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Draft Scout College Football Player News: Penn State

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01/15/23 - Jake Pinegar, rSr/2023, Penn State + More +

Penn State Kicker Jake Pinegar: "The last five years at Penn State have been nothing short of spectacular," he wrote. "Through the highs and the lows, I have learned so much and I wouldn't want my path to be shaped any other way. I would like to thank Coach (James) Franklin and every other coach and mentor at Penn State for their help shaping me into the person I am today. I would also like to thank my family and close friends for the unwavering support throughout my journey. "With that being said, I think it is time for the next chapter in my career. I have decided to chase a childhood dream of mine of playing in the NFL." The senior kicker went 75 percent (12-of-16) on kicks this season, going 5-for-6 from 20-29 yards out, 1-for-3 from 30-39 yards, 4-for-5 from 40-49 yards and went 2-for-2 on kicks from 50 yards. His longest kick of the season was for 50 yards, he went 57-for-59 on extra point attempts and scored 93 points for the Nittany Lions this season. - Centre Times

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K Jake Pinegar, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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01/13/23 - Julian Fleming, rSr/2025, Penn State + More +

Ohio State football coach Ryan Day promoted receivers coach Brian Hartline to offensive coordinator on Friday. The six-year member of the Buckeyes coaching staff replaces Kevin Wilson, who left to become the head coach at Tulsa. The 36-year-old Hartline played at Ohio State and had a seven-year NFL career. He had been promoted to passing game coordinator prior to the 2022 season.

Keenan Bailey, who has been on staff for the past seven years, most recently as a special assistant, was named tight ends coach Friday, a position that Wilson had previously handled. Offensive line coach Justin Frye is getting the responsibility of run game coordinator. Ohio State will have some important spots to fill on the field, primarily at quarterback. Two-year starter C.J. Stroud is expected to enter the NFL draft, although he hasn't yet made a public announcement. Backups Kyle McCord and Devin Brown are expected to compete for the starting quarterback job. - AP College Football

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WR Julian Fleming, Penn State
News Source: AP College Football
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01/13/23 - Keaton Ellis, rSr/2024, Penn State + More +

Penn State's safety room will return a veteran leader in 2023. Keaton Ellis announced his intention to return for a fifth season with the Nittany Lions on Instagram Friday evening. Ellis has played 43 games in his Penn State career and started opposite fellow safety Ji'Ayir Brown in 2022. The State College native will have one more season to suit up for his hometown school and will be a figure of leadership in the Nittany Lions' secondary. - The Daily Collegian

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FS Keaton Ellis, Penn State
News Source: The Daily Collegian
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01/11/23 - Curtis Jacobs, rJr/2024, Penn State + More +

One of Penn State's best defenders will return for the 2023 season. Linebacker Curtis Jacobs announced Tuesday afternoon that he will be staying with the Nittany Lions next season rather than entering the 2023 NFL Draft. He made the announcement via Twitter. Jacobs took another step forward in his third year with the program, tallying 52 tackles, four sacks, an interception and a forced fumble.

He was a playmaker at the second level of the Penn State defense, showing off his ability to make a difference with splash plays throughout the season. The third-year linebacker capped off his season with arguably his best game against the Utah Utes in the Rose Bowl. He finished the game with two sacks and helped put the Utes away on the Nittany Lions' way to a 35-21 victory. With Jacobs returning, the second level of the defense is solidified with him and fellow linebacker Abdul Carter being two of the best players on the defense. - Centre Times

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OLB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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01/11/23 - Adisa Isaac, rSr/2024, Penn State + More +

Sunday was a big news day for Penn State football. While Nittany Lions redshirt senior offensive lineman Bryce Effner announced that he will "step away" from football, Redshirt junior defensive end Adisa Isaac announced he'll return to the program for the 2023 season. Isaac played 13 games in 2022, making 28 total tackles (15 solo), 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. The redshirt junior earned All-Big Ten third team honors from the coaches and an honorable mention by the media. He's played in 27 games for Penn State, making 55 total tackles (24 solo), 15.5 tackles for loss, seven sacks and caused a forced fumble. - Centre Times

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DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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01/02/23 - Sean Clifford, rSr/2023, Penn State + More +

KeAndre Lambert-Smith had the longest touchdown reception in Rose Bowl history on an 88-yard pass from Sean Clifford, freshman Nicholas Singleton broke a tiebreaking 87-yard touchdown run, and No. 9 Penn State rallied past No. 7 Utah 35-21 in the 109th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All on Monday. Clifford passed for 279 yards and two touchdowns in an impressive farewell to Penn State, and Singleton rushed for 120 yards and two more scores on a rainy day filled with spectacular big plays by the Nittany Lions (11-2). Utah couldn't rally with quarterback Cameron Rising sidelined by a second-half injury, and coach James Franklin's exuberant group comfortably won the Rose Bowl for the second time in school history and the first since Jan. 2, 1995. Singleton got the Nittany Lions rolling in a well-played game when he broke through Utah's defensive front and outran the secondary for his second touchdown early in the third quarter. The 87-yard romp was the third-longest TD run in Rose Bowl history and the second-longest in Penn State's bowl history.

