Off Season and Pre Season Articles Thread

Sherriff Coffee said:
I wonder, if Donkoh is that "smart", if Center may be in his future. I can see him calling out coverages and assignments.
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Rumor has been that Cousins is destined for Center. If Donkoh is an NFL worthy OT that would seem to be where he would want to play in 2026 (at PSU or in the NFL) as OT's seem to get paid the most among NFL olinemen. It would seem that Trautwein would want Donkoh at OT in 2026 if he returns to PSU as with both of Shelton and Rucci out of eligibility Donkoh would be the only experienced OT on the roster, with a number of young OT's that would compete to start opposite him. Sexton, Boyer, Goodman, Aliciene.
 
GregInPitt said:
Rumor has been that Cousins is destined for Center. If Donkoh is an NFL worthy OT that would seem to be where he would want to play in 2026 (at PSU or in the NFL) as OT's seem to get paid the most among NFL olinemen. It would seem that Trautwein would want Donkoh at OT in 2026 if he returns to PSU as with both of Shelton and Rucci out of eligibility Donkoh would be the only experienced OT on the roster, with a number of young OT's that would compete to start opposite him. Sexton, Boyer, Goodman, Aliciene.
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Agree. Donkah is huge, and that is often a need at tackle, which is rare.
 
Re: Donkoh.

I think it becomes a matter of what produces a better OL. Him at RT with Cousins/Williams at RG or him at RG and Rucci at RT.

Donkoh's size is optimal for T, and if he keeps developing that's where his future is.
 
Interesting. tOSU is saying that they are going to host two overall #1 teams at the Horseshoe this year: TX and PSU. We'd have to have beaten everyone up until that point, including Oregon and Iowa.
 
Some more on the 5 PSU players making the annual freaks list:

No. 8: Defensive tackle Zane Durant​

Durant is a three-time "Freaks List" honoree, having moved up every season. He debuted at 38th in 2023, jumped to 18th last year and ranks No. 8 on the list this season. Durant (6-1, 294 pounds) isn't the prototypical defensive tackle who simply covers acreage and allows linebacker make tackles. He's a leverage player who uses his remarkable lower-body strength to generate pressure from a difficult spot inside.

He also has run some exceptional times (4.66 in the 40-yard dash) and accelerates as well as any interior lineman in the country. Durant leads a Penn State defensive line with top-end star power but depth concerns.

19. Running back Nick Singleton​

Another three-time freak, Singleton moved into the top-20 this year after breaking Saquon Barkley's program squat record by a running back (665 pounds). Singleton has been Penn State's most consistent athlete in the weight room almost since he stepped on campus.

"I get super-excited when we’re able to shave .500 off his 40," Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey said. "I get excited when we put five pounds on his power clean, 10-15 pounds on his squat."

Props also go to Garage Strength, Singleton's training home base in Reading, Pennsylvania.

No: 30: Linebacker Tony Rojas​

A welcome newcomer to the list. Rojas is a junior who, when healthy, could be among the Big Ten's best linebacker. Franklin said recently that Rojas played through an injury last season that limited him and required offseason surgery. He's back to full strength and can put his speed to use in the middle of Penn State's defense.

Rojas ran some superb offseason times, including a 4.05 in the shuttle. Feldman noted that the time was faster than that any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2019.

No. 47: Cornerback Elliot Washington II​

A.J. Harris is the Penn State cornerback who will draw the most attention from defensive coordinators and draft analysts, but Washington is underrated. And he might not even start for the Nittany Lions, underscoring the cornerback room's depth.

Washington is a speedster (4.32 in the 40) who can jump, which will earn him plenty of playing time in Penn State's secondary rotation. Yet fellow cornerback Audavion Collins might be even faster, making for a speedy cornerback tandem that Penn State will deploy in its 4-2-5 defense.

No. 71: Tight end Khalil Dinkins​

Franklin has said multiple times that Dinkins is flying too under the radar. What better way to launch his breakout season than with an inclusion on the "Freaks List." Dinkins has earned his reputation for blocking, a skill that makes him a de facto sixth lineman. But watch for the tight end downfield.

