Penn State offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad announced on Tuesday morning that he intends to remain with the program in 2023.
Nourzad’s is the first of many roster-related decisions that will shape Penn State’s offseason and 2023 campaign.
“I am grateful to be surrounded every day by a group of people who are hardworking, passionate and leaders in the community,” Nourzad wrote on Twitter. “The coaches, staff and my teammates have helped push me to be a better athlete, student and man. After careful thought and consideration with my family and coaches, I have decided to take advantage of my extra year of eligibility and return for my final season at Penn State in 2023.”
Prior to his time at Penn State, Nourzad played at Cornell though 2021 and earned an engineering degree from that school before enrolling at Penn State this May. He is able to play for an additional year of eligibility due to an NCAA ruling that effectively state the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season did not count towards a player’s eligibility. The Ivy League also did not have a football season during the COVID-19 year. Subsequently, the same eligibility-related decision is also available to fifth-year offensive linemen Juice Scuggs and Bryce Effner.
Nourzad has played in seven games this season at guard and center, including four starts.
Penn State will wait for more impactful decisions along the offensive front in the coming months. Offensive tackle Olu Fashanu is a potential first round draft choice whose departure would impact the outer reaches of Penn State’s offensive line while the return of a healthy Landon Tengwall would help sure up some of the Nittany Lions’ interior protection in the tenches.
