As the pre-draft process heats up, two former Penn State standouts are getting their shot to shine on a national stage. Offensive lineman Nolan Rucci and long snapper Tyler Duzansky are set to compete in the East-West Shrine Bowl, a key stop on the road to the NFL Draft where prospects look to turn heads in front of scouts, coaches, and front office decision-makers.
Rucci, a late addition to the East team roster, will be coached by former Falcons special teams coordinator Marquice Williams, with Arizona Cardinals assistant Chris Cook guiding the offensive line. Across the field, Duzansky will represent the West team under the direction of Cowboys tight ends coach Lunda Wells, with Jets special teams intern Randall Jette working closely with the specialists.
The Shrine Bowl, set for Tuesday night at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, kicks off at 7 p.m. ET and will be televised on NFL Network. While it’s just one game, it’s a big opportunity-especially for players like Rucci and Duzansky, who are looking to boost their stock in front of NFL personnel in a more intimate, hands-on setting.
Let’s start with Rucci. The towering 6-foot-8, 308-pound tackle brings a unique blend of size, pedigree, and Power Five experience.
After transferring from Wisconsin, where he started his college career as a five-star recruit, Rucci spent two seasons at Penn State. In 2025, he locked down the right tackle spot full-time, starting every game and logging the fifth-most offensive snaps for the Nittany Lions.
His performance earned him All-Big Ten honorable mention honors from the coaches.
Rucci’s football roots run deep. His father, Todd, played seven seasons in the NFL with the Patriots, and his older brother, Hayden, had a stint with the Dolphins in 2025 after a college career at Wisconsin.
That background, combined with his physical tools and steady development, makes Rucci an intriguing prospect. And he’s already making noise in Shrine Bowl practices-reports out of Frisco have highlighted him as one of the top performers through the first three days.
For a player who didn’t get as much national attention during the season, this kind of week can be a game-changer.
On the special teams side, Duzansky is following in the footsteps of some impressive Penn State long snappers, most recently Chris Stoll, who just helped the Seahawks punch their ticket to Super Bowl LX. Duzansky held down the long snapper role for three seasons in Happy Valley, appearing in 49 games and even notching eight career tackles-no small feat for a specialist. In 2025, he was voted a team captain and became one of three finalists for the Patrick Mannelly Award, given to the nation’s top long snapper.
His journey is a classic walk-on success story. Coming out of Wheaton (Ill.)
St. Francis, Duzansky arrived at Penn State without a scholarship and sat behind Stoll for two years before taking over the job in 2023.
Since then, he’s brought consistency and leadership to the role-two traits NFL teams value highly in a position that only gets noticed when something goes wrong.
Rucci and Duzansky aren’t the only Nittany Lions making the rounds in the all-star circuit. Punter Gabe Nwosu recently played in the Hula Bowl, while offensive lineman Nick Dawkins and tight end Khalil Dinkins suited up for The American Bowl.
And the Senior Bowl, widely regarded as the premier showcase for top-tier draft talent, currently lists five former Penn State players on the National team roster: running backs Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton, defensive linemen Dani Dennis-Sutton and Zane Durant, and safety Zakee Wheatley. Offensive lineman Drew Shelton had also been announced as a participant but is no longer listed.
All of this is building toward the 2026 NFL Draft, which is set for April 23-25 in Pittsburgh. For players like Rucci and Duzansky, the Shrine Bowl is more than just another game-it’s a chance to prove they belong at the next level. And based on early returns from Frisco, they’re making the most of it.