Tag: Penn State Nittany Lions

Check out Graham Barton’s chances to be one of the first names off the board, per DraftKings

Graham Barton seems like a surefire first-round pick, but does DraftKings think he has a chance to be one of the top 10 picks?

Former Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton seems like a lock for one of the first 32 spots in next week’s NFL draft, but how high can the Blue Devil go?

According to the DraftKings Sportsbook, Barton shouldn’t hold his breath for the first 10 picks, but the odds don’t rule out the idea that he could go early.

The four-year starter and two-time First-Team All-ACC nominee played offensive tackle for the past three seasons, but this upcoming draft features one of the deepest tackle classes in memory. With names like Joe Alt of Notre Dame, Olu Fashanu from Penn State, and JC Latham from Alabama, experts are routinely predicting six or more tackle prospects to get picked on opening night.

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Despite Barton’s experience on the perimeter, he’s expected to move to guard or center in the NFL where his smaller frame (315 pounds) won’t be as vulnerable. The move also makes him one of the best prospects available as he recorded one of the highest relative athletic scores of any guard prospect ever during testing, moving him way up the board.

DraftKings has position props on which players will be the first offensive linemen selected. Alt, Fashanu, Latham, and Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga are the heaviest favorites, but Barton’s not entirely off the list. The former Blue Devil also has an outside chance at a top-10 selection, currently sporting +3000 odds.

Here’s the full list of Barton’s available prop bets with more than a week left until NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell takes the stage.

Prop Odds
Will Graham Barton be a first-round pick? -2000
Will Graham Barton be a top-10 pick? +3000
Will Graham Barton be the third OL drafted? +10000
Will Graham Barton be the second OL drafted? +10000
Will Graham Barton be the first OL drafted? +12000
Will Graham Barton be the first non-QB selected? +20000

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Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire

6 standout performers from NFL Scouting Combine DL, EDGE and LB drills

Day 1 of the NFL Scouting Combine had the defensive line, edge rushers and linebackers working out. These 6 players stood out in a big way.

When the 200+ NFL Draft prospects get their invites for the NFL Scouting Combine, they know the opportunity that lies ahead. They have the chance to showcase their athleticism and football IQ in front of all 32 teams.

The best part of the combine is seeing the prospects that use this opportunity to boost their draft stocks and earn some money on draft day.

On Thursday, the defensive linemen and the linebackers took center stage in Indianapolis and put on a show for the coaches and scouts in attendance. Some players separated themselves from the rest of the pack with their testing results. We give them their flowers in this exercise.

Sooners are latest school to offer 2025 CB Graceson Littleton

Recruiting profile for 2025 three-star CB Graceson Littleton.

Recruiting Florida is nothing new for Oklahoma. It has been recruiting the Sunshine State regularly for a while. It has been successful in bringing in multiple contributors and starters from the state. In recent years, Florida has treated the Sooners well.

One area of Florida that has been very generous to the Sooners is the Tampa area. Oklahoma landed commits from that area in its last two recruiting classes. Is it potentially looking for a third commit in as many classes? Its latest scholarship offer went to Graceson Littleton. Littleton is a 2025 cornerback prospect at Wharton High School in Tampa.

247Sports has him listed as a three-star on its rankings. He’s not rated on any of the other sites. He has excellent foot speed and is listed at 6 feet.

Graceson Littleton’s Recruiting Profile

HUDL

Fans are roasting Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins for his late-game miscues against Penn State

Coleman Hawkins might not want to open social media for a few days.

The Penn State men’s basketball team unraveled No. 12 ranked Illinois on Wednesday, and hoops fans couldn’t wait to troll senior forward Coleman Hawkins. Hawkins had multiple late-game blunders that helped secure Penn State’s staggering upset win.

Here’s a word to the wise: the internet is forever. When you put something into the universe, you better believe fans will not forget it, including when a game is on the line. Illinois forward Coleman Hawkins wore a Maryland shirt after beating the Terps on February 17 and flipped them a NSFW gesture. However, he could have used some of that boldness on Wednesday night because it might have changed the outcome of Illinois’ matchup with Penn State.

As the game was winding down, Hawkins missed two free throws he absolutely needed to sink, and a short time later, he fouled Penn State’s Zack Hicks on a 3-point shot. Hicks subsequently nailed three free throws to ice the game and secure a colossal Penn State win. (By the way, the win probability for Illinois was 96.5 percent before this sequence.)

Hoops fans remembered Coleman’s trolling of Maryland and roasted him immediately. Here’s what they said:

(Warning: NSFW language.)

Which current and former Ohio State football transfers have something to prove in 2024?

It will be interesting to see which current and former Buckeye transfer will excel. #GoBucks

We are firmly in the era of the transfer portal, and Ohio State football has seen some player go and some get welcomed into the program.

There is no doubt that during the winter transfer window, the Buckeyes gained some high-impact transfers from across the country. The big additions included former Alabama safety Caleb Downs and quarterback Julian Sayin, Ole Miss running back Quinshon Judkins and Kansas State quarterback Will Howard.

As the dust has settled, Brad Crawford of 247Sports looked at which transfers have the most to prove this season. Check out below which current and former Buckeyes made his list.

