Penn State’s James Franklin on replacing Juice Scruggs, updates on Olu Fashanu and Landon Tengwall, more
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Penn State head coach James Franklin addresses the media on the first day of football spring practice. March 14, 2023. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
STATE COLLEGE – Penn State lost several talented players who were also great leaders during the 2022 season.
Juice Scruggs was one of them. The two-year starter played both guard and center for the Nittany Lions, holding down the center spot in 2022. Scruggs didn’t miss a start during Penn State’s 11-2 campaign and identifying his replacement will be one of the bigger priorities this spring and in August practices.
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Penn State head coach James Franklin addressed the media on the first day of football spring practice. March 14, 2023. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
The top contender for the job is Hunter Nourzad, the Cornell transfer who played guard and center last season. Nourzad appeared in 11 games last season and made eight starts at left guard in place of the injured Landon Tengwall.
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Penn State offensive linemen Hunter Nourzad and Olumuyiwa Fashanu during the second quarter at RossAde Stadium for the Purdue game on Sept. 1, 2022. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
But PSU head coach James Franklin said Tuesday prior to the Lions’ first spring practice that offensive line coach Phil Trautwein will give center reps to a few other players.
“Hunter, I think, is going to be in a competition with (Nick) Dawkins,” said Franklin, asked about replacing Scruggs.
“I think there are some other guys, I think Vega (Ioane) will take some center reps. I think (Sal) Wormley will take some center snaps, as well.
“And then (Dominic) Rulli and (Ian) Harvie will be there, as well. So it allows us to have, on paper, a four-deep for a practice perspective.”
© JOE HERMITT/pennlive.com/TNS
Penn State head coach James Franklin addresses the media on the first day of football spring practice. March 14, 2023. Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com
Nourzad, listed at 6-3, 312 entering spring, played at Cornell from 2018-2021. He made 20 consecutive starts at right tackle while there and Nourzad was a first-team All-Ivy League pick in 2021.
The 6-4, 319-pound Dawkins is a fourth-year Lion who appeared in two games last season.
Wormley made 13 starts at right guard in 2022 and he is expected back there in the fall. The 6-3, 313-pounder is in his fifth year.
Ioane, a second-year Lion, is listed at 6-4, 352. He redshirted in 2022 and has a promising future after appearing in four games last season.
Rulli and Harvie are both walk-ons.
Fashanu ready for action, Tengwall close. The Lions started 2022 with Olu Fashanu left tackle and Tengwall at left guard. Fashanu, a breakout performer who is viewed as a potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft, saw his 2022 end due to an undisclosed injury. The 6-6, 323-pound Fashanu, a fourth-year Lion, made eight starts.
The 6-6, 314-pound Tengwall, now in his third season, made five starts at left guard before suffering an undisclosed injury in pregame warmups prior to Penn State’s loss at Michigan.
“Olu will be full-go and Landon Tengwall, I think, will be full-go by practice three,” Franklin said.
“We’ve got a number of guys, they will come out the first two practices and do kind of more individuals and jog-throughs, individuals full-speed. And then depending upon how they do with those, then they will have an opportunity by practice 3 to, the medical staff will determine, do we need to keep modifying them or are they in a good place?”
“It will be great to have those two guys back,” Franklin added, referring to Fashanu and Tengwall.
Shelton staying on the right side. The competition to watch on the offensive line is the battle between Caedan Wallace and Drew Shelton at right tackle. Franklin said Shelton will work at right tackle after making five starts at left tackle in 2022 in place of the injured Fashanu.
Shelton, a second-year Lion, is listed at 6-5, 300. Wallace, a member of Franklin’s 2019 recruiting class, started the first seven games of 2022 at right tackle before he suffered an undisclosed injury. The 6-5, 328-pound Wallace has made 27 career starts at right tackle.
“Drew will be at right tackle competing with Caedan Wallace,” Franklin said.
“We’re going to try and figure out if we can create a competition to figure out who is that fourth tackle, or second left tackle, however you want to look at it.”
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