Good to hear that CJ is back at Guard. We need to keep upping the nastiness of the OL!!
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...lineman-to-play-offense-or-defense-128835208/
CJ Thorpe working with O-line again: What's the impact?
ByTYLER DONOHUE 34 minutes ago
When CJ Thorpeenrolled at Penn State in June 2017, he was considered one of college football's premier incoming freshmen on the offensive line. Following a 2018 transition to defensive tackle, he may now be back on track to fulfill expectations across the trenches.
Thorpe, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season, is again working with Nittany Lions offensive linemen. This development comes from quite a reliable source: Penn State positional coach Matt Limegrover.
Limegrover, now in his fourth year as Nittany Lions offensive line coach, directed praise toward Thorpe on Thursday morning.
"The Big Dog BROUGHT IT yesterday at our second winter workout!" he wrote on Twitter. "Great job Grinding and COMPETING."
Limegrover added "#OLPride", and it's safe to assume he's excited to have the former top-100 overall recruit back in his group.
Thorpe, who stands 6-foot-3, 328 pounds, has been a subject of debate for the Nittany Lions staff. After redshirting in 2017, he entered the 2018 season as second-team right guard behind third-year starter Connor McGovern.
Thorpe saw game action on offense in three consecutive September contests but, leading up to a Week Five game vs. Ohio State, he was seen taking extensive reps at defensive tackle during an open practice session. Thorpe made his defensive debut days later during the top-10 showdown.
“We talked about making a move this summer and decided not to because we really feel like he’s got a very bright future long-term on the offensive side of the ball," Penn State coach James Franklin said the following week. "But we also have gone back and forth for probably over a year now that he’s also a guy that could help us on the defensive side. We made that move.”
5COMMENTS
Thorpe participated in only a couple of snaps against the Buckeyes, but the fact that he actually hit the field so soon after the change stood out.
“It was pretty impressive on his part," Franklin continued. "We moved him Sunday and he was able to play in the game. He played pretty well and his role will continue to grow.”
Though Franklin declined to call the transition "permanent", he did confirm Thorpe would remain on defense through at least 2018.
“It can’t be week-to-week," Franklin said. "Obviously he needs to be working on offense to get better at offense, and he need to be working on defense to get better on defense. … Right now, for this season, he’ll continue on the defensive side of the ball.”
CJ Thorpe spent time on both sides of the ball last season. (Grace Brennan-FOS/247)
In October, Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Brent Pry shed more light on the decision.
"We felt like when you evaluate CJ Thorpeas a football player— mentality, physicality, size, all those things— he would certainly be a guy that when placed in that group would have a chance to be one of the better guys in the group," Pry said.
One month later, with three games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer provided an update and addressed the challenges that Thorpe encountered with a midseason position switch.
"Having CJ move over from O-line to D-line is still a transition because the techniques are similar but they're very different," he said. "The way you strike as an O-lineman and the way you strike as a D-lineman, there can be some differences."
Thorpe finished the season listed as a third-teamer on the depth chart. He totaled five tackles and half of a sack.
"He's just finding his way," Spencer added. "He's a guy that understands the offensive side of the ball, so he can put himself in the right situation because he understands what an offense is trying to do and particular blocking schemes."
Blocking schemes figure to regain increased importance for Thorpe moving forward. If a decision has been made to fully invest in his future on the offensive line, there will be an immediate opportunity to earn starting reps.
McGovern departed for the 2019 NFL Draft after his junior season. Des Holmes, who replaced Thorpe as second-team right guard, figures to be a factor. So does Mike Miranda, who was team's No. 2 left guard in 2018.
Like Thorpe, Holmes and Miranda are embarking on their third year with the program, while rising redshirt freshman Bryce Effnerand incoming blue-chip recruitsCaedan WallaceandSaleem Wormley are other names to know. Top-ranked 2019 junior college offensive line prospect Anthony Whigan enrolled in January, and he has experience as both guard and tackle.
When it comes to the defensive interior, Penn State will be reliant on players being prepared to execute in expanded roles.
Starter Kevin Givens is another early NFL draft entry and 2018 second-teamer Fred Hansard,a rising redshirt sophomore, is recovering from an undisclosed season-ending injury suffered last October. PJ Mustipher made significant strides as a true freshman and should challenge for a starting role, while fourth-year veteran Antonio Shelton is coming off his most productive season as a member of the rotation.
Ellison Jordan, a redshirt junior in 2019, didn't appear in a game last year after Week Three. Damion Barber saw very limited action in three contests as a redshirt freshman.
Judge Culpepper and Aeneas Hawkins both handled scout-team duties as true freshmen. They'll soon be joined by the latest batch of defensive tackle newcomers: signees Hakeem Beamon, Joseph Darkwa and D'Von Ellies.
https://247sports.com/college/penn-...lineman-to-play-offense-or-defense-128835208/
CJ Thorpe working with O-line again: What's the impact?
