Penn State’s Anthony Donkoh lands No. 2 on the staff ballot for 2026, spotlighting the Nittany Lions’ returning offensive line

Penn State’s 2026 season is already getting its early internal measuring stick, and in one staff ballot compiled ahead of the year, offensive lineman Anthony Donkoh earned the No. 2 spot among the top returning players for the Nittany Lions. The ranking comes from a member of the BSD staff’s yearly list, which evaluates players based on anticipated performance in 2026, explicitly separating expected season impact from long-term or NFL potential.

The method matters because it changes what a “high ranking” is supposed to mean. According to the ballot framework described by the staff, each voter submitted a list of players ranked 1 through 10. A first-place vote was worth 10 points, second place counted for nine, and points were decremented from there down the line. That point system is intended to reflect a consensus picture of who is expected to drive Penn State’s results in the upcoming season, using 2026 performance as the only lens.

Donkoh’s placement at No. 2 is tied to role-specific expectations as well. The staff’s write-up characterizes him as the top returning offensive lineman, setting up the ranking as a vote for stability in a group that typically shapes a team’s baseline identity. In college football, offensive line continuity often affects everything downstream, from the timing of the run game to quarterback protection in pass sets, even when individual statistics are still pending for the new year.

While the staff ranking is not a traditional preseason award and does not function as an official depth chart or formal media poll, it still provides a clear clue about what this version of Penn State believes will matter most. A No. 2 placement indicates that multiple voters viewed Donkoh as a near-lock piece of the 2026 plan, one whose play is expected to be more than incremental. In a points-based ballot like this, finishing second generally means there were few dissenters about who should be considered the most important returning presence.

The list’s scope is also worth noting. It is limited to returning players heading into 2026, and it ranks top performers rather than projecting specific outcomes like division races, bowl profiles, or conference standings. The staff description further emphasizes that voters were instructed not to weigh long-term upside, meaning the ballot is meant to describe what Penn State will likely need from its roster right away.

For Donkoh and Penn State, the practical question that follows this kind of ranking is straightforward: can the expected on-field role match the consensus investment? The staff’s emphasis on 2026 performance sets a higher bar for players placed near the top of the list. As the season approaches, the team will reveal how much continuity the coaching staff builds around the offensive line, and Donkoh’s play will likely be among the clearest indicators of whether the preseason internal hierarchy holds up.