Penn State will lose a veteran offensive lineman ahead of the opening of the spring transfer portal window. JB Nelson, who was in a competition for the Nittany Lions’ starting left guard position, is no longer with the program, a team spokesperson confirmed to StateCollege.com on Friday morning. On3’s Blue-White Illustrated was the first to report Nelson’s departure.
The 6-foot-5, 326-pound Nelson’s exit shakes up a deep Penn State offensive line that is, at the moment, short on a few pieces. A versatile swingman who had played both guard and tackle over the past two seasons, Nelson was viewed as a reliable option to quell the absences of injured right tackles Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci.
Nelson played in all 16 games last season, fully dropping out of the starting lineup in place of Vega Ioane, who he split starts with in 2023. A return to the starting lineup should be in line wherever Nelson ultimately ends up after the portal opens on April 16.
“JB’s kind of a Swiss Army knife. We think he can play right tackle, we think he can play both guards and we think he can play left tackle, as well,” James Franklin said last fall. “We’re very pleased with JB. We think he’s got a very, very bright future.”
Cooper Cousins, who was in a position battle with Nelson this spring, now becomes the clear favorite to assume Sal Wormley’s starting left guard duties. Ioane will stay put at right guard, Nick Dawkins is expected to return to center and Drew Shelton will remain at left tackle. With Donkoh and Rucci injured, former five-star J’Ven Williams is next in line at right tackle.
“I’m a big J’ven Williams fan,” Franklin said last week. “He’s been awesome since the day he stepped on campus. … He’s got a very bright future for us. … It’s really good experience and a really good opportunity for him. And the way he’s going right now, he’s going to end up being a part of that competition for the right tackle spot, too.”
There are a handful of depth options, such as Alex Birchmeier, Eagan Boyer and Chimdy Onoh. But an increased workload for Texas A.M. transfer TJ Shanahan should be anticipated. The 6-foot-4, 321-pound Shanahan joined the Nittany Lions this past offseason after starting five games at guard for the Aggies in 2024.
“I love TJ man. He’s a funny guy. Came in with the right mindset,” Ioane said last week. “He was ready to work Day 1. … I think the first day he got here, we hadn’t even trained yet, he hit me up. And he was like, ‘Yo, you want to get some work. It was like 8 a.m. I was like, ‘Oh, all right.’ We got some work. Seeing something like that, a guy coming in with the right mindset, it’s really good to see.”
