Tag: Arnold Ebiketie

Mel Kiper’s updated mock draft includes two Nittany Lions in first round

Which two Penn State players does Mel Kiper have in his first-round mock draft as the combine begins?

The NFL scouting community is laser-focused on the events unfolding this week in Indianapolis for the combine. Among those taking scrupulous notes will be Mel Kiper, the godfather of the mock draft. But heading into the combine, Kiper has updated his first-round mock draft, and it just so happens to include a pair of Penn State players.

Kiper is currently projecting defensive end Arnold Ebiketie to be a first-round selection of the New England Patriots with the No. 21 pick. Ebikeite would be a logical selection for the Patriots as the franchise is in need of help on the defensive line, as noted by Kiper.

Per Kiper;

At 6-foot-3, 260 pounds, he could put on a few more pounds and add the position versatility that New England loves, shifting all along the defensive line. He has extremely long arms and can create leverage on his pass-rush moves. The Patriots also need to invest again at wide receiver, so I thought about one with this pick.

Interesting that Kiper mentioned wide receiver because Penn State also has a receiver that is projected by the ESPN expert (and a number of others) to go in the first round as well. Jahan Dotson, considered by many draft experts to be among the top wide receiver available in this year’s draft, also works his way into the first round of Kiper’s most recent mock draft. Kiper has Dotson going No. 26 overall to the Tennessee Titans.

Once again, per Kiper;

Julio Jones is 33, has played just 19 games over the past two seasons and has only four touchdowns over that span. Can the Titans really rely on him to be a great wideout next to A.J. Brown, who has had injury issues himself? I think they need to add an extra dimension for quarterback Ryan Tannehill, and Dotson has the versatility to align out of multiple spots. He had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns last season, and he could rack up yards after the catch to help Tannehill.

We will have to see how Ebiketie and Dotson and a number of other Penn State stars perform at the combine and how it impacts their overall draft stock once the scouting event is over. But two first-round draft picks for a second consecutive year would be pretty good to see if you are Penn State head coach James Franklin and Penn State.

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When is Penn State football pro day?

When will Penn State football pro day be? We now have an official confirmation.

This week marks the start of the NFL combine in Indianapolis, which is widely considered the most important week of the draft circuit for NFL draft hopefuls. But another key date for Penn State’s football players with their eyes on the NFL has been officially confirmed.

Penn State will host its football pro day on Thursday, March 24. The event is a combine-type event that is designed to show off Penn State players who want to show what they can do in front of the eyes of NFL coaches and scouts.

This year’s pro day will likely be a big one for Penn State with a good number of talented players entering the draft pool, including wide receiver Jahan Dotson and safety Jaquan Brisker. Both Dotson and Brisker opted out of Penn State’s bowl game and the Senior Bowl, which makes the combine and pro day a little more important for some scouts and coaches.

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin came away amazed at what he saw at Penn State’s pro day event in 2021. Tomlin called Penn State’s a freak show after witnessing the event in person. The Steelers went on to draft tight end Pat Freiermuth in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft after spending some time working out Freiermuth at the pro day event.

Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons praised Penn State head coach James Franklin for having he and other Nittany Lions prepared well for taking the next step to the NFL. Franklin’s experience in the NFL certainly helps organize a structured plan to send players off to succeed at the next level.

Penn State’s pro day will take place a few days after the start of Penn State’s spring football practices. Penn State begins spring football practices on Monday, March 21. Franklin will hold a spring press conference on that same day.

Penn State’s Blue-White Game will be held on Saturday, April 23.

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NFL Combine invites extended to eight Penn State players

Penn State has eight players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine

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College football’s finest NFL prospects will be hoping to leave a good impression at this year’s scouting combine in Indianapolis, and this year will see eight Penn State players looking to make their own individual statements in front of the eyes of the NFL scouting world. The master list of 324 players invited to this year’s NFL combine, including eight players from Happy Valley.

Wide receiver Jahan Dotson, safety Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Tariq Castro-Fields, defensive ends Jesse Luketa and Arnold Ebiketite, linebacker Brandon Smith, punter Jordan Stout, and offensive linemen Rasheed Walker were among those invited. Penn State has the fourth-most players invited to the combine.

The combine is the last major step toward the NFL draft, with workout results and times from the combine carrying plenty of weight for any player’s draft outlook. A school’s pro day event, which offers combine drills in a slightly more accommodating environment for many players, also is a vital resource for any prospect’s draft stock.

As long as all eight Penn State players attend the combine, it will be the first real opportunity to see two of the most notable draft prospects since the end of the 2021 regular season. Dotson and Brisker were among the sizable number of opt-outs from the bowl game, and each player ended up not participating in the Senior Bowl last weekend. To some draft analysts, that makes the combine even more important for Dotson and Brisker.

The NFL combine is scheduled for March 1 through March 7.

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2022 NFL Draft: Top three team fits for Arnold Ebiketie

Let’s take a look at the top three teams that would make the most sense for Ebiketie.

One of the most impressive players for the Nittany Lions this past eason was defensive end Arnold Ebiketie, who transferred from Tempel and had an immediate impact with his new school. His talent has been noticed and turned heads of several draft analysts across college football.

There are several teams in the NFL that could use more help at getting to the quarterback, which makes Ebiketie one of the more intriguing prospects this draft cycle.

Let’s take a look at the top three teams that would make the most sense for Ebiketie.

Penn State in the Senior Bowl: How to Watch the 2022 Senior Bowl

How to watch this year’s Senior Bowl, featuring four former Penn State players.

