Tag: Johnny Dixon

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 NFL draft prospect Johnny Dixon

We collected some of the best photos of Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon before he heads off to the NFL draft.

Penn State has had an extremely talented secondary over the past half-decade, with players like Chicago Bears safety Jaquan Brisker, San Francisco 49ers safety Ji’Ayir Brown, and Pittsburgh Steelers corner Joey Porter Jr. all making immediate impacts at the next level. They may not have any prospects on the level of those guys this year, but corner [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] has the potential to be a late-round steal.

Dixon has had an unfortunate draft season, failing to stand out at the Senior Bowl before sustaining an injury that kept him out of the NFL combine and Penn State’s pro day. Even without the chance to work out in front of teams, his athleticism was evident on tape. He also brings special teams experience with nearly 400 career snaps in college on multiple special teams units.

Here are the best photos of Dixon during his career as a Nittany Lion.

Penn State NFL draft prospect stock watch: Johnny Dixon

Let’s take a look at where the NFL draft stock sits for Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon.

The NFL draft for many college prospects is often about timing, not just their play on the field. There are countless examples of a player who breaks out in their final season and gets over-drafted, or players having a disappointing final season and falling too far for how talented they are. NFL teams are prone to recency bias just as much as fans and media are at times.

Penn State’s [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] seems to be a case of falling victim to bad timing. He had some hype building as the Senior Bowl approached, but he had mediocre practice film before being knocked out by an injury. He has been out ever since, unable to work out at both the combine and Penn State’s pro day.

You would hope that his injury isn’t being held against him, but it’s really easy for a late-round pick to get lost in the shuffle if he can’t compete against his peers. Not having testing numbers is also a disappointment, but he did show off his speed in his limited time at the Senior Bowl.

 

The bottom line for Dixon is that he is at risk of getting forgotten in a deep and talented defensive back group this year. Based on the data from NFL Mock Draft Database, many draft analysts already are sliding him down their rankings. Maybe NFL teams are higher on him than the media is, or at the very least haven’t soured on him just because of his injury.

Regardless, Dixon will need to be prepared to make a team as a later pick. That means being a good special teamer and being able to quickly pick up whatever defense he is drafted into. Being willing to move to the slot may also help him with his lack of size. He didn’t play there much in college but I believe he can make it work.

Dixon may end up as an afterthought in the 2024 draft due to his injury, but he should still be selected at some point on day 3. It will be on him from there to make teams regret allowing him to fall.

Stock: Down

2024 NFL combine: Tracking the results of Penn State’s prospects

We are keeping tabs on all of the NFL combine results of Penn State players in Indianapolis.

Penn State sent 10 players to this year’s NFL combine in Indianapolis and it did not take long to leave a mark on the NFL scouting world. Defensive end Chop Robinson set the combine on fire with his 40-yard dash time as he looked to improve his outlook for a potential first-round draft pick. So the first day of the combine was quite electric for Penn State football going to the next level.

Olu Fashanu is Penn State’s top draft prospect in the 2024 NFL draft. Adisa Isaac and Curtis Jacobs were among the players looking to follow up strong showings in the college football all-star games after the season. Meanwhile, Kalen King was a player looking to redeem his draft profile a bit after a shaky finish to the season and all-star game performance.

Here is a quick rundown of how every Penn State player at the NFL combine measured up and performed.

How to watch the NFL combine: Friday, March 1

After a great day at the combine by former Penn State players, Friday is shaping up to be a massive day as well.

After a big day at the NFL combine by former Penn State players [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag], [autotag]Adisa Isaac[/autotag], and [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag], the fun continues on Friday as the NFL combine sees the defensive backs and tight ends hit the field for combine drills. And once again, it should be a busy day for Penn State Nittany Lions at the combine.

Penn State will have four more players getting on the combine field today with cornerbacks [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag], and [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] competing against the nation’s top defensive backs for the best 40-yard dash times and more. Tight end [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag] will also be on the field looking to improve his draft outlook. Yesterday’s defensive ends and linebackers will complete their workouts as well with the bench press, should they choose to participate.

Here is everything you need to know about the NFL combine for today and what to watch from the former Penn State players in attendance for the day’s workouts.

NFL player comparison for Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon

Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon seems pretty similar to this current NFL cornerback.

Penn State has had a recent run of putting defensive backs in the NFL over the last five seasons, and the 2024 NFL draft will be no different. Cornerback [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag] is expected to be a relatively high pick despite a rough final season in Happy Valley, but another defensive back could be taken as early as late day 2. [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] has turned himself into a legit corner prospect after transferring from South Carolina in 2021. He finished his Penn State career with three interceptions and ten pass breakups, showing solid ball skills for a player who thrives at the line of scrimmage.

He does have his limitations, particularly his tackling (25.8% missed tackle rate according to PFF) and his arm length coming in under 30 inches at the Senior Bowl. For a corner that is known as a physical, press-man style player, that length could be a factor in determining his value.

