautwein's crew, TJ Shanahan, is joining the Nittany Lions as a transfer from Texas A&M. The redshirt sophomore played in 10 games in the 2024-25 season as a freshman at Texas A&M.
Among these 10 games, Shanahan saw five starts. He was also a sought out recruit in the class of 2023 as the No. 155 overall player. With talent and high-end experience in the SEC, he should blend well with Penn State's offensive line.
The Joe Moore Award means more than a top offensive line, and Trautwein recognizes that.
Michigan, the 2021 and 2022 Joe Moore Award winner, beat Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game in 2023. Washington was the 2023 winner of the award.
"This is our year," Trautwein said. "... If you look at who the finalists are, it's usually someone that's in the finals or someone that's deep in the playoffs. So we know that if we play well, then team success will come."
Knowing the strength of Penn State's team overall heading into the 2025-26 season, the Nittany Lions are easily in contention for the Joe Moore Award and a playoff run with potential for their first title.