Penn State football is embracing new beginnings while staying rooted in its storied tradition. Among the familiar faces making a significant impact is Steven Gonzalez, a former standout offensive lineman for the Nittany Lions. Gonzalez, who was a starter at guard from 2016 to 2019, has officially joined Penn State's recruiting department as a full-time assistant.
Gonzalez expressed his excitement for this new chapter on social media, sharing his enthusiasm for returning to his alma mater and contributing to the next era of Penn State Football.
Recently, Gonzalez was seen leading a group of prospects into Holuba Hall for the team's second spring practice. His involvement with the Nittany Lions isn't new; he was actively supporting recruiting efforts during the final year of James Franklin's tenure. Now, as a university employee, Gonzalez is taking a major step forward in his post-playing career.
Gonzalez's journey has been impressive. Last year, he was competing professionally in the United Football League, earning a spot on the 2025 All-UFL Offensive Team with the St.
Louis Battlehawks. Before his UFL success, Gonzalez had stints with the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent in 2020.
His football roots trace back to Union City High School in New Jersey, where he was an all-state selection and a four-star prospect. Known for his prowess on both sides of the ball, Gonzalez racked up 60 pancake blocks and 10 sacks as a senior. His high school career was highlighted by a single-game record of five sacks, leading him to commit to Penn State in 2014.
After redshirting in 2015, Gonzalez became a key player during Penn State's Big Ten title run in 2016, appearing in 11 games and starting three. He graduated with a degree in history and earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2019, the first Penn State offensive lineman to do so since John Urschel in 2013.
Now 28, Gonzalez is back at Penn State, working alongside head coach Matt Campbell, general manager Derek Hoodjer, and director of talent acquisition Alan Zemaitis. Together, they are tackling the evolving national recruiting landscape to assemble top-tier rosters each year.
With spring practices underway and summer prospect camps on the horizon, Gonzalez and the Penn State staff are gearing up to shape the future of the program, eyeing recruits for the Class of 2027 and beyond.