How Penn State freshman OL J’ven Williams, Alex Birchmeier, Anthony Donkoh are progressing

© JOE HERMITT/pennlive.com/TNS Penn State commits Alex Birchmeier and Anthony Donkoh visit for the Ohio State game on Oct. 29, 2022. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State’s offensive line had to adjust last season. Left guard Landon Tengwall went down before the Michigan game, star left tackle Olu Fashanu was injured against Ohio State, and right tackle Caedan Wallace missed five games.

In the middle of all that turnover was captain and center Juice Scruggs.

“He was the core of the o-line,” senior guard Sal Wormley said Tuesday night. “Without Juice, the o-line is trying to figure out who the leaders are, how we can lead. That was his, you know. He was really good at it. He took care of that.”

While Scruggs spent the last couple months preparing for the NFL combine and Friday’s pro day, Wormley, Wallace, Fashanu, Tengwall and Hunter Nourzad — the veterans of Phil Trautwein’s o-line room — have stepped into leadership roles.

They needed to in order for the offensive line — and on a larger scale, the offense — to take that next step. The Nittany Lions are four practices into spring camp. Soon enough, it’ll be August camp with a highly-anticipated 2023 season on the horizon.

But Wormley and his older teammates also needed to fill Scruggs’ shoes to help develop the future of Penn State’s o-line, the guys who will be tasked with blocking Ohio State and Michigan’s pass rushers in 2024 and beyond.

The Nittany Lions’ haul in the December signing period was noteworthy. J’ven Williams, a standout at Wyomissing, is just the second five-star offensive lineman of James Franklin’s 10-year tenure. He was the No. 25 overall prospect and No. 5 tackle in the 2023 class, per 247 Sports. Alex Birchmeier was a four-star recruit and the No. 1 player in Virginia. Anthony Donkoh was bumped to four stars before signing day.

Williams, Birchmeier and Donkoh enrolled early, experienced winter workouts and are now a few practices into spring camp.

“They’re all athletic, but they’ve got things to work on,” Wormley said. “They’ve all been really impressive. Those are guys who in a year or two years, depending on how they work, they can play here.”

Wormley said Williams’ athleticism at 6-foot-5, 313 pounds is obvious. “As soon as you see him play and move out there, he looks like a college tackle already,” he added, comparing Williams’ build to former Penn State tackle Rasheed Walker.

Wormley said Birchmeier and Donkoh are further ahead on picking up the playbook, something he and the veterans have helped all three freshmen with. That’s something that will continue not only in spring, but throughout the summer and into the fall.

“We have chats with Franklin and Traut about having to be a leader and all that,” Wormley said. “But as a player, we don’t want them to do bad. We like the young guys. We want them to get better. We can see their potential. Of course, they’re going to mess up. But a little coaching will get them on the right track.”

© JOE HERMITT/pennlive.com/TNS Penn State offensive lineman J'ven Williams runs a drill during spring practice on March 21, 2023. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com

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