Penn State post-spring transfer portal stock report: Nolan Rucci
Penn State missed out on highly-coveted Lititz, Pa., offensive lineman Nolan Rucci in the Class of 2021. But, as the old saying goes, if you don’t succeed at first, try again. The Nittany Lions did exactly that this winter. After a few years in Madison that featured minimal playing time, the former five-star decided he needed a change of scenery. At the same time, head coach James Franklin and his staff decided they wanted to add depth at offensive tackle. Thus, the two sides finally connected. Rucci, a Penn State legacy, entered the portal on Jan. 4, 2024. Two days later, he committed to the Nittany Lions in time for the start of the spring semester.
“Penn State respected my decision [coming out of high school] and I respected theirs and at the end of the day, when it came around to coming back to this place, they were just as awesome as the first time around in recruiting,” Rucci said earlier this month. “I really enjoyed my three years at Wisconsin, and I loved the guys there, the staff. But at that point, I just felt like it was a great opportunity for me to move on.
“I really like the coaching style that Coach Traut uses. I love that he’s a huge technician and he’s really hands-on with his guys, which I really appreciate.”
Rucci and the rest of his teammates have now wrapped up spring practice. And, that means the spring transfer portal window is open. It’s been quiet for Penn State, as only two players have entered it and no targets have been identified. Thus, we’re taking stock of the additions made in the winter window after their first chance to put pads on in blue and white.
Is Penn State tackle Nolan Rucci’s stock up or down after spring practice?
Rucci ended up receiving more first-team reps this spring than he probably expected to upon his arrival in State College. That’s because projected first-team left tackle Drew Shelton missed some of spring ball while projected first-team right tackle Anthony Donkoh missed some time, too, including the Blue-White game. James Franklin said after the spring that the silver lining was “1000 reps this spring, which was great,” for Rucci and redshirt freshman offensive tackle J’Ven Williams. It also means the competition for the top spots will continue into preseason camp, even if Shelton and Donkoh still almost certainly lead the way coming out of spring ball despite their absences.
Rucci also added weight since arriving, and he credited the program’s strength and conditioning and nutrition teams for that. It’s also good news. Does it mean he’ll be a starter this year? No. But could he contribute? Absolutely.
When you put it all together, it’s hard to make a stock down case. But, a stock up one would rest solely on the expanded reps. Thus, we give a hold rating on Rucci while noting he laid a strong foundation for the future during his first spring practice.
Quotes and notes
–Rucci redshirted in 2021. He played in six games as a Badger. After playing in three games in 2022 along the offensive line, he added specials teams to the mix, as well, over his three games in 2023.
–Here’s a trivia question: Which current Penn State offensive lineman caught a touchdown in 2023? It’s Rucci. His three-yard scoring grab with 27 seconds left to play lifted Wisconsin over Illinois 25-21. It led to the Badgers’ first victory after trailing by 14 points more at the start of the fourth quarter in Big Ten play.
–Rucci is a double Penn State legacy. His father Todd was a second-round NFL Draft pick and his mother Stacy played field hockey for the Nittany Lions.
“We’ve known him in the family for a very long time. It’s been cool, his mom and dad have been at a ton of practices. As we all know, in terms of athleticism and body type and all those types of things — intelligence — he checks a lot of boxes.”
–James Franklin on Nolan Rucci
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