Penn State's Offense Confronts an Offseason of Change
Spring practice is rapidly approaching with plenty of intrigue across Penn State’s 2024 football roster, whether it’s in the six high-profile transfers James Franklin has landed, the three coordinators he hired this offseason or the general carryover from a disappointing end to the 2023 season. That makes now a good time to tackle the biggest remaining questions in each phase, starting with offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s group.
Penn State finished the 2023 season 12th in the FBS in scoring (36.2 points per game), but that would have looked quite different without a couple of 63-point outbursts against UMass and Delaware. The Nittany Lions were shaky on third downs, ranking 54th nationally and crumbling on the money down against its biggest competition. They were inconsistent throwing the ball in Drew Allar’s first year as the starting quarterback, too, at 77th with 215 yards per game. There are scheme and personnel questions alike, making Kotelnicki’s first year pivotal
Related: Penn State dives into the transfer portal
Can Allar and Co. take a step?
Allar’s first start was an energizing one, as he threw for 325 yards and three touchdowns against West Virginia. After that, Allar failed to cross 300 yards (he came close twice) and showed uneven performances. The soon-to-be junior has tantalizing arm talent, better-than-expected proficiency running the ball and elite pocket presence, though he had accuracy issues and times and seemed to miss open receivers occasionally. There will be a big spotlight on Allar alone as a signal caller in 2024.
But how much of those struggles were Allar’s? It’s a fair question, considering that Franklin fired offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich with two games remaining in the regular season. In addition, KeAndre Lambert-Smith finished as the No. 1 receiver with a paltry 673 yards and had just two catches over the last four games. Penn State didn’t really find its stride running the ball until after Yurcich’s firing, either.
Kotelnicki needs to unlock Allar’s potential, whether that’s by scheming receivers open more often, turning Allar into a Josh Allen-type gunslinger, making the quarterback a more decisive passer or — most likely — a combination of those factors. The receivers also need to boost their production substantially. Lambert-Smith seemingly will return in 2024 without having made an official announcement past the NFL Draft/first transfer portal window, Julian Fleming transferred from Ohio State, and Harrison Wallace III would ideally stay healthy this year to pair with star tight end Tyler Warren’s return. All eyes are on this passing offense in 2024.
Line change
And no, not the hockey kind, although there are just about that many names shifting on Penn State’s offensive line this offseason. Starters Olu Fashanu, Hunter Nourzad and Caedan Wallace are leaving their posts at left tackle, center and right tackle. As a result, offensive line coach Phil Trautwein must replace at least three multi-year starters from a line that allowed just 16 sacks, second-fewest in the Big Ten.
Left guard could be considered another spot to watch despite returning production, as J.B. Nelson and Vega Ioane split snaps after Landon Tengwall’s medical retirement. Right guard Saleem Wormley is the closest thing to a lock returning on the 2024 line.
Drew Shelton is the heir apparent to Fashanu at left tackle. After making five starts as a freshman in relief of an injured Fashanu, Shelton was routinely the first lineman off the bench and took over for Fashanu in the Peach Bowl. Shelton held up exceptionally well as a freshman in 2022 and has put on about 10 pounds, per Penn State’s official roster, since his first season. But even with experience and a high-prospect pedigree, replacing Fashanu — a likely top-10 NFL pick — won’t be easy. Shelton’s performance and leadership is an X-factor in 2024.
Elsewhere, veteran Nick Dawkins may be the best bet at center. He has spent four seasons as a primary backup across all three interior spots and saw action in all 13 games last year. The staff is particularly high on Ioane, who could stay at left guard or even slot in at center. Freshmen Anthony Donkoh, J’ven Williams and Alex Birchmeier all made strides and could factor in at multiple spots, especially after Donkoh replaced Wallace in the Peach Bowl. There’s a wild card, with former top Pennsylvania prospect Nolan Rucci transferring from Wisconsin, seemingly to compete at a tackle spot.
Trautwein has plenty of options, so the line's primary question isn't, "Will it work?” but, "How will it work?” He'll likely test multiple combinations before finding the right group, which might last into the season.
Where can Kotelnicki take Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen?
Penn State’s elite rushing duo spent a lot of the 2023 season searching for the trademark explosive plays of their freshman years. Still, the numbers don’t necessarily do Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen justice in 2023, as evidenced by the duo sharing Penn State's offensive MVP award last season. Singleton and Allen picked things up significantly late in the regular season (including huge games against Michifan State) and have the same potential that makes them easily one of the nation’s best duos.
The question is, how high can Kotelnicki take them? The former Kansas offensive coordinator turned the Jayhawks into the nation’s eighth-best rushing attack at 206 yards per game (Penn State was 28th at 184.8). Kotelnicki has one of the most creative run schemes out there. If he can maximize Singleton and Allen’s respective skill sets, the Lions could be a fun ground attack in 2024.
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Max Ralph is a Penn State senior studying Broadcast Journalism with minors in sports studies and Japanese. He previously covered Penn State football for two years with The Daily Collegian and has reported with the Associated Press and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Follow him on Twitter (X) @maxralph_ and Instagram @mralph_59.
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