Vega Ioane is one of the best eight or nine, and likely one of the top six.
On the topic of Penn State offensive linemen, James Franklin and position coach Phil Trautwein could deploy at least eight players — nine if you include prized true freshman Cooper Cousins — early in the season.
The group includes Ioane, Sal Wormley, JB Nelson and J’ven Williams at the guard spots, Nick Dawkins at center and Drew Shelton, Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci at tackle.
Cousins, the 6-foot-6, 315-pounder from Erie McDowell, is also pushing for playing time inside after enrolling in January.
Ioane, now in his third season, made five starts at left guard in 2023 and could begin the year there when the Lions open their season Aug. 31 at West Virginia.
Ioane has the physical tools — he’s 6-4, 346 — and he’s growing into a leadership role. Ioane could also be the Lions’ backup center.
“Doesn’t matter where you are, left guard, right guard, right tackle, center, everybody’s gotta be vocal, no matter what (the position) is,” Ioane said after practice Tuesday.
“Center, you gotta be a lot more vocal. I do that pretty well.”
“When I go out there during practice, or games … it’s not something that I strive to do,” Ioane continued.
“It’s just something that comes out, you know, natural. I’m not trying to be that guy that’s all ‘rah-rah’ and all that. But if I see that we need it and something needs to be, I’ll be the guy to step up, no matter what it is.”
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki is also a fan of the team’s O-line depth. And “eight” sounds about right to him, too.
“If you were to say who is lineman No. 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, there would be some questions about trying to figure it out, so that’s good,” Kotelnicki said recently.
“There’s a lot of healthy competition there.”
Depending on how quickly Cousins develops during the fall, the number could be nine.
“That guy’s going to be a possible first-rounder,” Ioane said of Cousins.
“He’s a dog since the first day he stepped on campus. He’s proved himself early. … You guys are going to be seeing him a lot on the field this season.”