Shortly after rain began to fall on the Rose Bowl Game for the first time since 1997, Lambert-Smith got open deep and eluded Utah's defensive backs on the first snap of the fourth quarter for the longest pass completion in Penn State's bowl history. Clifford's pass also broke the Rose Bowl record of 76 yards by Michigan's Rick Leach to Curt Stephenson in 1978 against Washington. Freshman Kaytron Allen added a 1-yard TD run with 10:36 to play, and Penn State's defense got stops on the Utes' first six drives of the second half. The victory was a fitting finale for Clifford, the sixth-year senior who finally added a memorable bowl performance to his slew of Penn State career passing records in his 51st game. Clifford also became the winningest quarterback in school history with his 32nd victory, passing Trace McSorley. Rising passed for 95 yards before apparently injuring his left knee in the third quarter, forcing the Utah quarterback out of his second straight Rose Bowl early due to injury. Bryson Barnes replaced Rising for the second straight year, but the two-time Pac-12 champion Utes (10-4) couldn't rally behind their backup. - Penn State/AP College Football

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QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
News Source: Penn State/AP College Football
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01/01/23 - Curtis Jacobs, rJr/2024, Penn State + More +

Some time after the Rose Bowl ends on Jan. 2, Curtis Jacobs will announce his decision - either he'll return to Penn State next season or he'll enter the 2023 NFL Draft. The decision is one worth pondering for the Penn State linebacker, who has come a long way this season. Jacobs was someone defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said he wanted to see more growth out of during spring practice, and now Diaz - who also coaches the team's linebackers - praised the linebacker for what he proved this season. "It's funny because now we forget, Curtis had never played in the box," Diaz said. "That's a different world. ... So the first question is, can you roll your sleeves up and get down and dirty inside the box. Now we know the answer (is) yes. ... His ability to play SAM and WILL so (Jacobs and Abdul Carter) could be on the field at the same time, that's no easy thing. That shows you what type of football IQ that Curt has."

Jacobs deferred some of the credit for his success this season to Diaz, who joined the staff after the 2021 season. He said the season has gone well for him, and pointed to some of the versatility his coordinator mentioned. He knows the system Diaz utilizes - and the type of mentality he wants his players to have - allowed him to evolve and make much more progress this year as a defender. "It's been amazing," Jacobs said. "It's been a lot more aggressive approach. I feel like I can be a lot more of an aggressive linebacker in this system. And I feel like it's really showed my talent." Part of the growth for Jacobs has been how he's developed off the field. The always jovial linebacker plays the game with joy - previously mentioning that he even laughs after making a big hit - and has now combined that with leadership ability off the field. - Centre Times

rJr/2024

OLB Curtis Jacobs, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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12/29/22 - *Brenton Strange, Jr/2023, Penn State + More +

Two weeks ago, Brenton Strange acknowledged he had a "life-changing decision" on his hands: come back to Penn State for the 2023 season or declare for the NFL draft. "I haven't really made any decisions yet," Strange said at Penn State's Rose Bowl media day at Beaver Stadium. "But I'd expect a decision to come soon." On Tuesday night, the Nittany Lions' standout tight end announced his decision. Strange, who will play in the Rose Bowl, declared for the 2023 NFL draft.

"I couldn't be more thankful to have called State College home for the last four years," Strange wrote in a statement. "Since my arrival in 2019, I have grown tremendously on and off the field. I'm truly blessed to be a part of the Penn State community." Strange is the fifth Penn State player to declare for the NFL draft since the end of the regular season, joining cornerback Joey Porter Jr., wide receiver Parker Washington, center Juice Scruggs and defensive end Nick Tarburton. Strange proved to be one of the most well-rounded tight ends in the Big Ten, recording 32 catches for 362 yards and five touchdowns this year. - Tribune Review

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TE *Brenton Strange, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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12/21/22 - Kalen King, Jr/2024, Penn State + More +

When Penn State and Utah kick off at the Rose Bowl, the Nittany Lions will be without one of the top prospects in the 2023 draft. Joey Porter Jr., a first-team All-Big Ten pick and a projected first-round selection, is sitting out after declaring his NFL intentions. And yet, even with Porter watching, Penn State will still have one of college football's best cornerbacks suited up. Kalen King has been that good.

