As we get closer to Penn State’s 2025 season, we focus on former Penn State offensive lineman Ryan Bates. Bates redshirted his freshman season, then immediately earned a starting spot on the team the year after. One of 18 first-time starters, Bates earned himself Freshman All-American status right off the bat, helping Penn State earn its first Big Ten title since the 2008 season.
He became more instrumental to the team in 2017, earning himself third team All-Big Ten honors by season’s end. Unfortunately, his 2017 season was cut short by an injury in the Ohio State game, an injury that may have had a large say in the outcome of the game itself.