Tag: Juice Scruggs

Veteran lineman pushing for Penn State’s starting center role

Nick Dawkins could be the next big thing for the Penn State offensive line in 2024.

Entering the offseason workout programs, Penn State will be searching to find a starting center replacement for the second year in a row.

After [autotag]Juice Scruggs[/autotag] went to the NFL, [autotag]Hunter Nourzad[/autotag] stepped into that role last season.

With Nourzad graduated, it seems like another veteran on the offensive line unit is looking to step up and take over the starting center job.

According to just about every teammate that talked to Tyler Donohue of 247Sports, everyone can agree that [autotag]Nick Dawkins[/autotag] is a hard worker and great leader (subscription required).

He was once being considered for a team captain role despite being a backup on the offensive line.

Now, it seems like he’s ready to finally get the starting reps throughout an entire season that’s he worked for. This will be his fifth year within the program and he’s yet to record a start.

That hasn’t stopped him from being a tireless worker and leader behind the scenes.

Offensive line coach [autotag]Phil Trautwein[/autotag] told Donohue that when Dawkins talks, everyone listens. All-American tackle, [autotag]Olu Fashanu[/autotag], says the veteran lineman is one of the hardest-working people he knows and puts a ton of time into getting better at his craft.

Dawkins will have a chance to earn it.

He has gotten game reps at center even if it hasn’t been as a starter.

This should give him the edge over his internal candidates that are likely a much more raw product based on lack of experience at the position.

Dawkins got off to a good start during winter workouts, being recognized by Trautwein as one of their “competitors of the day.”

It will be up to the fifth-year senior to determine if he can finally take control of that position this offseason and go into 2024-25 as the firm starter.

Former Nittany Lions Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’Ayir Brown named to PFWA 2023 All-Rookie Team

Pro football writers honor former Penn State defensive back duo on 2023 All-Rookie team.

It did not take long for two key members from the 2022 Penn State defense to leave their respective marks on the NFL. [autotag]Joey Porter Jr.[/autotag] and [autotag]Ji’Ayir Brown[/autotag], former defensive backfield teammates for the Nittany Lions, each landed on the 2023 All-Rookie Team from the Pro Football Writers of America on Tuesday.

Although Porter Jr. was the no. 32 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, he was actually the first pick in the second round of the draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Porter Jr. and he quickly immersed himself in a key role in the defense/ The three-time All-Big Ten player played four seasons at Penn State and left a year early to follow in his father’s footsteps at the next level. In his first NFL season, Porter had 43 tackles with 10 pass deflections and 1 interception.

Brown was a third-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2023 NFL draft. Brown was a JUCO transfer addition for Penn State in 2020 from Lackawanna College, and he wasted little time becoming one of the top playmaking safeties in the Big Ten. In his first year as a starter in 2021, playing alongside Jaquan Brisker, Brown had six interceptions and went on to be named the defensive MVP of the 2023 Rose Bowl in his final game in a Penn State uniform. Brown had 35 tackles with 4 pass deflections and 2 interceptions in his rookie season for the 49ers.

Brown has a chance to play in the Super Bowl a year after helping Penn State win the Rose Bowl. Brown and the 49ers host the Detroit Lions in this weekend’s NFC Championship Game.

Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud (Houston Texans) was named the PFWA Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Rookie of the Year. Former Alabama linebacker Will Anderson Jr. (Houston Texans) was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year. The Texans also drafted former Penn State offensive lineman [autotag]Juice Scruggs[/autotag], who has been a key part of the offensive line for the Texans this season as well.

You can see the full PFWA 2023 All-Rookie Team here.

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AFC Divisional Round picks: Who the experts are taking in Ravens vs. Texans

The NFL experts have made their picks, and the Baltimore Ravens are favored to defeat the Houston Texans in the AFC Divisional Round

We’re a little over 30 hours away from the Ravens (13-4) and Texans (11-7) kicking off the AFC divisional round of the playoffs on ESPN.

Houston advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff win earned the Texans a rematch against the Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

With kickoff fast approaching, here’s the NFL expert picks.