Vikings 2024 NFL draft scouting report: Penn State EDGE Adisa Isaac

Penn State had two really talented edge rushers with one of them being Adisa Isaac. What do his 2024 NFL Draft prospects look like?

Welcome to SKOL Search!

This series will be your guide to the 2024 draft class. From scouting reports to mock drafts and exploring different scenarios, we will be covering the NFL draft and the future of the Minnesota Vikings from all angles.

The focus of the draft class in this space will be on the Vikings’ major needs at quarterback, running back, defensive line and edge rusher. We will also focus on wide receiver since it’s a loaded class and an increased chance to get a Stefon Diggs-type steal in the later rounds.

The Vikings are slated to have 9 picks going into the NFL draft and they need to make the most out of them.

Early Big Ten football power rankings reveal: Can Penn State get over the hump?

Penn State has enough talent to compete for the top spot in the Big Ten. Could they get over the hump in 2024?

It’s never too early for a “way too early” Big Ten power ranking! Things will change. Players will hurt the portal, players will transfer in, injuries will happen but for the most part, we have a pretty good understanding of rosters after National Signing Day and so much transfer portal movement.

In each part of this series, we will unveil where each of the 18 teams in the new look conference begin. We started at No. 1 with the revamped Ohio State Buckeyes. Then, the Oregon Ducks come in at the second spot. Coming in at No. 3 are the defending National Champion Michigan Wolverines, who are in a bit of a transition period.

At No. 4, we unveil the Penn State Nittany Lions, who are returning a lot of talent from their 2023 roster.

Talent has not been an issue under James Franklin. The same will be said in 2024, when they bring back several big time players with NFL futures. It starts with junior quarterback Drew Allar, who was up and down in his first year as a starter but has massive tools to work with. Allar can lean on a dynamic running back duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, which is one of the best duos in all of college football.

On defense, they will be led by junior defenders Abdul Carter and Dani Dennis-Sutton. Both players are still developing but have massive upside. With Carter moving to defensive end full time, the Nittany Lions have a chance to have one of the more vicious pass rush units in 2024.

Penn State must replace both coordinators but there is an argument that Andy Kotelnicki and Tom Allen could provide an upgrade, especially Kolelnicki on the offensive side of the football. In the end, it’ll come down to whether or not Franklin can elevate as an in game coach.

Full Big Ten Rankings

  1. Ohio State Buckeyes
  2. Oregon Ducks
  3. Michigan Wolverines
  4. Penn State Nittany Lions
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Duke is latest school to offer four-star quarterback prospect Matt Zollers

Duke extends an offer to four-star QB Matt Zollers.

Maalik Murphy is firmly entrenched as Duke’s starting quarterback for this season and likely the next, barring some unforeseen circumstances.

The depth behind Murphy is also solid, with Henry Belin and Grayson Loftis both having earned playing time during the 2023-2024 season due to unfortunate injuries to the guys in front of them.

Duke didn’t sign a single QB prospect for their 2024 class, so finding one for their 2025 class is most important. In an attempt to do that, Duke offered 2025 four-star QB Matt Zollers out of Spring-Ford High School in Pennsylvania.

Zollers stands just under 6-foot-4 and has athleticism in spades. He has played basketball and baseball for high school, and his footwork shows on his HUDL tape. He has the processing speed needed to be a Power Five quarterback.

Zollers’ recruitment has been going for a while, though, and he already has a top four of Georgia, Penn State, Pittsburgh, and Missouri. Duke will have a mountain to overcome, but they have to offer even to have a shot.

Matt Zollers’ Recruiting Profile

 

HUDL

Where Ohio State, other Big Ten teams landed on 247Sports way-too-early top 25

Like most seasons, expectations will be high in Columbus

Now that signing day has come and gone, most of the major transfers have made their decisions, and the coaching carousel has died down, it’s much easier to qualify where top teams like Ohio State stand.

247Sports Brad Crawford along with help from a few of his cohorts, did exactly that, as they have updated their way-too-early top 25 for the 2024 season. Two conferences dominate the group, with nine total schools being selected from the Big Ten and the SEC.

Many of the teams you’d usually expect to see are listed, so find out below where Ohio State and every one of the other Big Ten teams landed on this rankings projection with the previous rankings in parenthesis.

Ohio State wrestling falls to No. 1 Penn State

In case you missed it, it was just too much Penn State. #GoBucks

There was hope for the young Ohio State wrestling team to pull off the shocker, but in the end, there was just too much talent on the mat for No. 1 Penn State in a 28-9 loss for the Buckeyes.

Ohio State got just two of the ten victories in the dual-meet set up, a 12-10 decision at at 141 pounds for Nic Bouzakis, and then a pin for Ryder Rogotzke at 184 pounds. Penn State controlled the rest of the meet and was never really threatened, winning five decisions, getting two major decisions, and one technical fall.

It was the first Big Ten loss for the No. 6 ranked OSU wrestlers and continued quite the run for the Penn State program who is currently on a two-year national title streak and looks like the team to beat again this year.

Ohio State must now pick itself up and get ready to face No. 14 Rutgers in Piscataway, New Jersey on Sunday.

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