Penn State’s unsung backup must continue consistent play against fierce Boise State pass rush

When the 2024 Boise State Broncos show up in town, Ashton Jeanty’s name goes to the top of the marquee. However, he’s not the only reason Spencer Danielson’s team is 12-1 and the No. 3 overall seed in the 12-team College Football Playoff. Boise State’s defensive line has been an elite unit and could pose a big problem for Penn State’s offense in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinal on New Year’s Eve. 

Defensive coordinator Erik Chinander’s unit is second in the country in sacks per game, averaging 3.8. In the Mountain West Championship Game against UNLV, they sacked quarterback Hajj-Malik Williams six times. With that type of production, they get contributions from all over the defense. 205-pound safety Seyi Oladipo has seven sacks as does 296-pound defensive tackle Braxton Fely, and 5-foot-8 181-pound defensive back Rodney Robinson has four. Still, the real pass-rushing threats are on the edges and will test Penn State backup right tackle Nolan Rucci. 

Rucci took over for Anthony Donkoh, who injured his knee on the first play of the game against Minnesota in Week 13 and has not played since. Donkoh beat out Rucci in fall camp after Rucci, the former No. 1 overall recruit in Pennsylvania in 2021 spent his first three collegiate seasons at Wisconsin.

Rucci had struggled in relief allowing four pressures off the bench against the Golden Gophers, three in 49 snaps against Wisconsin, and nine through Week 13. But, since becoming the starter in Week 14, Rucci has given up just three QB pressures and no sacks in 98 pass-blocking reps. He’s been rock solid opposite left tackle Drew Shelton and will need to play that way for the Nittany Lions to advance past Boise State into the CFP semifinal. 

On Tuesday in Glendale, Arizona Rucci will spend most of his night lined up across from either Ahmed Hassanein or Jayden Virgin-Morgan, Boise State’s stellar edge rushers. Despite recording just nine sacks, Hassanein finished the year fourth in the country with 60 QB pressures, four more than Penn State’s Abdul Carter, and his pass-rush win–rate of 16.3% is 31st among all players with at least 200 pass-rushing snaps this year. Virgin-Morgan is second on the team with 42 pressures and first with 12 sacks. 

Boise State’s team-build is so complimentary on both sides of the football. Because of Jeanty’s prowess, the Broncos are almost always playing in a positive game script and protecting a lead, which naturally forces opponents into obvious passing situations where Hassanein, Virgin-Morgan, and the entire cast of disruptors can pin their ears back and get after the quarterback. Then, Jeanty helps close out the game with long time-consuming drives, so even more than usual, Penn State needs to establish an early lead. 

If the Nittany Lions do fall behind, quarterback Drew Allar won’t be the only one with a spotlight on his performance. Rucci and Shelton will be asked to keep him upright against an elite pass rush, and if they can’t, Penn State’s season could end in disappointment.