Penn State's Drew Shelton, an offensive tackle, is likely to miss spring practice, which started on Tuesday, because he had surgery, according to coach James Franklin.
Shelton, who is 6-5 and weighs 306 pounds, played in every game last season and started in the Peach Bowl against Ole Miss. He wore a sling after his surgery. In that game, he played as a left tackle in place of Olu Fashanu, who chose not to play.
Coach Franklin explained, "At the end of the season, Drew underwent surgery for an injury that he was able to play through, but it made sense to get it done as soon as the season ended."
Franklin also mentioned, "We wish we had him for spring practice, but in the long term, it will be the best decision for him and the team. We have other players in the same position that we are confident in."
Olu Fashanu, who is expected to be drafted in the first round of the NFL draft, and Caedan Wallace, who has also entered the NFL draft, were the starting tackles for the past two seasons.
In 2022, Shelton started five games as a freshman when Fashanu got injured. Along with Wisconsin transfer Nolan Rucci, who is from Warwick High School, Shelton has the most experience playing as a tackle.
Coach Franklin said, "Having Nolan Rucci, who is familiar to us, back on the team is very important. He has gained weight, reaching 315 pounds, which has been a bit of a challenge for him. He looks great and is incredibly tall, around 6-7 or 6-8, and still looks slender."
With Shelton's absence, redshirt freshman J'ven Williams may have more opportunities to practice this spring. Williams, who is 6-5 and weighs 304 pounds, played in three games last season and was a top recruit in the Class of 2023, coming from Wyomissing.
Two of Williams’ peers, Anthony Donkoh and Chimdy Onoh, are also expected to compete as tackles. Donkoh played a significant role in the Peach Bowl as a right tackle when Wallace did not play in the second half. He can play as a guard and tackle, as can fifth-year senior JB Nelson.
Garrett Sexton, a four-star recruit from the 2024 class, will also miss spring practice due to an undisclosed injury, as stated by Coach Franklin.
Carter’s decision: Abdul Carter, a linebacker who has been named All-Big Ten twice, has switched to defensive end for spring practice and is expected to continue in that position.
Franklin explained, "This was Abdul's decision, not ours. He had several reasons for wanting to make this change, and we are excited about it."
Carter now joins Dani Dennis-Sutton, Amin Vanover, Zuriah Fisher, and Smith Vilbert, along with talented sophomore Jameial Lyons, in the defensive end position, hoping to fill the gap left by Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac going to the NFL.
Franklin expressed, "We are very confident in the current lineup. Adding Abdul to this group will be a positive for us. Having depth, talent, and the desired length in the defensive end position will benefit everyone."
Backfield depth: Penn State needs to find a third, and perhaps even a fourth, running back to support co-starters Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen.
The top contenders for this role are redshirt freshmen Cam Wallace and London Montgomery, along with freshman Quinton Martin Jr.
Wallace, who came from Mount Vernon, Ga., and was rated as a three-star prospect, did not play at all last year.
“Cam is an exciting individual,” Franklin mentioned. “He really performed well during the offseason. He gained some weight and size in a positive way. His quickness and explosive movements have not decreased. I have been very satisfied with his progress.”
Montgomery, a four-star prospect from Scranton, did not participate in any games last year due to knee surgery stemming from an injury at Scranton Prep.
“Whenever London Montgomery gets on the field, he consistently contributes positively to our team,” Franklin stated. “His physical appearance hasn't changed much. I believe he's still only 185 pounds, which will present a challenge for him. However, in terms of football, he is quite skilled.”
Martin, a four-star prospect who previously led Belle Vernon to back-to-back PIAA Class 3A titles, is on the team.
“He was utilized in various roles as a receiver and running back in high school,” Franklin noted. “He has already made physical changes, becoming stronger. We anticipate that he will continue to develop and improve significantly over the next few months.”
