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STATE COLLEGE — The path to big-time college football was clear for Blaise Sokach-Minnick. Climbing the depth chart as quickly as an old high school teammate did at Penn State never seemed to be in the cards, though.
For the Wyoming Area grad and the Nittany Lions’ backup long snapper, that was always going to be part of the deal. And, waiting his turn is just fine.
As Dominic DeLuca rose to special teams brilliance, an expanded role on defense and even a team captaincy in his first handful of seasons after walking on to the program, Sokach-Minnick spent his first two seasons at Penn State biding his time at what quietly developed over the last decade as one of the deepest and most competitive positions on the roster. When Penn State opens the 2024 season Aug. 31 at West Virginia, Sokach-Minnick likely will be biding his time again on the depth chart behind starter Tyler Duzansky at long-snapper.
Which, to him, is simply another chapter in his education at the all-important special teams post.
“When I was getting recruited, (DeLuca) was in his early years here, and I just talked to him through the recruiting process,” Sokach-Minnick said. “He loves everything about this school and told me it’s the place to be. I couldn’t agree more, after I visited here and talked to the coaches. Being here with him is awesome. He helps me in every way he can.
“Originally when I came in, I didn’t know anybody. Just having someone you know and grew up with was helpful for me and just made it a little bit more comfortable a transition. To see two kids come from a small school like ours and play on the big stage, I think it’s really cool and really inspires the youth in our area.”
While DeLuca has played in two New Year’s Six bowl games and is competing for a starting spot at linebacker this fall, the fact for Sokach-Minnick is, the…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/penn-state-sokach-minnick-keeps-000100128.html
Author : The Times-Tribune, Scranton, Pa.
Publish date : 2024-08-16 00:01:00
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