Penn State Football Breakout Picks in 2024: 3 Names to 1 Darkhorse on Offense

Penn State Football season is here, and the death by analysis soon gives way to actual football games that count.

With the games set to begin this weekend at West Virginia, these are four players we think can deliver breakout seasons for the Nittany Lions:

RS-So. WR Kaden Saunders

Interchangeable might be the best way to describe Penn State’s wide receivers room, which is equal parts compliment and insult.

It’s no secret this position is under an intense microscope going into Year 2 with position coach Marques Hagans.

Ironic that the program’s biggest fundamental flaw — aside from performance in big games against ranked teams — was both cause for Julian Fleming to pick Ohio State as a five-star prospect out of Southern Columbia High School and then for him to transfer to Penn State.

Opportunities are here for a large number of players, but perhaps none more so than Saunders. The redshirt sophomore looks tailor-made for the slot position with sudden burst and acceleration, and his high-end speed. With a full offseason to get his bearings as a relied-upon play, Saunders is a candidate to catch 40-plus passes and be a steady chain-mover for an offense that needs one.

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RS-Sr. OC Nick Dawkins

Maybe it is wishful thinking that the son of Chocolate Thunder can bide his time behind a really good group of centers that came before him, pay his dues, and then explode onto the scene as a one-year starter. Stranger things have happened, especially for a kid who is smart, thoughtful AND athletic.

The athletic benchmarks at center are arguably less than the other four positions on the line, but with a premium on communication, command and leadership, which Dawkins appears to have in spades. Dawkins was undervalued as a three-star recruit coming out of Parkland High School, which was fueled by recruiting services’ general lack of recognition for talent from the Lehigh Valley, and the fact that interior offensive linemen don’t get recruiting love anyway.

But playing center is a valuable skill at this level and beyond, and Dawkins is good enough to do it at a high level and get a shot at the NFL.

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RS-Jr. OT Nolan Rucci

The fact that Rucci transferred to Penn State for his redshirt junior season was less surprising than the fact he a.) left his home state for Wisconsin in the first place and b.) saw precious little playing time in the Badgers program. A fresh start was exactly what he needed to try and get the most out of that hulking 6-foot-8, 317-pound frame.

In a best-case scenario, Rucci can bring more consistent play than Caedan Wallace did at the right tackle spot and he can do a better job mirroring his opposing pass-rushers. Rucci’s NFL-level talent is for real, making him a perfect candidate to soar after three years of growing hunger at Wisconsin to get on the field and show what he can do.

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Darkhorse: Fr. OG Cooper Cousins

Considering all the buzz coming out of Penn State camp about the true freshman from Erie, maybe darkhorse isn’t the most accurate term for Cousins.

Still, Penn State coach James Franklin’s position on young linemen has been clear and mostly followed during his time in Happy Valley: offensive linemen shouldn’t be expected to see the field until their third season or later.

Cousins defies that expectation, clearly, and helps his own cause by being able to play any of the three interior spots. If any Penn State starter goes down to injury along the line, position coach Phil Trautwein’s ensuing shuffle might just include bumping Cousins into a more prominent role.

As it is, he can still grow into a 1B type option who can force his way onto the field by showing he’s too good to keep on the sideline.

MORE: LaVar Arrington on James Franklin’s Chances of Winning a National Championship (EXCLUSIVE)

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