Ravens divisional round preview: 10 things to know about the Houston Texans

We’re looking at ten things to know about the Houston Texans ahead of their AFC Divisional Round matchup against the Baltimore Ravens

The Texans advanced to the Divisional round of the NFL playoffs for the fifth time in franchise history with a 45-14 win over the Browns in Super Wild Card Weekend.

The playoff success earned Houston a rematch against the Baltimore Ravens, and they’ll return to M&T Bank Stadium hoping to avenge a 25-9 loss in Week 1.

The Texans are a different team since that humble welcome to the NFL moment for C.J. Stroud, and all the former Ohio State star has done is shatter records and lead his team to the postseason as a rookie.

With final preparations for Saturday’s kickoff underway, we’re looking at ten things about the Houston Texans.

Ravens will face Texans in divisional round of AFC playoffs

The Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans will face off in the divisional round of the playoffs in a rematch of a Week 1 meeting

The Ravens are back from their first-round bye, and they know their opponent after the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 31-17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

Thanks to the dominant play of Josh Allen, Baltimore will host the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium in a rematch of a 25-9 season-opening win.

In that game, rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud completed 28 of 44 passing attempts for 242 yards in his NFL regular-season debut but didn’t lead any touchdown-scoring drives.

Odell Beckham had two catches for 38 yards as he deferred to the rookie Zay Flowers in his debut.

Playing in his first game after a ten-month absence, Lamar Jackson was 17-22 passing for 169 yards and one interception while finishing with a 79.5 rating.

Jackson looked rusty at times but was efficient, had 38 yards rushing, and avoided nasty hits.

This is a different Houston team, and the Texans are flying high after dismantling the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round opener.

Every Penn State player in the NFL playoffs in 2024

Here is every former Penn State football player on an NFL playoff team’s roster in 2024.

Another NFL postseason is set to get underway, and there is a good chance at least one team playing in the Super Bowl will have a Penn State player on the roster. All but two teams in this year’s NFL playoffs have at least one Penn State player on the roster this year. The top seeds in each conference have multiple Penn State players on the roster, seemingly making it more likely Penn State will see a former player earn a Super Bowl ring.

In all, a total of 64 Super Bowl rings have been won by a former Penn State player. Last year’s Super Bowl had just one former Penn State player on the field, but Miles Sanders and the Philadelphia Eagles came up short of winning the big game. There is an excellent chance there will be more than one former Nittany Lion competing in the Super Bowl this postseason.

The Los Angeles Rams and Cleveland Browns are the only two teams in the NFL postseason without a Penn State player on the roster. Here is a look at every Penn State player on an NFL playoff team’s roster this postseason.

Texans activate C-G Juice Scruggs to active roster

The Houston Texans have activated second-round guard-center Juice Scruggs.

The Houston Texans will take a look at what another rookie can do for their offensive line.

The Texans announced Saturday they have activated center-guard Juice Scruggs from injured reserve and will make him available for Sunday’s Week 12 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at 12:00 p.m. Central Time at NRG Stadium.

Scruggs had been on injured reserve with a hamstring injury to start the season. Houston relied on sixth-rounder Jarrett Patterson for the first six games and veteran Michael Deiter for the past four.

The Texans also used their two standard elevations on cornerback Desmond King and receiver Steven Sims.

Houston also waived linebacker Garret Wallow from the practice squad.

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Texans’ Juice Scruggs, Kenyon Green provided cleaner pocket for C.J. Stroud

Houston Texans rookie linemen Juice Scruggs and Kenyon Green provided C.J. Stroud with a cleaner pocket against the Miami Dolphins.

HOUSTON — Protecting rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud is the main priority in 2023. The Houston Texans project their No. 2 overall pick to be the franchise’s future, but they will need help from the offensive line.

In the 20-9 win over the New England Patriots in the first preseason game, most of the chaos began along the interior with rookie center Juice Scruggs and second-year left guard Kenyon Green. New England pressured Stroud on five of his seven dropbacks.