He might not get the shine that Porter does, but King, a second-team Walter Camp selection, has proven he, too, is one of the top players at his position. "Last year, I finished the season very strong," King said at last week's Rose Bowl media day. "This year was all about putting my name on a national level to where a lot of people around the country know who I am. Even though I'm only a sophomore, I feel like one of the best corners in the country. I wanted to show that this year." King's inner belief is backed up by the numbers. In the regular season, he led the Power 5 and tied for second among FBS players with 18 pass breakups, the most by a Big Ten player since Wisconsin's Nick Nelson had 21 in 2017. - Tribune Review

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CB Kalen King, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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12/20/22 - Riley Thompson, Sr/2025, Penn State + More +

2022 ALL-CONFERENCE USA HONORABLE MENTION: P: Riley Thompson, Florida Atlantic,...Honorable mentions were bestowed to: LaJohntay Wester as both wide receiver and as a punt returner; offensive lineman Nick Weber, who started a program record 48-consecutive games at center for the Owls; safety/nickel and team co-captain Teja Young; safety Armani Adams, punter Riley Thompson, and long snapper Nicholas Marino, who has provided all but one long snap for the Owls over the last three seasons. - Florida Atlantic Football

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P Riley Thompson, Penn State
News Source: Florida Atlantic Football
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12/20/22 - Alonzo Ford Jr., rSr/2025, Penn State + More +

2022 ALL-SUN BELT CONFERENCE FOOTBALL HONORABLE MENTION: DL - Alonzo Ford Jr. (So., DL - Richmond, Va.),... Running back Blake Watson, defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr., safety R'Tarriun Johnson and punter Ethan Duane received honorable mention honors. The all-conference team was selected by the league's coaches and media members. Ford registered 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and five sacks. - Old Dominion Football

rSr/2025

DT Alonzo Ford Jr., Penn State
News Source: Old Dominion Football
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12/10/22 - *Joey Porter Jr., Jr/2023, Penn State + More +

2022 WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: DB Joey Porter, Jr., Penn State,...Porter Jr. has played in 34 career games with the Nittany Lions and has made 30 starts. He was a third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches in 2021 and by the media in 2020. Porter Jr. has collected 114 tackles (87 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, an interception and 20 pass breakups as a Nittany Lion. - Penn State Football

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CB *Joey Porter Jr., Penn State
News Source: Penn State Football
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12/10/22 - Olumuyiwa Fashanu, rJr/2024, Penn State + More +

2022 WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: OL Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State,...Fashanu was selected second-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and third-team All-Big Ten by the media...Fashanu has appeared in 17 career games and made 10 starts at left tackle...Has made eight starts at left tackle this season...Fashanu has not allowed a sack on 299 pass blocking snaps this season. - Penn State Football

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OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu, Penn State
News Source: Penn State Football
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12/10/22 - Kalen King, Jr/2024, Penn State + More +

2022 WALTER CAMP SECOND TEAM ALL-AMERICAN: DB Kalen King, Penn State,...King was tabbed third-team All-Big Ten by the coaches and media in 2022. He has started eight games at cornerback this season and ranks second in the nation with 18 pass breakups. He also has two interceptions. - Penn State Football

Jr/2024

CB Kalen King, Penn State
News Source: Penn State Football
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12/09/22 - *Parker Washington, rSo/2023, Penn State + More +

Penn State's top target is off to the NFL. Parker Washington, the Nittany Lions' leading receiver this fall, declared for the 2023 NFL draft on Friday afternoon via social media. Washington will not play in the Rose Bowl after suffering an undisclosed season-ending injury in November. Despite that injury, Washington was Penn State's most prolific threat in the passing game. He finished the regular season with a team-leading 46 catches and 611 yards, plus two touchdowns. His 61.1 yards per game ranked sixth in the Big Ten.

Washington leading the receiver room wasn't a surprise. In 2020, he earned freshman All-America honors with 36 catches, 489 yards and six touchdowns in a COVID-shortened nine-game season. Last fall, Washington was second in receiving again to Jahan Dotson, this time recording 64 receptions, 820 yards and five scores. Washington was a big-play threat. The Texas native had 30 receptions of 20-plus yards (10 in 2022, 12 in 2021, eight in 2020). Most notably, Washington ripped off a memorable 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Ohio State in October - a play that made him stand out on the national stage opposite the Buckeyes' wideouts. - Penn Live

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