Why Penn State football OL coach Phil Trautwein is excited about his line’s potential
Phil Trautwein wanted a scholarship offer from Penn State football so badly that he camped for the Nittany Lions on a broken foot.
Trautwein, Penn State’s first-year offensive line coach, said he found out he had a broken foot the day before he was scheduled to attend a prospect camp at the university. A doctor advised him to wear a boot to heal his foot, but he refused.
“I was going into my senior year and tried to come to camp,” Trautwein said on a teleconference with the media Tuesday morning. “The next day I had to put a boot on. I was actually supposed to be in a boot for the camp, but I told the doctor, ‘No, I’m going to try to get an offer from Penn State.’ ”
The broken foot hindered the former offensive tackle’s performance and he left the camp without the offer he coveted. Disappointed with the outcome, Trautwein went home to continue his recruitment while waiting for the right offer to come.
He eventually received that offer from Florida late in the process, and he committed. The decision paid off with two national championships and an All-SEC first team selection as a Gator.
Here are the other main takeaways from Trautwein’s Tuesday morning teleconference.
Will Fries’ big year
Penn State’s starting right tackle was one of the last linemen asked about on Tuesday’s teleconference. Redshirt senior Will Fries was a mainstay on the right side of the offensive line, starting 13 games as a junior, and was named an honorable mention on the All-Big Ten team by the coaches and the media.
Trautwein has been impressed by the senior tackle’s motivation and ingenuity during the coronavirus pandemic.
“Will is awesome,” Trauwein said. “He’s always doing extra stuff. He showed me a picture of a punching bag he built in the backyard. That’s the mentality I love. That’s the mentality I want in my offensive line.”
The Penn State offensive line coach is tasked with helping the right tackle get drafted after his final year on campus, and he’s hopeful he can get him there.
“This is a big year for him,” Trautwein said. “He wants to be All-Big Ten and he wants to be drafted. ... I think he has the ability to. He has great feet and loves the game of football. I think a lot of organizations will love that in him.”
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Rasheed Walker showing upside
Penn State’s best offensive lineman last year was one of its youngest. Redshirt sophomore offensive tackle Rasheed Walker solidified the line on quarterback Sean Clifford’s blindside whenever he took the field.
Trautwein saw plenty to like in Walker’s game film.
“He’s athletic,” he said. “He has great feet, he’s strong, he has a great punch when he uses it, and you can tell that he’s nasty, he tries to finish his blocks. ... I’m excited to get him when he’s young and mold him into what he feels like he’s going to be.”
Walker may only be a redshirt sophomore next season, but it could be his last as a Nittany Lion. The offensive tackle has enough talent to take another step on the field and put himself in a good spot to go high in the 2021 NFL draft.
Whatever his goals may be, Trautwein is looking forward to helping him reach it.
“I know his goals,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to get (him) to his goals. He’s a really good player who I’m excited to get my hands on and coach.”
Caedan Wallace competing for Fries’ spot
Trautwein touched on the versatility of several offensive linemen on Tuesday’s teleconference, including that of redshirt freshman Caedan Wallace. The freshman can play all across the line, according to Trautwein, and will have a chance to take on several roles for the Nittany Lions this season.
“He’s versatile,” Trautwein said. “He can play tackle and I also think he can play guard. ... He’s battling right now for our right tackle spot, but also he can be my sixth guy, or a guy that I plug in at guard and tackle. I want guys that play everything.”
Wallace’s buy-in has made it easier for him to learn each spot, but his talent and size are making it even easier for him to play across the line.
“He’s learning the game of football,” Trautwein said. “His football IQ is getting better, just being able to do the meetings I’ve done with these guys. He’s a guy that’s definitely bought in and wants to understand every position because I think he understands the value of that.”
Quick hitters
- Trautwein said redshirt junior Mike Miranda was set to learn how to play at center this spring to ensure he had the versatility to play anywhere on the interior.
- Starting center Michal Menet has been important in helping the unit transition to Trautwein’s coaching style. He’s taken the lead on extra meetings with the offensive line and has taken to the new coach’s way of doing things.
- The offensive line coach’s philosophy is to make sure his linemen play with their legs when they run block. Their legs are stronger and Trautwein said playing that way helps them get to their maximum power.
This story was originally published April 28, 2020 at 5:29 PM.
