PSU’s Thorpe a lineman with an edge
Coach says graduate of Central Catholic has a little ‘attack dog’ in him
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — C.J. Thorpe was, at last report, 6-foot-3, 328 pounds, so it’s easy to see why Penn State offensive line coach Matt Limegrover likes his measureables.
He also appreciates Thorpe’s ability to contribute on both sides of the line of scrimmage, as demonstrated in 2018.
But what really impresses Limegrover about Thorpe is his mentality.
“I love his demeanor,” Limegrover said. “You have to play with an edge. You can’t be too nice of a guy. You have to go out there and ‘have a little attack dog in you,’ is what I like to say. And C.J. definitely has his share of attack dog.
“That rubs off on the rest of the room. The other guys see that – see the way he plays, see the way he competes – and they know that if they’re not doing that, as well, they’re going to be left behind.”
That snarl came in handy last fall, when Penn State had a manpower shortage at defensive tackle, prompting coach James Franklin to shift Thorpe there.
Thorpe, a Central Catholic alumnus who will be a redshirt sophomore in 2019, acquitted himself well as a backup on the defensive line. He was in on five tackles and was credited with a half-sack.
While the Nittany Lions were fortunate to have a guy who could make that transition quickly and effectively, Limegrover believes Thorpe also benefited from his time with defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
“Coach Spencer does such a good job with those guys, with their hands,” he said. “One thing I noticed, doing some drill work with (Thorpe), is that I think his hands are already better.”
Thorpe returned to offense after the season — “We welcomed him back with open arms,” Limegrover said. “I was very excited to get him back” – and will contend for a starting job this spring.
He’s scheduled to vie for work at right guard, but Limegrover, who stresses versatility, believes Thorpe could be effective on the left side, if a spot would open there.
“He’s going to be right in the mix,” Limegrover said. “I love how he’s come back with the mentality of, ‘OK, I have to make up for some lost time,’ so he’s putting his work in in the weight room.
“He’s totally busting his tail in the workouts, he’s willingly coming in on his own with extra time to get done what he needs to and finding that time to do things on his own and come to me with questions. ‘OK, what wasn’t I doing right here? What do I need to do better?’
“I think he’s a hungry kid and he’s athletic. He’s got that extra strain of DNA where he’s an attack dog and just loves to compete and finish and get after people. He’ll be just fine.”
That doesn’t mean Thorpe is a finished product. Upgrading his ability to pass-protect will be a particular focus this spring.
“All the things I love about him as a player also will get him in trouble in pass protection because you have to be patient,” Limegrover said. “You cannot be so aggressive that you get yourself out of control.
“As a pass-protector, you have to be a more cerebral. You have to anticipate things a little bit more. In the run game, it’s all action.”
“Obviously, you have to react to the changing picture, but you can do it aggressively in the run game. In [pass] protection, you have to stay within yourself. There are times when you can be aggressive and there are times when you can go and clean up a guy … but only after you take care of business.”