Tag: Hunter Nourzad

Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad describes the offensive line room, praises Creed Humphrey

Kansas City #Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad describes the offensive line room, praises Creed Humphrey | @EdEastonJr

The start of training camp has the Kansas City Chiefs rookies bonding before the arrival of the veterans to start full team drills.

Chiefs rookie center Hunter Nourzad opened up about his experience with the offensive line through OTAs during his press conference with the media on Thursday.

“Yeah, I think – not even just the draft picks – the entire offensive line room that’s here is very, very cohesive, and we all have great relationships with each other,” said Nourzad. “It’s not really one person leaning on another; it’s everybody leaning on each other, and I think the room and the culture that has been built here – in the offensive line room – is extremely good.”

The training camp work will affect all levels of the roster as the young players will learn from proven veterans, especially if they are needed for relief. Nourzad is slated as a backup offensive lineman, with his focus at center behind starter and Pro Bowler Creed Humphrey.

“I don’t even think it’s a tangible amount, you know what I mean. He (Creed Humphrey) has so much to give when it comes to knowledge, scheme, and technique in his play,” said Nourzad. “I mean, you watch him play, he is an extremely, extremely talented center. I’m going to do my best to try to get every ounce of knowledge out of him.”

Nourzad was respected for his versatility on the offensive line in college and could serve as an essential depth option at each position on the offensive line.

Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad explains his hobbies at training camp: ‘I’m a big Lego guy’

Kansas City #Chiefs C Hunter Nourzad explains his hobbies at training camp: “I’m a big Lego guy” | @EdEastonJr

The news of Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes deciding to bring a TV to training camp for the first time has inspired more questions about what players pack with them for entertainment.

Chiefs rookie center Hunter Nourzad has his spin on what he’s brought to training camp, and it has nothing to do with television, as he shared with reporters on Thursday.

“I’m a big Lego guy,” said Nourzad. “So I brought one of my smaller sets just to have a piece of home with me.”

Nourzad began his collegiate career at Cornell University, earning the Ivy League Offensive Lineman of the Year award in 2021. He transferred to Penn State the following year, switched to center and was selected as second-team All-Big Ten.

Even though he’s not a kid anymore, he doesn’t hide his joy for Legos.

“So I have the Lego orchid. I have a coliseum with a 10,000-piece set,” said Nourzad. “I have a Bugatti, an F-150, a Dodge Challenger. I have a crane that moves and a Formula One car.”

He mentioned that he’s planning on getting a shelving unit to store his collection properly. He gave a brief story regarding his love for Legos dating back to his childhood.

“I had a Lego Batmobile when I was like 8. I think I got it for Christmas and built it over Christmas break,” said Nourzad. “And then, being an 8-year-old, I was clumsy, and I remember dropping it down the stairs and just raw emotion. That’s all that happened when I when I dropped it.”

Nourzad is working hard at training camp to avoid dropping an opportunity on the offensive line. He could be a versatile reserve at any position.

Chiefs OL Hunter Nourzad reflects on the NFL draft process

Hunter Nourzad told reporters about his experience in the NFL draft process during a press conference at #Chiefs rookie minicamp.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft because of his versatility and desire to excel in any role. The NFL draft process wasn’t easy or predictable for the Penn State product, and there was significant uncertainty regarding his fate.

Nourzad shared his experience with reporters on Saturday at rookie minicamp, making it clear that he was eager to get on the field.

“It’s pretty surreal,” Nourzad explained. “You try to prepare yourself as best as possible during the process, but you really have no idea where you’re going to go. Once the bus rolled up the road, and we saw the stadium and the facility – it’s really breathtaking; it’s really an incredible experience that I feel truly blessed to be able to experience. It’s unbelievable.”

Nourzad started his college career at Cornell before transferring to Penn State and playing various roles on the offensive line. He told reporters that he is ready to grow in the Chiefs organization in any form, with his focus finally being back on the fieldwork.

“I think it’s more a sense of excitement rather than freedom because football is the only thing I really love,” said Nourzad. “Being able just to go back to that, being completely focused on, like you said, learning my playbook, getting to meet my teammates, getting out and doing drills and getting better. It’s really relieving.”

Many rookies are relieved to be able to focus entirely on football after a hectic month. Nourzad is ready for an opportunity to make an impact on the coaching staff and find a role on the team.

