Category: Football

Best Penn State players still available on Day 3 of NFL draft according to ESPN

Penn State’s Curtis Jacobs and Theo Johnson some of the best available at their positions on the final day of the 2024 NFL draft.

Penn State was happy to see four members of its football family be selected by NFL franchises in the first three rounds of the 2024 NFL draft, but they are hoping to see more go on the final day of the draft on Saturday. Any NFL franchise looking to add a linebacker to the roster will have a few solid options to choose from beginning in the fourth round, including Penn State’s [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag].

Jacobs was a standout performer for Penn State and is ranked as the third-best linebacker still on the board according to ESPN’s ranking of best available players going into Day 3 of the draft. He is also among the top 25 best players available when the draft resumes with the no. 24 ranking.

North Carolina’s Cedric Gray is the top linebacker available according to ESPN’s ranking. Clemson’s Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the second-best available linebacker before Jacobs according to the same ranking. All three players figure to make some NFL franchise very happy with the bargain they will seemingly be getting.

Theo Johnson among best TEs still available

Penn State tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] was hoping to go somewhere in the second or third rounds of the draft, but his wait will drag into Day 3 as well. Johnson is ranked as the fifth-best tight end still available with four rounds remaining, so he still has a very good chance of being drafted.

Ja’Tavion Sanders of Texas, Cade Stover of Ohio State, Tanner McLachlan of Arizona, and Jared Wiley of TCU are all ranked ahead of Johnson at the tight end position.

Hunter Nourzad watch is also on

Penn State has already had two offensive linemen drafted in the 2024 NFL draft. Olu Fashanu was a first-round pick of the New York Jets and Caedan Wallace went to the New England Patriots in the third round. But Penn State could get one more offensive lineman drafted with center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] lingering on the board on Day 3.

ESPN ranks Nourzad as the third-best center available. Only Georgia’s Sedrick Van Pran-Granger and Wisconsin’s Tanor Bortolini are ranked ahead of him.

Cornerbacks look like long shots?

Penn State still has a few cornerbacks sitting and waiting for a call from the NFL going into the final day of the draft. [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], and [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] are all still available, but all three are ranked between no. 21 and no. 25 at their position among best players available according to ESPN.

While Hardy and Dixon were always expected to be later round picks at best, the fall of King from a potential first-round draft pick a year ago is unfortunate to watch develop. If any player may have benefitted the most by returning for another season at Penn State, it is looking like it would have been King.

But maybe somebody is going to take a shot at King and capitalize on a player with a potential chip on his shoulder. If not, he will be one player to watch during the undrafted free agent frenzy following the draft.

Catch all of the latest updates from the NFL draft with USA TODAY’s live draft tracker. For a look at each Penn State draft prospect, be sure to check out our Penn State NFL draft tracker.

Follow Kevin McGuire on Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook.

Green Bay Packers receive A+ grade for drafting Edgerrin Cooper

The Packers receive an A+ grade for selecting Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper

Former Texas A&M standout Edgerrin Cooper is set to bring his game to Wisconsin as the Green Bay Packers made a thrilling move, selecting the 21-year-old 45th overall in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday evening. Like myself, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar believed that Cooper could have easily been a first-round pick, giving the Packers an A+ grade for their exciting choice of the future Pro Bowler:

“Cooper has been one of my favorite players to watch in this draft class, regardless of position. And his athletic profile fits what most teams want in an every-down linebacker these days. He’ll be all over the place at times when he gets to the NFL, but with the right kind of coaching, he could be an ideal guided missile.”

During his 2023 junior season with the Aggies, Cooper’s game began to change as former defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin moved him around the defense to take full advantage of his athleticism. Cooper led the Aggies in his final year with 83 tackles, eight sacks, 27 pressures, and 19 tackles for loss.

With the Packers, Cooper will form a formidable duo with weak-side linebacker Quay Walker. The rookie is set to earn the starting middle linebacker spot, a strategic move as he begins to learn the playbook as soon as possible, showcasing the Packers’ thoughtful planning.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

WATCH: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. talks to Cardinals’ media

Listen to what Harrison had to say during his introductory press conference in Arizona. #GoBucks

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. realized a childhood dream when he was selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft as the No. 4 pick on Friday night by the Arizona Cardinals.