After an intense film session with offensive line coach Chris Strausser, Scruggs and Green recognized their mistakes during joint practices with the Miami Dolphins and corrected some of their downfalls.

On Saturday, the results differed as the two linemen helped provide a clean pocket and throwing lanes for Stroud in the 28-3 loss. Stroud was never under heavy pressure nor sacked during his four drives in the first half.

“Overall, everyone can see the offensive line protected much better this week,” said Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans in his postgame press conference. “It was good to see. That’s what we need from our [offensive line], [to] challenge them. In last night’s meeting, challenge them before the game. Making sure that we have protection, have the quarterback have a good pocket to throw in, and that’s what they did today. I’m proud of what they did, and overall that group is continuing to grow.

“We’ve got young players in there with Kenyon and Juice. Those guys are continuing to get better, and it takes reps. So, it’s good to see these guys get these valuable reps in the preseason where they can go out and put good things on tape. If there’s something bad, they can see where they need to improve and correct it. So, I’m proud of the [offensive line].”

Texans right guard Shaq Mason liked what he saw his rookie quarterback against the Dolphins and believes that he can take significant strides this season.

“I saw him have a lot of control in the huddle,” Mason told the Texans Wire after the game. “He was poised and patient. He led us in the short amount of time he was in there, and he did what we expected of him. Of course, there are things we can all fix and clean up, but I think he did a good job of commanding and controlling the huddle. In only his second NFL game, that is big for him.”

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Texans encouraged with C Juice Scruggs’ development

Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans says he likes the progress he has seen from rookie center Juice Scruggs.

Offensive linemen tend to be overlooked, particularly along the interior. Only those who study the film — coaches and scouts — truly appreciate the work from an interior offensive lineman.

Count Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans among the small number that has appreciation for guard and center play in the NFL. After former starting center Scott Quessenberry went down in early August with a torn ACL and MCL, the interior has been a problematic area for the Texans. However, there may be help from within.

Second-round center Juice Scruggs filled the void, and according to Ryans, who met with reporters Monday, the Penn State product is establishing himself as a starter in his own right.

“I thought Juice did a really nice job of communicating, first and foremost,” Ryans said. “At that center position, we ask a lot of him in communicating, and you see a young guy as a rookie in him handle the communication that he has to handle up front. It’s very impressive with how far along he is to be such a young player, so very encouraged with where Juice is and knowing how much better he’s going to be as he continues to get reps and continues to play with the same guys around him. So, it’s impressive to see.”

Scruggs remains atop the depth chart as the Texans gear up for their preseason finale against the New Orleans Saints. Aug. 20 at the Caesars Superdome. Michael Deiter and Jimmy Morrissey are reserves behind Scruggs.

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Texans’ Juice Scruggs embraced ‘next man up’ mindset following Scott Quessenberry injury

Houston Texans rookie Juice Scruggs took to the “next man up” philosophy after Scott Quessenberry sustained his knee injury.

The first hit the Houston Texans took to their frontline starters across the offensive line was center Scott Quessenberry.

The incumbent, who had started 16 games for Houston last season, sustained a torn ACL and MCL, relegating his year finished before it could even start.

Second-rounder Juice Scruggs had been with the Texans since May’s rookie minicamp, but still enough time to hate the circumstances for his teammate.

“Yeah, definitely very unfortunate, especially ‘Ques’ [Quessenberry],” Scruggs told reporters Aug. 14. “He’s worked very hard and he’s been a great mentor for me. Definitely took me under his wing, helping teach me the offense.”

With Quessenberry having shown Scruggs some of the nuances of playing center in the NFL, the Penn State product sought to apply them immediately to fill a hole at center.

“That’s exactly what went to my head, ‘next man up,’ and I’ve just been preparing like I’m going to be the starter anyways,” Scruggs said. “So, when that happened, all that preparation — it allowed me to go out there and just be comfortable.”

Scruggs played 12 snaps for Houston in their 20-9 preseason victory over the New England Patriots Aug. 10. Though limited on playing time, Scruggs was the starter along with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud.

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