How Penn State’s Hunter Nourzad fits with the Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs should have no problem getting Penn State center Hunter Nourzad to fit right in.

No event on the NFL calendar outside of the Super Bowl gets the amount of hype that the NFL draft receives. Sure, free agency is often interesting to follow. As is training camp and of course the season itself. Still, the draft is king because of the impact it can have on the direction of a franchise.

Even though free agency and trades can help improve a team’s roster, building through the draft is still the most reliable way to remain competitive year after year. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs know that as well as anyone, and they chose to add to their depth by selecting Penn State center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] 159th overall in the 2024 draft.

Nourzad started the draft season as a relative unknown by most media outlets, sometimes not even listed in the top 300 prospects. Once analysts got to his tape after a strong performance at the East West Shrine game, he skyrocketed into firm day three territory. His versatility to play both center and guard helped his case as well.

For the Chiefs, Nourzad will likely slot in as the primary backup center and maybe even the primary interior backup in general. He has good size to play both center and guard, and he is a good enough athlete to handle both responsibilities. While being a sixth-year player is a negative in some ways, that amount of experience is also valuable.

The Chiefs have built one of the stronger interior lines in the entire NFL, so Nourzad may not see the field much aside from injuries. They do have decisions to make, with Creed Humphrey and Trey Smith both up for new contracts next offseason. I expect at least one of them to be extended, but the Chiefs have already had to make tough decisions.

If one of them does end up moving on, Nourzad will have the opportunity to compete for that opening in 2025. There’s no guarantee he will be viewed as an option as just a fifth-round pick, but I think he has the talent needed to make it happen. Worst-case scenario, he gets to be a solid backup and perhaps get some rings with the Chiefs dynasty being far from over.

2024 NFL draft: Chiefs take Penn State OL Hunter Nourzad with pick No. 159

With pick No. 159 in the 2024 NFL draft, the Kansas City #Chiefs selected Penn State center Hunter Nourzad

The Kansas City Chiefs finally addressed their defense with the No. 159 selection in the 2024 NFL draft, picking up Penn State center Hunter Nourzad.

The importance of depth can never be underestimated as the Chiefs continue to fortify their offensive line. Nourzad is listed as a center but has experience playing anywhere on the interior offensive line, creating needed flexibility and relief for Pro Bowl starter Creed Humphrey.

Nourzad began his collegiate career in 2018 at Cornell University. He was the Ivy League Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2021 and transferred to Penn State the following year. In 2023, he switched to center and was selected as a second-team All-Big Ten selection.

This pick should prove to be a good one for the Chiefs as Kansas City looks to ensure that its front-five is equipped to protect Patrick Mahomes for years to come.

General manager Brett Veach has preached flexibility on the offensive line, and he is getting that with Nourzad, who has proven to be a plug-and-play offensive lineman wherever needed.

Hunter Nourzad drafted by Chiefs in 5th round of NFL draft

Hunter Nourzad is Penn State’s third offensive lineman drafted in the 2024 NFL draft.

Penn State is sending another offensive lineman off to the NFL by way of the NFL draft. On Day 3 of the 2024 NFL draft, the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs selected center Hunter Nourzad with the 24th pick of the fifth round (159th overall).

Nourzad transferred to Penn State following a standout stint with Cornell. Nourzad joined Penn State in 2022 to provide some stability in the middle of the offensive line, which was flanked on the outside by two other draft picks in the 2024 NFL draft (Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace). The Georgia native earned second-team All-Big Ten honors in 2023 and was the Ivy League’s offensive lineman of the year in 2021.

Nourzad was the sixth Penn State players selected in the 2024 NFL draft. In addition to Fashanu and Wallace before him, Penn State also saw defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac were also selected.

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.

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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.

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Where PFF ranks Penn State’s top 2024 NFL draft prospects

How does PFF rank Penn State’s draft prospects just before the 2024 NFL draft?

The 2024 NFL draft is approaching and the final player rankings are rolling out before the first round gets underway. Pro Football Focus unveiled its final big board for the 2024 NFL draft, and a couple of Penn State players

Offensive tackle [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag] remains Penn State’s top draft prospect, and PFF has him ranked in the top 20 overall. Fashanu is ranked no. 17 in the PFF player rankings, but he is not the top offensive tackle on the board according to the rankings. Fashanu is the fourth offensive tackle on PFF’s big board.

