Penn State exited Minnesota with a gutsy 26-25 victory on Saturday, a game that saw the Nittany Lions compete relentlessly, regardless of adversity or injury. James Franklin will need that same mentality from his group moving forward, considering Penn State will be without two key linemen for the foreseeable future
Anthony Donkoh, who has started 10 of 11 games at right tackle this season, and rotational defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. are both out with long-term injuries, Franklin said on Monday.
Donkoh sustained an apparent right leg injury on the second play of the game against the Golden Gophers, was carted to the locker room soon after and returned to the sideline after halftime in crutches. On Nov. 6, Donkoh was named one of 14 semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci will almost certainly start in Donkoh’s place in the Nittany Lions’ regular season finale against Maryland on Saturday. Rucci served as Donkoh’s replacement at Minnesota and has been the next man up throughout a year that Donkoh has dealt with bumps and bruises.
“I think we were pleased with Rucci and we sure are glad he’s on our team,” Franklin said. “We felt like that all year long. And we’re gonna need him to have a really good week this week in preparation, as well as on Saturday, and have a lot of confidence that he will.”
With Rucci’s subsequent promotion, who else could see increased time in his place? Franklin has four linemen in mind: JB Nelson, Cooper Cousins, Eagan Boyer and J’ven Williams.
It appears Nelson, a redshirt senior who started in eight games last season, is the most likely candidate to fill Rucci’s shoes. Nelson’s role “will increase, and he’s earned that,” Franklin said. But with what Franklin called “lingering injuries” throughout the year, Nelson may need to rotate occasionally with his younger teammates such as Cousins, Boyer and Williams.
Ford’s injury significantly shakes up the other side of the team’s line of scrimmage. Penn State is now down to just three experienced defensive tackles after Hakeem Beamon’s departure from the program and Ford’s second-quarter injury at Minnesota. All that’s left are starters Zane Durant and Dvon J-Thomas, as well as one experienced reserve in Coziah Izzard.
The Nittany Lions do have a number of young defensive tackles who could see an increased time, as well, but it’s uncertain how confident the coaching staff feels in playing them at the same rate as Ford or Izzard. That list of players includes Kaleb Artis, Ty Blanding and true freshman Xavier Gilliam.
Ford had played in all 11 games this year in his return from an injury that left him sidelined for the entirety of last season, his first after transferring from Old Dominion. Before his injury against the Golden Gophers, Ford was enjoying a breakout campaign in which he tallied 16 tackles and 3.5 tackles for loss.
