One thing about James Franklin is that he will never stop emphasizing the trenches. At Big Ten Media Day, while a lot of coaches were talking flashy transfers and NIL deals, Franklin stayed true to what’s built Penn State’s identity the last few years with the offensive line.
Even with Olu Fashanu off to the NFL in 2024 and some big names gone, Franklin’s message was clear that this 2025 team is still going to live and die up front. He didn’t sugarcoat it. He knows it’s a new-look group, but he believes it still has the toughness, depth, and accountability to win at the highest level
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Penn State has reached a point where the O-line room is not just five guys, Franklin said. That’s a far cry from where Penn State was just a few years ago. Back then, if one guy went down, the whole unit took a hit. Now Franklin says they can plug and play without a major drop-off. And that matters in a loaded Big Ten where guys in the trenches get banged up fast
He also talked about how this group is handling the leadership role. It’s now on guys like Vega Ioane and a few younger faces to step up, not just with their play but in the locker room. Franklin made it known that this isn’t a rebuild. It’s a reload
He stressed the O-line’s role in unlocking everything else, protecting Drew Allar, giving Kaytron Allen space, and setting the tone for a physical football team You can’t have the type of offense we want if the O-line isn’t right Franklin said. That’s where it all starts.
It’s not just about blocking either. Franklin wants this group to be nasty, vocal, and physical from the first snap to the last. He called out their ability to set a standard that bleeds into the rest of the team. That mentality that edge is something Franklin’s proud of. It’s taken years to build and he’s not letting it slip now
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Even with new faces stepping in Penn State’s identity in 2025 is staying the same. Big, tough, and dominant at the line of scrimmage. Because for Franklin it’s never been about gimmicks or hype. It’s about winning the battle up front. And if this O-line holds it down like he believes they can the Nittany Lions will be in position to make serious noise this fall.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Penn State’s offensive line poised for greatness