ByTYLER DONOHUE 34 minutes ago
When CJ Thorpeenrolled at Penn State in June 2017, he was considered one of college football's premier incoming freshmen on the offensive line. Following a 2018 transition to defensive tackle, he may now be back on track to fulfill expectations across the trenches.
Thorpe, who will be a redshirt sophomore next season, is again working with Nittany Lions offensive linemen. This development comes from quite a reliable source: Penn State positional coach Matt Limegrover.
Limegrover, now in his fourth year as Nittany Lions offensive line coach, directed praise toward Thorpe on Thursday morning.
"The Big Dog BROUGHT IT yesterday at our second winter workout!" he wrote on Twitter. "Great job Grinding and COMPETING."
Limegrover added "#OLPride", and it's safe to assume he's excited to have the former top-100 overall recruit back in his group.
Thorpe, who stands 6-foot-3, 328 pounds, has been a subject of debate for the Nittany Lions staff. After redshirting in 2017, he entered the 2018 season as second-team right guard behind third-year starter Connor McGovern.
Thorpe saw game action on offense in three consecutive September contests but, leading up to a Week Five game vs. Ohio State, he was seen taking extensive reps at defensive tackle during an open practice session. Thorpe made his defensive debut days later during the top-10 showdown.
“We talked about making a move this summer and decided not to because we really feel like he’s got a very bright future long-term on the offensive side of the ball," Penn State coach James Franklin said the following week. "But we also have gone back and forth for probably over a year now that he’s also a guy that could help us on the defensive side. We made that move.”
5COMMENTS
Thorpe participated in only a couple of snaps against the Buckeyes, but the fact that he actually hit the field so soon after the change stood out.
“It was pretty impressive on his part," Franklin continued. "We moved him Sunday and he was able to play in the game. He played pretty well and his role will continue to grow.”
Though Franklin declined to call the transition "permanent", he did confirm Thorpe would remain on defense through at least 2018.
“It can’t be week-to-week," Franklin said. "Obviously he needs to be working on offense to get better at offense, and he need to be working on defense to get better on defense. … Right now, for this season, he’ll continue on the defensive side of the ball.”
CJ Thorpe spent time on both sides of the ball last season. (Grace Brennan-FOS/247)
In October, Nittany Lions defensive coordinator Brent Pry shed more light on the decision.
"We felt like when you evaluate CJ Thorpeas a football player— mentality, physicality, size, all those things— he would certainly be a guy that when placed in that group would have a chance to be one of the better guys in the group," Pry said.
One month later, with three games remaining on the regular-season schedule, Penn State defensive line coach Sean Spencer provided an update and addressed the challenges that Thorpe encountered with a midseason position switch.
"Having CJ move over from O-line to D-line is still a transition because the techniques are similar but they're very different," he said. "The way you strike as an O-lineman and the way you strike as a D-lineman, there can be some differences."
Thorpe finished the season listed as a third-teamer on the depth chart. He totaled five tackles and half of a sack.
"He's just finding his way," Spencer added. "He's a guy that understands the offensive side of the ball, so he can put himself in the right situation because he understands what an offense is trying to do and particular blocking schemes."
Blocking schemes figure to regain increased importance for Thorpe moving forward. If a decision has been made to fully invest in his future on the offensive line, there will be an immediate opportunity to earn starting reps.
McGovern departed for the 2019 NFL Draft after his junior season. Des Holmes, who replaced Thorpe as second-team right guard, figures to be a factor. So does Mike Miranda, who was team's No. 2 left guard in 2018.
Like Thorpe, Holmes and Miranda are embarking on their third year with the program, while rising redshirt freshman Bryce Effnerand incoming blue-chip recruitsCaedan WallaceandSaleem Wormley are other names to know. Top-ranked 2019 junior college offensive line prospect Anthony Whigan enrolled in January, and he has experience as both guard and tackle.
When it comes to the defensive interior, Penn State will be reliant on players being prepared to execute in expanded roles.
Starter Kevin Givens is another early NFL draft entry and 2018 second-teamer Fred Hansard,a rising redshirt sophomore, is recovering from an undisclosed season-ending injury suffered last October. PJ Mustipher made significant strides as a true freshman and should challenge for a starting role, while fourth-year veteran Antonio Shelton is coming off his most productive season as a member of the rotation.
Ellison Jordan, a redshirt junior in 2019, didn't appear in a game last year after Week Three. Damion Barber saw very limited action in three contests as a redshirt freshman.
Judge Culpepper and Aeneas Hawkins both handled scout-team duties as true freshmen. They'll soon be joined by the latest batch of defensive tackle newcomers: signees Hakeem Beamon, Joseph Darkwa and D'Von Ellies.