Since then has no doubt been a whirlwind with interviews and media appearances, but one of the most important forums took place on Friday, one day after all of the festivities, when he was introduced to the media in Arizona.

It should be no surprise that Harrison carried himself well and showed great class in front of the media, just like we’ve all become accustomed to during his time on the banks of the Olentangy.

If you didn’t get a chance to soak in Harrison’s introductory press conference, we’re repurposing it here thanks to the Cardinals’ YouTube Channel. Watch and listen to how excited Harrison is to be in Arizona, when he found out he was going to be selected by the Cardinals, his brand as a pro, and more.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

How Roman Wilson fits with the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steel City gets a new weapon. #GoBlue

With the 84th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected wide receiver Roman Wilson.

Wilson recorded 48 receptions, 789 yards, and 12 touchdowns in 2024 and was a huge part of the national title run. He kept Michigan’s season alive with a spectacular leaping grab late in the fourth quarter against Alabama and tied the game soon after with a touchdown grab.

Wilson fits perfectly into this offense. The Steelers have a true ‘X’ receiver in George Pickens and now get the perfect complement with Roman Wilson. Wilson excels at getting open on over routes and can use his speed to win in the red zone. He will probably take most of his snaps in the slot at the next level, which fits his skillset better than playing outside.

Wilson also does a great job of finding space when plays break down. Pittsburgh is working with Russell Wilson and Justin Fields at quarterback — both of whom like to make off-script plays, so there should be some nice chemistry from the get-go.

The expectation is that Wilson gets legitimate snaps in year one. As previously mentioned, Pittsburgh doesn’t have a lot of other receiving weapons so Wilson might be starting in the slot Week 1.

For fantasy football nerds, taking Wilson late in the draft is a good idea if you want a sleeper.

Wilson is also a very willing run blocker. He played in a run-first scheme, so he didn’t really have a choice but to embrace the physicality of blocking. Of course, Pittsburgh is a town that encapsulates the violent nature of football, and having that mid-western grit is essential. Wilson’s experience with the Michigan vs. Ohio State rivalry is also key here. The Steelers have a couple of historic rivalries with their divisional opponents and Wilson is likely to fully embrace the heightened stakes that come with regional beef.

USC WRs Brenden Rice, Tahj Washington snubbed on Day 2 of NFL draft

USC has two receivers who are going to be very motivated once they land on an NFL roster.

The USC Trojans had two players picked on Day 2 of the NFL draft. Calen Bullock went to the Houston Texans, and MarShawn Lloyd went to the Green Bay Packers, both in the third round. They will not have to wait until Day 3 of the draft on Saturday. Brenden Rice and Tahj Washington were not as fortunate. They are still on the board heading into Saturday. It’s a bitter pill to swallow for two receivers who had hoped to be Day 2 selections.

Let’s remember that a few years ago at the NFL draft, Amon-Ra St. Brown was not snapped up in the first 100 picks or the first three rounds. His considerable talent and athleticism were ignored and undervalued by NFL teams. The Detroit Lions finally took him in the fourth round on Saturday — Day 3 — at pick No. 112. St. Brown has become a legitimate star in the NFL, helping the Lions come agonizingly close to making their first Super Bowl.

Tahj Washington and Brenden Rice can look at St. Brown — a very good USC Trojan receiver — as a source of inspiration. When they finally are picked at this year’s NFL draft, they will have a lot of motivation to prove people wrong and punish the many NFL teams which passed on them in the second and third rounds of Day 2.

Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.

Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.

WATCH: Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. NFL draft press conference

Listen to what Harrison had to say after he was drafted on Thursday night. #GoBucks

Ohio State saw another player go off the board early in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft when all-everything receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr., was selected by the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 4 pick on Thursday night.

It’s about what everyone expected with Harrison becoming the first non-quarterback to be selected up in the top five of a draft shocked full of offensive skill. He was on hand at the NFL draft because of the high expectations of his draft status, so it was easy to get him in front of the media to field questions and react to the process.

In case you missed any of Harrison’s NFL draft press conference, you can soak it all in thanks to video from Yahoo! Sports’ YouTube channel. You can listen to Harrison talk about how excited he is, his work ethic, comparing himself to his father, and more.

