Everyone knows who will replace Olu Fashanu, Penn State’s first-round left tackle. Drew Shelton, a player with experience and upside, is eager to protect Drew Allar’s blindside. But who starts opposite Shelton is still a mystery ahead of Saturday’s opener at West Virginia.

Anthony Donkoh and Nolan Rucci are the candidates to start at right tackle. It’s unclear who will take the first snaps this weekend in Morgantown. But what is clear is James Franklin and his players believe both can and will contribute. So don’t be surprised if the two rotate not only at West Virginia, but even into the opening month of the season.

“We feel like both of those guys are guys we can play with and win with, and I think both of those guys will play,” Franklin said Monday. “We’re still practicing and making evaluations to determine rotations. … How much guys are going to play, that is really to be determined based on how they practice. But I would expect to see a lot of both Anthony and Rucci.”

Franklin added that the competition between Donkoh and Rucci during preseason camp was “healthy and positive in terms of the amount of work” both got. Otherwise, the head coach known for giving away very little decided to do just that and not tip his hand.

Both are intriguing options. Rucci, a former five-star prospect, spent three years as a backup at Wisconsin before transferring in January. Donkoh, meanwhile, was a true freshman guard this time last year. It wasn’t until Donkoh turned heads with a standout performance in the Peach Bowl that he looked like a future starter on the right side. Donkoh is listed at 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, and Rucci is 6-8, 308 pounds.

Whoever steps in — or whenever each of them step in — they will have sizable shoes to fill. Caedan Wallace began his career as an inconsistent blocker but developed into one of the best right tackles in the Big Ten. Wallace opted not to return for one final season and was selected in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots.

Losing two starting tackles would be a major concern for most teams. But Franklin expressed confidence in Rucci and Donkoh, and so did their teammates.

Nick Dawkins, a captain and the team’s new starting center, was asked this week how Rucci and Donkoh have impressed him during the offseason. Taking a page out of Franklin’s playbook, Dawkins lumped both together but spoke highly about their potential.

“I would say both guys are great fits for our offensive line,” Dawkins said. “Their personalities, I mean, they’re selfless guys. And one thing that stands out directly when you look at them is their size. They have great long arms, they’re pretty big guys and they move well in space. Great in the run game with great pad level. They’re both really strong at the point of attack, especially in the inside and outside zone run schemes, which are so important for a right tackle. They’re super physical, massive human beings and great at the point of attack.”

Dvon J-Thomas also had positive things to say about Rucci and Donkoh. J-Thomas, a projected starting defensive tackle, watched in spring ball and preseason camp as Donkoh and Rucci went up against Abdul Carter, Dani Dennis-Sutton and Penn State’s deep group of defensive ends while picking up the new offense installed by play-caller Andy Kotelnicki.

“With Coach K coming into the picture as our new offensive coordinator, they fit well into the scheme,” J-Thomas said this week. “They’re able to move very, very well. I think that’s going to be a big help in the upcoming season. With the way Coach K was at Kansas, you know, his style of offensive play is a lot faster than what we’ve experienced in the past. So I feel like the tackles we have now, especially at right tackle, they’re well-built, strong, faster and capable of executing at a high level within this offense.”

Which one ends up being more capable of doing the job at right tackle? We’ll have to wait until Saturday.