Mangiro leads Penn State offensive line looking to improve

As the most experienced of Penn State's offensive linemen, Angelo Mangiro took it upon himself in the offseason to lead his group through meetings and workouts and make sure last year's dismal performance by the unit does not happen again.

"I know last year we had our ups and downs during the season, and we took it personal," Mangiro, a fifth-year senior center, said before the start of training camp. "We know we're forty-some percent of the offense, and that offense only goes as far as we go. So we put the onus on ourselves to really push ourselves over the summer, and we did."

Since there are no exhibition games in college football, the offensive line's level of improvement won't be evident until the Nittany Lions' Sept. 5 season opener against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field. But if Mangiro's leadership and the unit's hard work mean anything, progress should be easy to spot.

The 6-foot-3, 321-pound Mangiro, who earlier this summer was named to the watch list for the Rimington Trophy given to the nation's top center, proved to be the most versatile of the Lions' offensive linemen last season. The co-captain started all 13 games - 10 at center, two at right tackle, and one at left guard. He also played some snaps in one game at right guard.

Penn State coach James Franklin would prefer to have all five starters along the offensive front stay where they are from Game 1 to strengthen chemistry and cohesiveness, but most of the linemen are working at more than one position in training camp.

"I think the more we can leave guys at one position and give them the ability to become an expert at their position and build confidence there . . . then we can work on moving people around," Franklin said. "It's hard to let guys compete for certain jobs if you're moving them around."

Mangiro appreciates the way Franklin and offensive line coach Herb Hand have handled the unit. He liked a comment Franklin made at Big Ten football media days, when the coach talked of linemen having a "chip on their shoulder" and telling reporters: "I would really appreciate it if any of you guys are willing to write some nasty articles about them to continue to motivate them throughout the season."

"I think a great head coach is obviously an X-and-O kind of guy, but throughout the course of the year he knows how to motivate a team," Mangiro said. "They know what gets under my skin. They know how hard we work. Those are my guys."

Another one of Mangiro's guys is Christian Hackenberg, who probably took as much criticism as the line for an offense that finished last in the Big Ten in scoring and rushing. Mangiro thinks the junior quarterback will bounce back.

"I expect him to go out and compete and have a good year for himself," Mangiro said. "I think those are his expectations also. I think the guy has natural-born leadership. He commands the huddle. He's a great competitor. He has those intangibles. We'll work hard on the offensive line, and he'll make plays for us."

Mangiro enjoyed a terrific final month to the 2014 season. In December, he earned his degree in criminology, finishing with a 3.59 grade-point average and his third berth on the Big Ten's academic all-American team. The Nittany Lions later clinched a winning season by beating Boston College at Yankee Stadium, 50 miles from Roxbury, N.J., where Mangiro, who grew up a Yankees fan, lives.

He would love to take those good feelings into this season.

"It's a big year," he said. "I can't wait.

Penn State officially unveiled plans to renovate the Lasch Football Building. The multiphase project includes upgrades to the lobby, which will feature an awards area recognizing the history and accomplishments of Penn State football; improvements to the team auditorium, lobby, and locker room; plus a new nutrition bar and an expanded equipment room. No timetable was given for the project.

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