Projected starters

Redshirt senior Michal Menet, redshirt junior C.J. Thorpe and redshirt junior Mike Miranda

The Nittany Lions return only one full-time starter on the offensive line’s interior, but he’s a good one. Menet solidified the center spot for Penn State last season and will likely be a senior leader.

He’ll likely be flanked, at least to start the season, by a pair of redshirt juniors who split starts at right guard last season. Miranda finished the year with eight starts at right guard compared to Thorpe’s five, but it’s Thorpe who should easily keep his job this season.

The redshirt junior guard is a big, strong, athletic road grader who has flashed dominance as a run blocker. He manhandles opponents with his strong hands and powers through them by driving efficiently from his legs. Thorpe has a mean streak to him on the field that makes him even more intimidating in the run game. He has excellent size at 6-foot-3, 328 pounds and uses every bit of that frame to dominate defensive linemen.

Thorpe isn’t the same level of blocker in the passing game, but he still showed signs of potential from that standpoint. His shorter arms make it harder for him to handle long defensive tackles, but he still has the strength to dominate when he gets his hands on defenders.

Thorpe still needs to grow as a pass protector because his footwork is inconsistent and his aggression can get him caught leaning forward. If he can clean up those aspects of his game, he could build himself into a legitimate prospect for the 2021 NFL draft.

His counterpart at guard doesn’t have nearly the same upside.

Miranda is an undersized interior offensive lineman who lacks the physical tools to match his teammate’s level of play. He has short arms for the position, is limited athletically and has a small frame that can’t add the requisite weight or strength to excel against Big Ten defensive linemen.