Penn State football's depth in the trenches has taken a hit.
Through the first four spring practices, Nittany Lion offensive tackle Nolan Rucci and defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton haven't made an appearance, leading to questions about their health status.
When asked during his mid-week press conference on Tuesday night, head coach James Franklin said simply "they're just not available right now."
One week prior, Franklin announced offensive tackle Anthony Donkoh, linebacker Tony Rojas and wide receiver Andrew Rappleyea would "not be fully available for the start of spring ball."
Donkoh went down with injury against UCLA and is still recovering. In his absence, Rucci started the final six games of the season at right tackle, earning high praise for his performance. The two were expected to battle for the starting role this season, with Rucci holding a slight edge. If neither is ready for Week 1 against Nevada at Beaver Stadium, its possible guard JB Nelson flexes out to fill the role.
Dennis-Sutton opted to return for his senior season after a breakout campaign in 2024-25, which included 42 tackles and 8.5 sacks. He's widely viewed as a lock to start, but the injury may throw a wrench into things. Franklin provided no timeline for their return. Max Granville is a player who could step up if Dennis-Sutton is sidelined for the season-opener.
This article originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire: Two Penn State football players "not available"
