Projecting Penn State football’s offensive depth chart after spring practice
Spring ball has come to a close, and a clearer picture is forming of what Penn State football will look like this fall. Starters have begun to secure their spots and the depth chart is taking shape with just over four months until the Nittany Lions’ season opener in Beaver Stadium against Marshall.
Who can fans expect to see take the field against the Thundering Herd, as things stand? Let’s take a look.
Quarterback
Redshirt senior Rocco Becht
Redshirt freshman Alex Manske
Senior Connor Barry
Notes: This one is a little murkier than you’d expect. Becht is the starter by a wide margin, and if healthy Manske is the backup. But Manske underwent a medical procedure this offseason that is leaving his status for the fall in doubt, although head coach Matt Campbell has expressed confidence that the redshirt freshman will be back this season. If he’s not, Barry will be the backup after getting a lot of reps during spring ball. Kase Evans and Peyton Falzone are both true freshmen, with neither likely factoring into the equation this season. If disaster strikes and one of them is needed, Evans is ahead of Falzone.
Running back
Senior Carson Hansen
Junior James Peoples
Redshirt sophomore Quinton Martin Jr.
Redshirt junior Cam Wallace
Notes: The bulk of the snaps this fall will likely go to Hansen, Peoples and Martin, with Wallace occasionally getting some reps. Hansen is expected to begin the season as the starter, but Peoples will have a chance to take over the job if he can take another step forward in his development. And Martin has the most upside of any back in the room, and should be a big play threat who can make an impact in the passing game. True freshman D’Antae Sheffey is highly likely to redshirt.
Wide receiver (X)
Redshirt senior Chase Sowell
Redshirt freshman Karon Brookins
Redshirt freshman Lyrick Samuel
Wide receiver (Z)
Junior Brett Eskildsen
Sophomore Koby Howard
Freshman Amarion Jackson
Wide receiver (F)
Sophomore Koby Howard
Redshirt freshman Zay Robinson
Junior Brett Eskildsen
Notes: We’re breaking up the receiver position into three spots — though it’s possible that there will only be two starters. Sowell and Eskildsen are going to start for this team as long as they’re healthy and both should be on the field far more than any other players at the position. When offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser decides to go into 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end), then I’d expect Howard to be the slot. Otherwise, he’ll likely back up Eskildsen, with Brookins backing up Sowell. Freshman Amarion Jackson has been praised this spring and could earn a spot behind Eskildsen and Howard on the outside, while Robinson seems like a good bet to back up Howard in the slot.
Tight end
Senior Ben Brahmer
Redshirt junior Andrew Rappleyea
Redshirt senior Gabe Burkle
Redshirt sophomore Cooper Alexander
Notes: Both Brahmer and Rappleyea should see the field quite a bit and both could end up starting if Penn State leans into 12 personnel as it’s expected to. Burkle will likely back up Rappleyea, while Alexander will likely back up Brahmer, and both of them should see the field plenty, too. This is a strong position group that leans heavily on the top four, with occasional reps for Finn Furmanek and Brian Kortovich.
Left tackle
Redshirt freshman Malachi Goodman
Redshirt sophomore Garrett Sexton
Redshirt freshman Kuol Kuol II
Notes: This spot has been trending heavily toward Goodman throughout the spring, although Sexton and Owen Aliciene have both been involved in the competition for it. Sexton gets the nod on the left side backup spot over Aliciene because of his experience advantage. Kuol has enormous upside and is someone worth filing away for the future.
Left guard
Redshirt junior Trevor Buhr
Redshirt freshman Will Tompkins
Redshirt freshman Vaea Ikakoula
Notes: Buhr is locked in as the starter here after transferring in from Iowa State and the only question is who backs him up. The nod goes to Tompkins for now, but Ikakoula should see snaps across the interior this fall.
Center
Redshirt sophomore Brock Riker
Redshirt freshman Vaea Ikakoula
Redshirt senior Dom Rulli
Notes: This was expected to be a competition this spring, but an injury to Rulli has allowed Riker to lock down the starting role. He’s a very good athlete who has already added strength this offseason but will need to continue to do so. Ikakoula is ahead of Rulli after a spring that saw him get reps at center, although it’s more than possible that Rulli is the primary backup when he’s ready to go.
Right guard
Junior Cooper Cousins
Redshirt junior Chimdy Onoh
Redshirt sophomore Donnie Harbour
Notes: Another spot on the interior with a locked-in starter. Cousins has been a leader for this team and should be one of its better linemen this fall. He needs to keep getting better as a pass protector, but he’s in no danger of losing this job. Onoh is a serviceable backup at this point, who could move to either guard spot.
Right tackle
Redshirt junior Anthony Donkoh
Redshirt freshman Owen Aliciene
Redshirt freshman Kuol Kuol II
Notes: Donkoh is probably the best lineman on the team but missed the spring due to injury. Still, he’s going to start once he’s healthy and should be very good once again this season. Aliciene could end up at left tackle still, but if Goodman wins that job, he and Sexton will split the two backup tackle spots.