The ultimate college football all-star showcase is set for Saturday afternoon in Mobile, Alabama. And although a pair of highly notable Penn State players have opted out of participating in this year’s Senior Bowl, Penn State will still be well represented with four players active for game.

So if you are nestled in the warm cozy surroundings of your living room or man cave watching the Olympics or the Penn State men’s basketball game at Wisconsin and want a bit of a college football fix, tune into the Senior Bowl and see how Arnold Ebiketie, Jesse Luketa, Jordan Stout, and Tariq Castro-Fields perform against some of college football’s finest heading off to the 2022 NFL draft later this spring.

Here’s how to catch all of the action

Basic Info

When: Saturday, February 5, 2022 at 2:30 p.m. ET

Where: Hancock Whitney Stadium (Mobile, AL)

How to watch/listen

Broadcast: NFL Network

Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Radio: Find a local Penn State radio affiliate near you

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2022 Senior Bowl preview: Top prospects, biggest sleepers

To get you familiar with the Senior Bowl participants, here is a look at the top prospects and the ones who are flying under the radar.

The Senior Bowl is the biggest college football all-star game. This is the last game they will participate in before heading to the NFL Combine in February. It is also the last chance for league decision-makers to see prospects up close, going up against the best players in the country.

To get familiar with those partaking in the festivities in Mobile, AL, here is a look at the top prospects and the ones who are flying under the radar.

Senior Bowl measurements for every Penn State player

Senior Bowl measurements are in for every Penn State player in Mobile this week.

You know it is draft season when college football and NFL fans alike start soaking in as many player measurements as possible. It’s all a part of the draft process as players get measured and compared against their peers. But two of the top prospects out of Penn State are absent from the Senior Bowl this week after previously accepting an invite. Wide receiver Jahan Dotson’s absence was noted in the days leading up to the Senior Bowl, but there was a notable omission from the released measurements shared by the Senior Bowl on Monday.

Penn State safety Jaquan Brisker was also absent from the released measurements, leaving his status in some question at the start of the week.

But here are the numbers draft scouts and experts will be reviewing in the days and weeks to come leading up to the scouting combine and the draft.

Giants select Kyle Hamilton with their first pick in latest Draft Wire mock

With their first pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Draft Wire has the New York Giants selecting Notre Dame safety Kyle Hamilton.

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In the latest three-round mock from our friends at Draft Wire, the New York Giants selected Kyle Hamilton, a safety out of Notre Dame, with the fifth overall pick.

Seeing two tackles already off the board has to hurt, and it’s possible the Giants could talk themselves into an edge defender here. It’s high for a safety, too, but Hamilton might be the best overall prospect in this year’s entire class, making him worthy of consideration.

With the likely departure of Jabrill Peppers, the Giants will potentially need to add another safety this offseason. Hamilton is said to be a generational talent with his elite 6–foot-3, 218-pound frame.

Hamilton had an impressive 138 tackles and eight interceptions as a Fighting Irish defender. He was constantly all over the field making big play after big play. Most recently in 2021, Hamilton recorded 34 tackles, four passes defended, and three interceptions. This outstanding play earned him a Consensus All-American recognition in 2021.

Draft Wire predicts that following this defensive selection, the Giants will turn to the offensive side of the ball and select Charles Cross with the seventh overall pick. Cross would add much-needed help on the offensive line as the Giants prepare to finally build a conducive environment for Daniel Jones.

After going best-player-available with their first top-10 pick, the Giants make a more need-based selection here, adding much needed help up front for Daniel Jones (or whoever eventually replaces him). Cross is big, athletic, and was dominant against SEC competition.

New York appears to have talented weapons but the thing holding the offense back is clearly the line play. Adding a solid tackle in Cross to play opposite of Andrew Thomas, who is developing into one of the better tackles in the NFL, should help Brian Daboll get the breakout year from Jones he hopes for.

With the remaining three selections the Giants possess in the first three rounds of the 2022 NFL draft, Draft Wire predicts that the Giants will go all-in on the defense.

With the 36th pick, the Giants are projected to draft Christian Harris, a talented linebacker out of Alabama. Finally, Big Blue is predicted to go with Arnold Ebiketie (an edge rusher from Penn State) and Mykael Wright (a cornerback from Oregon) with their two third-round selections.

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Penn State’s Arnold Ebiketie is a problem for opposing QBs

Penn State edge defender Arnold Ebiketie has been one of the program’s best at getting after the passer in recent years

Penn State has seen plenty of talented pass rushers come through their ranks in recent years, and Arnold Ebiketie belongs among the best.

Since 2017, no Nittany Lions defender has created more quarterback pressures than Ebiketie, who has racked up 52 over that stretch (per Pro Football Focus).

The 2022 NFL draft class is fairly deep in terms of talented edge defenders, which could make Ebiketie a bargain if he comes off the board anytime on Day 2.

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Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network gives Cleveland new receiver

Browns mock draft watch: Pro Football Network gives Cleveland new receiver #Browns

The college football season has long been over and the NFL season is slowly winding down and I am hoping everyday that the Cincinnati Bengals will lose, but that’s another separate issue. We here at Browns Wire are desperately looking forward with the NFL Draft and what Cleveland can do with a top 15 pick.

It appears the Browns knocked the Draft out of the park last year with the top two selections appearing to be long-term stalwarts, but time will tell what this year provides. The good people at Pro Football Network have supplied a big mock draft featuring the first four rounds and we are going to dive in a review.

The first slide will be the PFN selection and the second will be my preferred choice.