Anthony Donkoh, RT/G Penn State: 2026 NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Donkoh was a three-star recruit from Lightridge High School in Aldie, Va. in the class of 2023
Penn State’s Anthony Donkoh showed significant potential in his lone year as a starter before he suffered a season-ending injury late in 2024. If healthy, Donkoh possesses the size, strength, and mobility to excel as a high-ceiling guard in a gap scheme. He might forgo the 2026 NFL Draft and instead opt for 2027 as he continues to work back to full health.
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Anthony Donkoh, RT/G Penn State: 2026 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Redshirt sophomore right tackle from Aldie, Va.
Background: Donkoh was a three-star recruit from Lightridge High School in Aldie, Va. in the class of 2023. He was the No. 415 (four-star) recruit according to 247Sports and No. 494 for On3 (three-star). Donkoh was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 78 grade out of 100. He lettered three years in high school, serving as a team captain and earning team MVP honors each time. Donkoh only allowed one sack in his high school career. He also contributed on defense across his career, totaling 63 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 11 sacks, two passes defensed, and three blocked kicks. Donkoh also lettered in wrestling.
Injuries & Off-Field: Exited 2024 UCLA game early with an apparent shoulder injury, didn’t start in 2024 Ohio State game as he battled an injury from Wisconsin game, suffered a season-ending right knee injury vs. Minnesota (2024)
Awards: 2024 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten
Pros: Thick throughout frame, arm length should meet league offensive tackle thresholds, showed some development in kick step during 2024, strike timing, heavy hands, activates hands early to maximize length, early hands catch defenders and limit opportunities to attack B-gap, active hand fighter who replaces them when swatted or swiped, quick to ID stunts, massive lower half translates to anchor, impressive straight line speed at his size, enough juice to operate in a gap scheme, speed to overtake and flatten linebackers, good aiming points on gap runs, good strike timing in run game to lock out and displace defenders, drives power through hands in run game, power to walk 4-techs and 4i off the line of scrimmage, power to wash defenders down the line on angle blocks
Cons: Fewer than 550 career offensive snaps, returning from significant injury that could impact RT competition and playing time in 2025, gains questionable width and depth through first step, footspeed creates issues against explosive rushers, lacks lateral agility to consistently cut off B-gap counters, lacks the suddenness to recover when beaten early, carries hands outside frame exposing them to chops and swipes early, needs to snatch long-arms earlier in plays, sometimes pulled forward and off balance in run game, forward momentum carries him off some run blocks, room to be more consistent with angles and finishing ability in run game
Overview: Donkoh is one of the most thickly built offensive tackles in the 2026 class. He carries his weight well and moves with surprising range in the run game for someone his size. Donkoh lacks high end arm length but should meet the league’s requirements to play offensive tackle, although a transition inside to guard might be beneficial long-term. He’s an inexperienced player with fewer than 550 career offensive snaps, and his late 2024 season-ending knee injury could push him to alter his timeline and target the 2027 draft. Donkoh will battle Nolan Rucci for snaps at right tackle this coming season. Donkoh doesn’t gain ideal width and depth with his first step, but he displayed development in his kick step during the 2024 season. His footspeed creates some limitations that make it difficult for him to track explosive edge rushers all the way up the arc, but his range is adequate for the position. Donkoh also faces some issues with his lateral agility and ability to cut off B-gap attacks. He lacks the lower body suddenness and twitch to recover when beaten early. These concerns all support a move to guard in the NFL, but he compensates for his limitations by excelling in other areas that make him a promising college offensive tackle. Donkoh carries his hands too far outside of his frame, but his strike timing and power pop. The redshirt sophomore engages his hands early in plays to hammer rushers with powerful punches as soon as they enter his striking range. These early attacks limit the rusher’s ability to set up a B-gap counter or build momentum to bolt around the edge. Donkoh is a true hand fighter who quickly replaces or refits his hands when re-establishing leverage or recovering from swipes. He needs to deploy a snatch-trap earlier in plays when facing long-arms. Despite limited experience, he identifies and passes off stunts quickly. The Virginia native’s filled out, powerful lower half gives him excellent anchoring ability. Defenders rarely win through his frame. In the run game, Donkoh moves well in a straight line with great juice to land blocks in a gap scheme. He surprises and overtakes linebackers and takes clean paths to defenders when pulling for blocks. Donkoh uses his precise strike timing and heavy hands to lock out and drive defenders off the line of scrimmage or wash them down the line. His balance is his greatest flaw in the run game. His forward momentum causes him to fall off blocks. He could maximize his frame to provide more air-tight seals and finishing power.
Overall, Donkoh is a unique athlete with enough range to get by at tackle but will be best served playing guard at the NFL level. His hand usage is impressive for an inexperienced prospect, and very few college linemen with his mass match his mobility. The 2024 knee injury changes his timeline, but Donkoh is positioned to eventually be a high-ceiling guard prospect.
Role & Scheme Fit: Right tackle or left guard in a gap or inside zone scheme
Round Grade: Second Round
Size: 6'5", 334 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 05-31-25