3 Penn State players to keep an eye on in the 2022 NFL Draft
Penn State may not have had the year they wanted in the B1G, but have plenty of NFL talent. The 2022 NFL Draft could see several of them in the top-150.
While Penn State may not have their usual first-round talent in the 2022 NFL Draft, there are several players who should hear their names called in the top-150.
In a year when we saw the B1G blow up, and try to challenge the SEC for supremacy, Penn State got stepped on by their own division. They were a good team, just not better than the three ahead of them. When you take into account Michigan could have the first pick, Ohio State might have two WR in the first round, and Michigan State had the best running back in college, it’s hard not to fault Penn State for their sub-par record.
We will see several familiar positions come out of Penn State in WR and EDGE. Which were part of why they even got to 7-6. After a hot start going 5-0, they ran into a tough Iowa team losing by just three. Following that they lost by two to Illinois, four to Michigan, and three to Michigan state. This 7-6 team could have just as easily been an 11-2 team.
Penn State was seventh in the conference for yards per game, fourth in passing yards per game, 12th in rushing yards per game, and ninth in points per game.
There is plenty of time for the following players to fly up the draft boards, and maybe carve out a spot in the first round again. So don’t worry Penn state fans all is not lost, as you look for your players to flourish at the next level. All in all, we could see as many as eight Penn State players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Penn State players to watch during NFL Draft:
As we look at the following three players all of them have a chance to move up the draft in a big way. Dotson and Ebiketie could challenge for a top-45 pick. If they can have good combine and pro-days we may see one of them slip into the first round.
The downside is both classes are quite deep and at the top-end of the WR chart we have some serious talent. After seeing what Justin Jefferson and Ja`Marr Chase can do in year one, we might start seeing more WRs come into the first round.
Jahan Dotson, WR
2021 stats- he played in 12 games and hauled in 91 catches, for 1,182 yards and 12 touchdowns. While having six rushes for 18 yards and one touchdown.
2020 stats- he played In nine games hauling in 54 catches for 884 yards and eight touchdowns.
Dotson is going to be another one of those super slot guys. He can do well in the slot or at WR2, I don’t see him taking over a WR1-type role with his current projected size, but that could change when we start nailing down true measurables. He has great hands and a smooth route tree, could be a steal for someone if he slips late second round.
Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE
2021 stats- played in 12 games getting 62 total tackles, 18 tackles for loss, and 9.5 sacks.
2020 stats- was at Temple, but played in six games 42 tackles, four sacks, and 8.5 tackles for loss
Ebiketie looks to follow in the footsteps of Parsons and Oweh who came out last year and made noise in the NFL. Where he will play at the next level could be a bit of a question mark, as of right now he looks to be 6-foot-3 and 253 pounds.
This could allow some flex for him at 3-4 OLB, or 4-3 defensive end if he gets a bit bigger. He could be an inside backer, but with his speed and ability to get to the QB I would look for him to stay somewhere on the edges.
Jaquan Brisker, S
2021 stats- played in 12 games with 63 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five pass deflections, and two interceptions.
2020 stats- played in nine games getting 57 tackles, three tackles for loss, one interception, and five pass deflections.
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Brisker is more of what the NFL is looking for in a defensive back nowadays. He’s over 6-foot-0 and crosses the 200lb mark. I would look for him to stick at the safety position rather than move down to corner unless he ends up in a Dan Quinn type system who values tall lanky corners to match up with some of the beasts currently playing WR in the NFL. However, should he drop a wild 40-yard time and verticle at the draft, his possibility of playing corner could be much higher than that of safety.