New Dog Mentality Brings Energy and Toughness to Offensive Line Group

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - With spring practice beginning for Penn State football, it offers a chance for players to compete for positions on the depth chart and figure out where they fit on head coach Matt Campbell’s roster. 

Entering camp with five starting positions on the offensive line up for grabs, Campbell, in his opening press conference, highlighted that he is excited to see the battle for each spot between the offensive line group throughout the spring and into the fall. 

“We feel like there are ten guys that are going to be competing for starting spots,” said Campbell. “I’m excited because to me, there’s great competition, there’s bodies and there’s guys that certainly have the ability to play high-end football. Those guys are going to have to earn it.”

During the offseason, Campbell was able to bring some of his own players in, like redshirt junior Trevor Buhr, redshirt freshman Kuol Koul II, redshirt freshman Vaea Ikakoula and redshirt freshman Will Tompkins, as well as transfers like redshirt sophomore Brock Riker from Texas State.

Campbell was additionally able to retain some talent, including two key starters in Cooper Cousins and Anthony Donkoh. redshirt senior Dominic Rulli, redshirt sophomore Garrett Sexton, redshirt freshman Malachi Goodman and redshirt freshman Owen Aliciene.

Donkoh, a redshirt junior, has been the starter at right tackle the past two seasons for the Nittany Lions. During his redshirt freshman season in 2024, he made 10 starts, earning him All-Big Ten honorable mention by the coaches and media. The following year, he appeared in all 13 games, making 11 starts. As for Cousins, he brings a wealth of experience, having appeared in 12 games with two starts a year ago, and is one of the leaders for Penn State’s new regime on the offensive line.

“He’s willing to stay after hours with the young guys, and that’s a big thing for us,” offensive line coach Ryan Clanton said. “You have to have the guys communicate and talk to each other, and he’s a big reason why those guys are getting close. He’s a great leader.”

This statement was echoed by Cousins himself, who said that transfer Brock Riker has also done a great job of helping bring the guys together, especially on the football field. 

“He’s really good at getting everybody on track and getting everybody on the line,” Cousins said. “Brock is super smart and super smart off the field. Just talking to him and picking his brain and seeing what his thought process is. It’s amazing to see what he says, and on the field, he is a dog.”

Riker joins Penn State after spending his redshirt freshman season with Texas State. With the Bobcats, Riker started all 12 games at center while not allowing a sack in 438 pass-blocking attempts. With his performance, the Athletic honored him with second-team Freshman All-American honors.

Riker was a player on the offensive line who were highlighted by Coach Campbell during his spring press conference. One of the other mentions was Coach Campbell’s product from Iowa State, Trevor Buhr. 

“When you look at the young men that have been here and some of the young men that we’ve brought in, there are guys that have played meaningful football,” Coach Campbell said. “Brock Riker is another guy who started meaningful reps and has started and played collegiate reps. Trevor Buhr, who started the last two years at Iowa State, was one of the best offensive linemen in the Big 12.”

During his career with the Cyclones, Buhr started 12 games across two seasons for Coach Campbell. During his redshirt freshman season, Buhr didn’t allow a sack in 316 pass-blocking snaps while also helping Iowa State rush for the fourth-most rushing touchdowns in a season in school history. He followed that up this past season with six starts on the line while not allowing a sack in 218 pass-blocking snaps. His performance earned him All-Big 12 Honorable mention laurels. 

Coach Campbell wasn’t the only one who had high praise for Buhr. Cousins said he has all the talent and leadership to be a crucial piece for the team.

“Trevor is really good, and he’s really good at getting the guys together,” Cousins said. “Trevor’s got a really good base, and he’s good at driving people with his legs. He’s an absolute dog that can drive people off the rock and be super violent.”

One thing is for certain with the offensive line group, and that is they are going to bring their best every single day and show up to practice ready to go. Speaking on the new mantra of the group, by having that “Dog Mentality”.

The phrase “Dog Mentality” comes from Clanton, and he has preached it to each member of the offensive line group by putting it into their lives, and the way they are going to perform on the field.

“Just coming to work every single day with your lunch pail and just grinding yourself and with the group,” Cousins said. “Moving people off the ball, getting your head into a block, and just moving people around. Throwing them on the ground while talking a little smack, but just doing your job efficiently. That’s what the Dog Mentality is for me.”