A player that has struggled as of late in the NFL and has a similar profile to Dixon is Tennesee Titans corner Kristian Fulton. Fulton was billed as a physical, press corner coming out of LSU but measured just barely over 30 inches for his arm length. He, like Dixon, is a great athlete with quickness and long speed that helps him stay with receivers down the field.

Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Where Fulton has struggled so far in his career is his tackling and ability to manipulate receivers at the line of scrimmage. He too often loses leverage and it allows his opponents to create too much separation at the top of routes. His 2023 season was remarkably poor, allowing over 70% of passes to be completed in his direction and three touchdowns.

Dixon himself had a down year in 2023 after a very strong 2022, allowing 21 receptions on 31 targets as opposed to 14 on 35 in 2022. He also went from breaking up/intercepting nine passes in 2022 to just two in 2023. His athletic tools will still make him an early day 3 pick, but his profile certainly has concerns.

Penn State transfer cornerback already showcasing talent

A.J. Harris is making a great first impression at Penn State after transferring from Georgia.

Penn State got one of the biggest wins for the program when they landed Georgia cornerback transfer [autotag]A.J. Harris[/autotag].

With the Nittany Lions needing to replace their top three corners in [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag], [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag] and [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag] who declared for the NFL draft, landing the former five-star high school recruit was important.

Harris primarily was in a reserve role with the Bulldogs, but did account for eight tackles last season while appearing in seven games.

While his tenure with Georgia might not have gone as expected, the 6’1″ corner was seen as an elite talent while playing high school football in Alabama.

247Sports had him rated as the second-best cornerback in the country and No. 27 overall player in the class of 2023.

Now, he’ll be bringing that talent to Happy Valley with three more years of eligibility.

During winter workouts, it seems like Harris has impressed his new coaching staff as he was recognized by cornerbacks coach, Terry Smith, as being one of top competitors.

Competition is huge in a [autotag]James Franklin[/autotag] program and getting someone from outside their original recruiting sphere who comes in and quickly acclimates to the culture is a major positive step this early on.

Harris will likely have a big role for the Nittany Lions as they try to replace all the talent that has departed the secondary room.

If he’s able to tap into the talent profile that he has and put it all together on the field, then Penn State was able to get one of the best prospects in the country onto their roster for multiple years.

Here are all 10 of Penn State’s 2024 NFL combine invitees

Here is a quick look at each of the 10 Penn State football players invited to this year’s NFL combine.

Penn State players have developed a strong reputation for showing up strong at the NFL combine and at the school’s annual pro day event. This year will see 10 Penn State players head to Indianapolis for the NFL’s most important exhibition of skill before the draft this spring.

Among those invited to the combine this year from Penn State include offensive tackle Olu Fashanu and defensive end Chop Robinson. Both players are considered first-round talents, with Fashanu projected by some to go within the first 10 picks of the draft. Robinson is expected to be a later first-round draft pick, but a strong showing at the combine could help solidify his first-round projections.

The combine will be a big opportunity for a couple of players to follow up strong showings in the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl in January, and for a few others to redeem themselves a bit after not having those all-star events go according to plan.

The 2024 NFL combine will be held from Monday, February 26 through Monday, March 4 in Indianapolis. Here is a look at each of the 10 Pen State players invited to the NFL combine this year.

10 Nittany Lions invited to 2024 NFL combine in Indianapolis

These 10 Penn State players will look to turn heads at the NFL combine in Indianapolis.

The NFL season only ended a few days ago, but the football calendar never stops turning. On Tuesday morning, the league announced the 321 college prospects attending this year’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, which will begin later this month.

Penn State has 12 draft-eligible players, and Nittany Lions will be well represented in Indianapolis, with 10 of them receiving an invite to the combine, led by projected first-round picks tackle [autotag]Olumuyiwa Fashanu[/autotag] and defensive end [autotag]Chop Robinson[/autotag].

The other Nittany Lions who also received an invite are TE [autotag]Theo Johnson[/autotag], C [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag], OT [autotag]Caeden Wallace[/autotag], EDGE [autotag]Adissa Isaac[/autotag], LB [autotag]Curtis Jacobs[/autotag], DB [autotag]Johnny Dixon[/autotag], DB [autotag]Daequan Hardy[/autotag], and DB [autotag]Kalen King[/autotag].

All 10 PSU players will get a chance to meet with teams and show their talents to improve their draft stock before April’s NFL draft. Some players like Adisa Isaac have seen their stock rise since the end of the college football season with a stout performance at the Senior Bowl. Others, like cornerback Kalen King, struggled through the Senior Bowl week, putting more onus on a solid combine performance.

It is worth noting that just because the NFL invited a player to the combine does not necessarily mean they will accept the invite. Several players every year might use the combine to only interview with NFL teams but not do drills. Many also opt out of specific drills and compete at those drills in a more controlled environment at the school’s pro day. Others, although unlikely, may also skip out on all of the combine’s festivities.

The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine will take place from February 26 through March 4 and broadcast on the NFL Network.

As the start of the combine nears, we will have you covered on all Penn State’s invited players.

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