Cooper Cousins did the extra work. He crunched tape after every spring practice, stayed in the facilities until absurd hours of the night and refined his pass sets on the practice field even after the lights had been shut off. There’s a reason he’s been selected by James Franklin as one of two Penn State freshmen with green lights to burn their redshirts this season.
The same can be said for safety Dejaun Lane, the defensive leg of the team’s green-lit group. The buck won’t end at Cousins and Lane, either. There are a handful of freshmen Franklin and his coaching staff would feel confident in playing immediately. But for now, logistically, Cousins and Lane make the most sense.
“Some of that is based on how they have conducted themselves, that we feel like they’re ready. And some of that also is the position,” Franklin said Monday. “Like, there’s other guys that I think if we needed to, we could green light and go. But maybe there’s more depth at their position, or there’s another guy that you know is in the position, because there’s less depth at their position.”
Cousins has a legitimate shot at eventually earning starting reps on the offensive line. The team’s projected starting center, Nick Dawkins, is a team captain and isn’t likely to give up the role he’s worked years for without a fight. But Cousins should give him a run for his money by season’s end, and could be a viable option at either guard spot, as well.
At 6-foot-6 and 316 pounds, Cousins has a game-ready build, and the work ethic of a veteran to match it. His teammates believe he should worry less about seeing the field — that will come — and more about how hard he’s working himself. It’s been said that Cousins has called fellow offensive linemen with schematic questions well after lights out.
“Sometimes I gotta tell him, ‘Yo, calm down a little bit. You’re gonna burn yourself out,’” Dawkins said. “But he puts the work in every single day, and it’s amazing to see, because he’s earning every opportunity.”
Cousins made his presence known from the first day he entered the facilities, particularly because of an advanced stature which Dawkins said “you don’t really see” from freshmen offensive linemen. Lane, who is one of the team’s tallest defensive backs, made a similar eye-opening introduction.
Lane’s story only continued unfolding from there. He’s a whopping 6-foot-2 and 211 pounds, but his size hasn’t constricted his speed and explosiveness, star safety Kevin Winston Jr. said. With consistent production over the offseason, Lane has defined himself as the potential No. 4 safety behind Winston and other projected starters Jaylen Reed and Zakee Wheatley.
“He’s very mature. And I think that’s another thing that stood out to me. Just in practice, he’s very coachable. That’s another thing that stands out. I respect him a lot for that. He’s very coachable,” Winston said. “You know, when he doesn’t do something right, he’s willing to learn and hear from teammates and coaches and he goes out there and fixes it.”
Cousins and Lane are only the first of a wide-range of freshmen who could be given green lights this fall. There’s been buzz surrounding a number of first-year playmakers from tight end Luke Reynolds to wide receiver Tyseer Denmark to running backs Quinton Martin Jr. and Corey Smith.
All of whom are expected to play in 2024. It’s only a matter of how much. And considering the potentially lengthy nature of the campaign, with an expanded College Football Playoff, their playing time could ultimately be significant.
“There’s going to be guys after game one that become green lights based on how they play, or based on some bumps and bruises, or whatever it may be, we’re going to try to manage it and be as strategic as long as we can, so that we still have the flexibility as long as we can,” Franklin said. “But this will change throughout the year.”
