Penn State Football Early Enrollee Lineman Set For Rankings Rise

Penn State Football 2024 signee and early enrollee Cooper Cousins just finished his first week of classes at Penn State after enrolling earlier this month.

Before arriving at campus, however, the 6-foot-6 inch in-state lineman from Erie played in one final high school all-star game, the All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas.

Penn State Football, James Franklin — Head coach James Franklin of the Penn State Nittany Lions (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

Cousins made the most of his opportunity against some of the best prospects in the nation at the All-American bowl, earning the “best run blocker” superlative while turning heads from the industry’s best scouts.

Now, following the game, Cousins was listed among 247Sports “10 potential risers” for the final 2024 prospect rankings.

What Fueled Penn State Football OL Cooper Cousins’ Rise?

After a standout performance during the bowl, Gabe Brooks from 247Sports said 247Sports likes Cousins “as a riser for his already-stellar top 140 positioning.”

Cousins possesses the size and talent to play at any position on the offensive line and could be a versatile weapon for Nittany Lions offensive line coach Phil Trautwein.

Importantly, Cousins has experience snapping the ball at center, which could be vital both as a depth piece early on in his career for Penn State Football.

What Will Cooper Cousins’ Role be For Penn State Football?

While rare to play as a true freshman on the offensive line in the Big Ten, Cousins could compete early for playing time in a backup role in 2024, and provide depth in the case of any injury.

How quickly Cousins adapts to the college game in winter workouts and spring ball could determine just how much he can compete for playing time next season and where he projects on the depth chart heading into the fall.