Notre Dame’s Joe Alt (no. 5 overall), Oregon State’s Taliese Guaga, and Washington’s Troy Fautanu (no. 15) are all ranked ahead of Fashanu at the position. Fashanu was once considered a near-lock to be the top offensive tackle taken in the 2024 NFL draft, but the PFF big board suggests a few players at the same position will have a shot to go ahead of him. But, it is likely PFF still considers Fashanu a first-round talent with a top-20 player ranking. Of course, that all depends on how many teams need an offensive tackle in the first round. Fortunately, offensive tackle is a pretty important position.

Penn State edge rushers [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag] (no. 38) and [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag] (no. 40) are the next highest-ranked Penn State players on the big board according to PFF. Isaac appears to be trending in a positive direction according to PFF following his results and performance this offseason, while Robinson’s stock may have dipped a slight bit. PFF did give Robinson a higher regular season grade in its evaluation than Issac received.

Center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] received the no. 111 ranking from the PFF big board, making him a potentially draftable asset. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] is ranked no. 135. Offensive tackle [autotag]Caedan Wallace[/autotag] come sin at no. 142 overall.

[autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], once viewed by draft analysts as a potential first-round pick and arguably the top cornerback in the draft pool, has seen the biggest slide in his overall draft stock. PFF currently ranks King at no. 177 overall, a far cry from his previous draft outlook. [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] makes an appearance at no. 192. Linebacker [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag] is ranked no. 207, and could be a potential bargain at that ranking for some NFL team. Speedy cornerback [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] is ranked no. 251 on the PFF big board.

See the full PFF big board to see how the draft pros[ects stack up before the 2024 NFL draft.

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Best photos of Penn State offensive lineman Hunter Nourzad, a 2024 NFL draft prospect

Check out some of the best photos of Penn State center Hunter Nourzad, who is a potential NFL draft pick in 2024.

When Penn State needed a veteran presence to throw into the middle of the offensive line two seasons ago, they landed one of the top options in the transfer portal from the Ivy League, of all places. Penn State secured a commitment from [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] over offers from a handful of power conference programs, including Auburn. The Georga native quickly found his role in the trenches but battled a couple of injury concerns along the way at times.

There is a place for a player like Nourzad in the NFL. His invitation to the NFL draft proves he is on the radar for a possible draft selection, even if it comes in the later rounds. He could be one of three Penn State offensive linemen drafted this year if all goes according to plan.

Here are some of the best photos of Hunter Nourzad, who looks to join a  couple of his offensive line teammates (Olu Fashanu and Caedan Wallace)in the NFL draft this spring.

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Hunter Nourzad

Could Penn State center Hunter Nourzad be a prospect on the rise ahead of the NFL draft?

Every year, there are players who start the NFL draft season flying completely under the media’s radar. Sometimes it’s because they play at a small school, other times it’s because they don’t play a premium position. It can even be due to a late breakout season that gets overlooked.

For Penn State center [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag], he falls into a combination of categories. He started his college career at Cornell of all places, playing mostly left and right tackle before transferring to Penn State. He transitioned to an interior lineman, playing over 1,000 snaps at guard and center combined.

Even after playing very well for a major program for two seasons, he was nowhere to be found on most prospect lists and big boards following the 2023 season. An invite to the East West Shrine Bowl helped put him on the map, and he played well enough there to earn an NFL combine invite.

He didn’t test there or at his pro day due to a leg injury, but just being at the combine seems to have given him a boost in the eyes of the media.

 

He has finally started showing up in mock drafts as well over the last month or so, with a meteoric rise in ranking according to NFL Mock Draft Database. Draft analysts may have been slow to notice him, but there is plenty to like. His weight and length are well above average for the center position, and that size gives him guard versatility at the next level.

Position flexibility for a later-round lineman often gives them an edge over players in the same range. Teams who need depth at multiple spots are more likely to want Nourzad over a pure guard/center. The question now is high he could end up being selected. The center class is quite impressive this year, but he should be firmly in the tier below the top guys.

I think he will ultimately be an early day-3 pick, very impressive for the former Ivy League player.

Stock: Up