According to Feldman, Dinkins broke Penn State's 40-time record among tight ends (4.5 seconds) and cleared 10 feet in the broad jump. The Nittany Lions need a red-zone threat to follow Tyler Warren. Dinkins is that type of player.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/football/who-are-penn-state-s-freaks-nittany-lions-claim-5-for-2025/
 
LudicrousSpeedGO! said:
Some more on the 5 PSU players making the annual freaks list:

No. 8: Defensive tackle Zane Durant​

Durant is a three-time "Freaks List" honoree, having moved up every season. He debuted at 38th in 2023, jumped to 18th last year and ranks No. 8 on the list this season. Durant (6-1, 294 pounds) isn't the prototypical defensive tackle who simply covers acreage and allows linebacker make tackles. He's a leverage player who uses his remarkable lower-body strength to generate pressure from a difficult spot inside.

He also has run some exceptional times (4.66 in the 40-yard dash) and accelerates as well as any interior lineman in the country. Durant leads a Penn State defensive line with top-end star power but depth concerns.

19. Running back Nick Singleton​

Another three-time freak, Singleton moved into the top-20 this year after breaking Saquon Barkley's program squat record by a running back (665 pounds). Singleton has been Penn State's most consistent athlete in the weight room almost since he stepped on campus.

"I get super-excited when we’re able to shave .500 off his 40," Penn State strength coach Chuck Losey said. "I get excited when we put five pounds on his power clean, 10-15 pounds on his squat."

Props also go to Garage Strength, Singleton's training home base in Reading, Pennsylvania.

No: 30: Linebacker Tony Rojas​

A welcome newcomer to the list. Rojas is a junior who, when healthy, could be among the Big Ten's best linebacker. Franklin said recently that Rojas played through an injury last season that limited him and required offseason surgery. He's back to full strength and can put his speed to use in the middle of Penn State's defense.

Rojas ran some superb offseason times, including a 4.05 in the shuttle. Feldman noted that the time was faster than that any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2019.

No. 47: Cornerback Elliot Washington II​

A.J. Harris is the Penn State cornerback who will draw the most attention from defensive coordinators and draft analysts, but Washington is underrated. And he might not even start for the Nittany Lions, underscoring the cornerback room's depth.

Washington is a speedster (4.32 in the 40) who can jump, which will earn him plenty of playing time in Penn State's secondary rotation. Yet fellow cornerback Audavion Collins might be even faster, making for a speedy cornerback tandem that Penn State will deploy in its 4-2-5 defense.

No. 71: Tight end Khalil Dinkins​

Franklin has said multiple times that Dinkins is flying too under the radar. What better way to launch his breakout season than with an inclusion on the "Freaks List." Dinkins has earned his reputation for blocking, a skill that makes him a de facto sixth lineman. But watch for the tight end downfield.

According to Feldman, Dinkins broke Penn State's 40-time record among tight ends (4.5 seconds) and cleared 10 feet in the broad jump. The Nittany Lions need a red-zone threat to follow Tyler Warren. Dinkins is that type of player.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/football/who-are-penn-state-s-freaks-nittany-lions-claim-5-for-2025/
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Rojas running a 4.05 in the shuttle, faster than that any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2019, is quite a statement. And it's not like he's some smaller, lighter LB that will end up as a Safety in the NFL. He has legit LB size.....
 
GregInPitt said:
Rojas running a 4.05 in the shuttle, faster than that any linebacker at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2019, is quite a statement. And it's not like he's some smaller, lighter LB that will end up as a Safety in the NFL. He has legit LB size.....
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I read he ran a sub-4.4 40.
 
Sherriff Coffee said:
Interesting. tOSU is saying that they are going to host two overall #1 teams at the Horseshoe this year: TX and PSU. We'd have to have beaten everyone up until that point, including Oregon and Iowa.
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That can't happen unless both OSU and Texas lose before we go to Columbus.
 
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