Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki described the offensive linemen’s play in recent games as nasty.
He also could have used “effective.”
The Nittany Lions have averaged 233.3 rushing yards and 39.7 points in their last three games against SMU, Oregon and Maryland.
Those three performances have come since Nolan Rucci replaced the injured Anthony Donkoh as the starting right tackle.
“Nolan Rucci is a baller,” left guard Vega Ioane said Thursday. “I’m pretty sure most of you have seen that he was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the first round (of the College Football Playoff).
“That’s impressive for a guy like him. We’re really impressed with him and what he’s been doing since he took over the starting role.”
Rucci and the rest of the Penn State offensive line will face another stiff challenge from Boise State in the CFP quarterfinal at the Fiesta Bowl Tuesday night at 7:30 (TV-ESPN).
The Broncos (12-1) rank second in the nation with 51 sacks and are 23rd in rushing defense, holding opponents to 115.1 yards per game.
Last week, however, the Lions (12-2) ran past SMU and its fourth-ranked run defense for 189 yards in a 38-10 victory at Beaver Stadium.
“The first words that come to mind are consistency and physicality,” Kotelnicki said. “We played a really physical brand of football in our last game, which I love. That’s who we want to be. We want to be a tough group up front.
“They’re playing together with consistency, nastiness, physicality and the understanding of what we’re trying to do in the run and pass game.”
Donkoh was considered Penn State’s best run blocker until he suffered a season-ending injury. The Lions haven’t missed a beat since Rucci replaced him. In fact, their numbers are better.
“Once it was his time to step up, we were all confident in him,” Ioane said. “His super power is his hands. The hardest thing for an O-lineman to do is getting your hands inside of a D-lineman.
“Every time I watch Nolan Rucci do a drill, his hands are always inside. I don’t understand how he does it. I don’t think his hands were outside one time against SMU. That’s a really big thing for linemen.”
Rucci, the son of former Penn State and NFL offensive lineman Todd Rucci, played sparingly in three seasons at Wisconsin. He transferred in January to Penn State, which had recruited him when he was a high school star at Warwick in Lancaster County.
The 6-8 Rucci added bulk since he arrived and now weighs 308 pounds. He’s joined left tackle Drew Shelton, Ioane, center Nick Dawkins and right guard Sal Wormley. They’ve helped running backs Nick Singleton and Kaytron Allen combine for 389 yards and four touchdowns on the ground the last two games.
“Like we always say, it starts up front,” Singleton said. “The O-line has been doing a heck of a job throughout the whole year. We just rely on those guys. They’re always up to the challenge.
“Coach (James) Franklin calls them all the time. They always take it personally. They’ve been really good.”
They expect to be tested by Boise State, which limited Oregon to 109 rushing yards in September. But UNLV ran for 217 yards against the Broncos in the Mountain West title game earlier this month.
“We go as the O-line goes,” quarterback Drew Allar said. “When they’re giving me time, I can go through my progressions and get the ball to our playmakers in space. When they’re blocking really well in the run game, they’re giving Nick and Kaytron a head of steam.
“They’ve done a great job throughout the whole year.”
Penn State ranks 19th nationally in rushing and first in the Big Ten with 201.2 yards per game. The Lions have run for at least 219 yards in all but four games.
“I give all the glory to Coach Traut (offensive line coach Phil Trautwein),” Ioane said. “He’s big on having pride in blocking and giving our running backs space and giving them the opportunity to go out and play their game and score. We just try to play our hearts out every game.”
