Penn State hashigh expectations for the 2024 college football seasonfollowing another 10-win regular seasoncampaign last fall. The Nittany Lions areprojected as a fringe top-10 team in earlynational preseason rankings, withBig Ten championship aspirationsanda debut College Football Playoff appearancein focus.
PSU opens its 2024 game scheduleAug. 31 at West Virginiaina rematch of the Nittany Lions' 2023 opener win. In the meantime, our Countdown to Kickoff series will feature players whose uniform numbers correspond with that number of days remaining until that matchup. Now at73 days, we focus onNittany Lions newcomer Caleb Brewer.
THE BASICS
Position:Offensive guard
Class:Freshman
Size:6-4, 280 pounds
High School: Wyomissing (Pa.)
College Offers and247Sports Evaluation
247Sports Ranking: No. 41 athlete; No. 13 prospect in Pennsylvania
247Sports Composite Ranking: No. 37 athlete; No. 15 in Pennsylvania; No. 600 overall
Additional Power Five Offers: Boston College, Cincinnati, Duke, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, NC State, Nebraska, Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Carolina, Syracuse, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin
247Sports Scouting Report (via Lions247's Tyler Calvaruso)
"Versatility is the biggest thing. We saw him during the camp season, where I think he did attend every Penn State camp. We saw him work on the interior at guard, we saw him work at tackle. He took snaps at center. There was a point during camp where they had him go one through five — five consecutive reps against different defenders all across the line. We saw what Caleb Brewer was really about in that situation because he was really excited to do that. He wanted to get out there and compete and show the staff he can play one through five on this offensive line and get the job done at each position. So versatility is the big thing. His wrestling background also stands out. Brewers is a really tough kid, he always has been, that's just how he plays the game. There are not many tougher guys out there than Caleb Brewer. He's a real grinder. I think that's gonna endear himself to fellow offensive linemen pretty quickly in that regard. He's a guy who never backs down from a challenge and Penn State is excited about his potential."
PATH TO PENN STATE
Brewerwason Penn State's radar as an offer candidate for a while, and a scholarship was presented in January 2023, following a junior season in whichhe competed as a blocking tight end in Wyomissing's run-heavy offensive attack. Not only did Brewer have a natural affinity for his in-state program, but he also had some familiarity with the inner workings from former Wyomissing teammateJ'ven Williams, a five-star offensive tackle who signed with the Nittany Lions last year
That history with Williams helped forge a natural relationship with offensive line coachPhil Trautwein.
"I've known him for a long time because of J'ven. I really like coach Traut," Brewer said upon picking up a Penn State offer.
He announced a Nittany Lions commitment after the 2023 Blue-White Game then became a mainstay at ensuing PSU summer prospect camps. His progression through those camp appearances made the Penn State staff feel increasingly confident about adding him into the mix.Brewer then played tackle last season, earning regional Lineman of the Year recognition.
Brewer played at a lighter weight in 2023, with elevated focus on defensive line play, and those pounds stayed off through his wrestling campaign. Although he was introduced at 270 pounds on Signing Day last December, we're told Brewer enrolled on campus in May above 280 pounds and is primed to pack on additional mass before his first college practice.
2024 Outlook
Brewer worked on thetrenches' perimeter in high school, utilized as a tackle and tight end, but an interior roleawaits in State College. Expect him to gain cross-training inside this summer and ultimately help challenge Penn State's primary defensive tacklesas a scout-team competitor.
He is one of three interior offensive line prospects within this freshman class, along with January enrolleeCooper Cousins(a two-deep factor at center and guard) andJune enrollee Donovan Harbour. The Nittany Lions returned three guards with starting experience in redshirt sophom*oreVega Ioaneand seniorsJB NelsonandSal Wormley, while seniorNick Dawkinsis well-positioned to replace Kansas City Chiefs draft pickHunter Nourzadat center. Meanwhile, redshirt freshmanAlex Birchmeier, a top-100 recruit in the 2023 cycle, aims to make strides at guard.
Brewer has built-in support within the Penn State locker room through Williams, who is competing to start at left tackle as a redshirt freshman. Longtime Wyomissing offensive line coach Steve O'Neil expects that relationship will be somethinghe can lean on at times during Year 1 with theprogram.
"Caleb and J'ven have been friends for a long time. You've got someone you can trust, someone you can talk to," O'Neil told Lions247. "I told Caleb, you've got J'ven that's been there for a year and a half now. Soak everything up, be a sponge, follow J'ven everywhere. If he tells you this is the guard you should go talk to, who knows the scheme, find that guy. Listen to J'ven because he's got a year of experience, and he knows how muchDrew SheltonandOlu Fashanuhelped him and how much that meant to him."
If Brewer can establish a solid foundation for himself this fall, and continue building through a fullwinterofstrength and conditioning, he can enter next spring primed to push for two-deep consideration.Among the five freshmen offensive linemen, Cousins is by far thebest bet to burn redshirt.
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Previous Numbers
74 - J'ven Williams
75 - Eric Shrive
76 - Steve Smear
77 - Sal Wormley
78 - Mike Munchak79 - Addison Penn
80 - Mehki Flowers
81 - Kyle Brady
82 - Kenny Jackson83 - Joe Jurevicius84 - Peter Gonzalez85 - Luke Reynolds86 - Brenton Stange
87 - Andrew Rappleyea88 -Jerry Cross89 -Dave Robinson90 -Liam Andrews91 -Dvon Ellies and Chase Meyer92 -Smith Vilbert93 -Sander Sahaydak94 -Ryan Barker and De'Andre Cook95 -Jordan Mayer and Riley Thompson96 -Immanuel Iyke97 -T.A. Cunningham98 -Jordan Stout99 -Coziah Izzard100-Meet the Penn State transfer class
