Yesterday, we talked about Brian Gaia. Today, we meet the one lineman competing for a guard spot who didn't play defensive tackle last year.
If Mahon can even crack the offensive line rotation for Penn State this season, it'll be the first action in blue and white for the redshirt freshman. But the idea of him following in Donovan Smith's footsteps, and becoming a four-year starter along the line, isn't so farfetched. Christian Hackenberg and Adam Breneman headlined Penn State's 2014 recruiting class, but Mahon was what Phil Steele might call a VHT--the #3 rated guard and #58 player overall in Rivals' rankings, and had the offer sheet to back it up.
He also came in with enough size that his top priority--working under a pair of excellent OL coaches in Mac McWhorter and Herb Hand--has been technique rather than adding weight. That's also helped him become a more versatile lineman--he's actually listed on the Penn State roster as a tackle, and his 6'4, 305 frame could slot at RT just as easily.