Penn State Football: Freshman Lineman No Longer with Program

Penn State freshman offensive lineman Nate Bruce is no longer with the program a spokesperson confirmed on Friday afternoon. Lions247 first reported the news on Friday morning. According to 247’s initial report the decision was not academic or discipline related and was simply Bruce no longer pursuing football.

According to the 247 Network’s rankings system, Bruce was rated the No. 39 interior offensive lineman and the No. 14 prospect in the state. He was an all-state selection on two occasions during his high school career.

Bruce hit the scales at 6-foot-4, 351 pounds but did not take part in either of Penn State’s open practices/scrimmages that the media was able to attend in the late stages of spring practice.

“Big Nate, he came in 30 pounds more and doesn’t quite have the same training background as Landon did, but I tell you one thing, Nate is a special athlete and a special kid,” Penn State’s Director of Strength and Conditioning Dwight Galt said earlier this year.

“He’s been phenomenal. This is all totally new to him. He never really trained like he has this last eight weeks. Talk about adapting quickly. He did a really good job and he is tremendously strong. He has a great natural strength, every day he comes in and does more than he did the last day.”

Bruce’s departure means that fellow freshman Landon Tengwall as the only incoming freshman offensive line signee in the Nittany Lions’ 2021 class.