We will, of course, continue to follow the rounds Harrison makes as he gets acclimated into his new role as a potential top-end NFL player and can’t wait to follow his career starting this fall.

Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.

Jim Harbaugh sings ‘The Victors’ in Chargers facilities after day two of NFL draft

Never change, Coach! #GoBlue

You can take Jim Harbaugh out of Ann Arbor but you can’t take Ann Arbor out of Jim Harbaugh.

While many surmised that Jim Harbaugh would go on a Michigan football drafting frenzy in his new role as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach, he ended up only selecting one — linebacker Junior Colson.

Whether it was the Colson pick or six of the seven Wolverines selected in the 2024 NFL draft coming on day two, Harbaugh was feeling the maize and blue. So much that he had something of a solo, singing the fight song, ‘The Victors,’ in the team facilities.

No one joined in, but he did get some applause. But, you can assume that it was a sanctioned activity as the official Los Angeles Chargers X (formerly Twitter) account not only posted it, but posted it with captions, including the correct abbreviations and punctuation.

With day three of the draft coming up, Harbaugh and the Chargers will have plenty more opportunities to bring in former Wolverines.

Texas A&M DL McKinnley Jackson selected in third round of the 2024 NFL Draft

Texas A&M DL McKinnley Jackson is headed to Cincinnati!

Texas A&M defensive lineman McKinnley Jackson has been selected 97th overall by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft. After four productive seasons as the Aggie’s starting nose tackle, Jackson with take his talents to the league, bringing vast SEC experience.

Throughout his Aggie career, Jackson was a force to be reckoned with. His record of 91 tackles and 7.5 sacks speaks volumes about his ability to consistently apply pressure inside, freeing up blitzes. His high motor and aggressive style in the middle of the trenches set him apart.

Coming into the draft, Jackson’s lack of notable athleticism in accordance with his RAS (relative athletic score) results likely pushed him down the board, but for those who paid close attention to the energy and tenacity Jackson has played with since he first set foot in College Station, any franchise willing to take a chance on him would be getting one of the hardest working prospects in the draft.

Jackson will join a loaded Bengals defensive tackle while working with one of the elite defensive minds in veteran defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo.

Congratulations, McKinnley!

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Best photos of Marvin Harrison Jr. at the NFL draft

Check out some photos of Ohio State receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. on draft night. #GoBucks

As we expected, one of the best receivers to ever walk through the tunnel in Ohio Stadium wearing Scarlet and Gray went off the board early in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

In fact, he went to the Arizona Cardinals with the No. 4 pick, the highest drafted receiver ever to come out of Ohio State. It was no doubt a dream come true for Harrison, and since he was expected to go early, he was on hand for the draft posing on the red carpet and sitting in the green room awaiting his final destination.

In case you missed some of the photo ops of Harrison, we have some of the best of them for you to soak in, much like what the son of a Hall of Famer did himself on Friday night.

Here is some of the best high-resolution photos of Harrison at the 2024 NFL draft.

Cleveland Browns troll Ohio State fans after Zak Zinter draft pick

Ohio State fans are not happy, but when are they ever? #GoBlue

Usually there’s some kind of solidarity between football fans in the state of Ohio. While the Cincinnati area kind of distances itself from Ohio State (which makes sense given it has its own Division I college football team), the Cleveland Browns seem to embrace the fact the state is filled with fervent Buckeye fans.

Certainly, they’re upsetting some of those in self-proclaimed Buckeye nation on two fronts on Friday night.

First, the Browns had the audacity to pick a former Michigan player, offensive guard Zak Zinter. Certainly, the fans will overlook that one — to some degree. What they may not overlook is the tweet the Browns put out to celebrate.

While the official Cleveland Browns X (formerly Twitter) account stayed true to brand by not actually saying the name Michigan, they noted that all Zinter did with the Wolverines was win. That includes winning three straight Big Ten championships and a national championship.

The comments are full of happy Wolverines and upset Buckeyes. Of course, Ohio State fans are still acutely aware their team hasn’t beaten Michigan since 2019 — a fact that has caused many to resort to conspiracy theories to cope. And many of those conspiracy theories have made their way into the comment section — even though Zinter is now on their team.