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Isaac fits a similar profile to the one Odafe Oweh had prior to going No. 31 in the 2021 NFL Draft. While he's not quite the athletic freak Oweh is, he's still an elite athlete for the position. Isaac can beat his opponents with speed and athleticism and uses his long arms to disrupts offensive tackles when they try to get their hands on him. He didn't hit high levels of production in 2020 as a pass rusher but could be in for a breakout season in 2021. Isaac is the player who - while likely not on the radar now - could put himself firmly on the NFL radar with a high-level season. He doesn't have the safe floor of the previous three players, but Isaac could reasonably break out and find himself in the Day 1 discussion in the 2022 NFL Draft. He's a long way away from that right now - and is also an easy candidate to return for the 2022 season - but his upside is tantalizing and should put him on the NFL radar. - Centre Times

(DS#5 DE) rSr/2024

DE Adisa Isaac, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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05/04/21 - Lamont Wade, Sr/2021, Penn State, 5-09, 190 (DS#12 FS) + More +

All seven Penn State football players to declare for the 2021 NFL Draft have found homes to start their professional careers. Former Nittany Lion defensive back Lamont Wade will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent, according to the NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. He joins Micah Parsons, Odafe Oweh, Pat Freiermuth, Shaka Toney, Michal Menet and Will Fries as former Penn State football players set to begin their professional careers. Wade appeared in 47 games in his career, starting 22 of them. He played primarily at safety in his time as a Nittany Lion, but also slid inside to the nickel cornerback position. He finished his career with 153 total tackles, 11 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, three sacks and an interception. Wade also notably closed out his college career with a 100-yard kick return for a touchdown against Illinois in 2020. - Centre Times

(DS#12 FS) Sr/2021

FS Lamont Wade, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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05/03/21 - *Pat Freiermuth, Jr/2021, Penn State, 6-5, 251 (DS#2 TE) + More +

Former Penn State tight end Pat Freiermuth will stay in the state of Pennsylvania to begin his professional career, after being selected No. 55 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Friday in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He was the third Penn State player to be drafted after Micah Parsons and Odafe Oweh went in the first round. Freiermuth should be an immediate impact player for the Steelers, as long as he's healthy. The tight end missed the last portion of Penn State's 2020 season due to a shoulder injury that required surgery. He was healthy enough to run drills at Penn State's March pro day but did not do any testing. He is a high-quality all-around tight end who can stay on the field in all situations. Freiermuth is a good run blocker who relies more on his strength and physicality than technique when asked to take on defenders in the run game and when he helps offensive tackles in the passing game. He will have plenty of time to improve his technique, which should help him become one of the best blocking tight ends in the NFL. - Centre Times

(DS#2 TE) Jr/2021

TE *Pat Freiermuth, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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05/02/21 - *Micah Parsons, Jr/2021, Penn State, 6-3, 246 (DS#1 OLB) + More +

The first Nittany Lion has come off the board in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons was taken by the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 overall. Parsons is the first former Penn State defensive player to go in the first round since Jared Odrick went No. 28 overall to the Miami Dolphins in the 2010 NFL Draft. The former Nittany Lion opted out of the 2020 season due to precautionary reasons surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. "I decided I needed to make a choice, not for myself - but my son and those dearest to me," he told PennLive about his decision to opt out. "While I felt safe with the health and safety standards as we return to Penn State for workouts, the potential risk to the health and well-being of my son far outweighed my urge to play football this season." Even without the 2020 season on his resume, Parsons had plenty of film for teams to watch. He was dominant in his lone year as a full-time starter in college in 2019 and displayed elite athleticism at Penn State's pro day, running a 4.39 in the 40 yard dash. - Centre Times

(DS#1 OLB) Jr/2021

OLB *Micah Parsons, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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04/28/21 - Jahan Dotson, Sr/2022, Penn State, 5-11, 181 (DS#6 WR) + More +

Having the team's best offensive player will boost this grade, even if the depth isn't great. Jahan Dotson was one of the best wide receivers in the Big Ten in 2020 and has a chance to be one of the best in the country in 2021. He's a silky smooth route runner who gets in and out of his breaks with ease and catches the ball naturally. His ability in the open field makes him that much more dangerous when Clifford is able to get the ball in his hands. - Centre Times

(DS#6 WR) Sr/2022

WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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04/26/21 - John Lovett, rSr/2022, Penn State, 6-0, 215 (DS#36 RB) + More +

Running back, wide receiver and tight end all remain clear strengths on Penn State's roster. The running back room doesn't have an established leader on the field, but still has a diverse set of skills that can provide different advantages in different situations. John Lovett - in his first public action as a Nittany Lion since transferring from Baylor - showed why the team brought him in. He has the explosiveness and athleticism to be a home run threat out of the backfield, while also displaying strength as a runner. He will combine with Devyn Ford, Caziah Holmes, Keyvone Lee and Noah Cain to have a formidable fivesome for the Nittany Lions. - Centre Times

(DS#36 RB) rSr/2022

RB John Lovett, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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04/20/21 - Sean Clifford, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-2, 218 (DS#20 QB) + More +

Sean Clifford dropped back in Saturday afternoon's spring practice at Beaver Stadium and quickly saw a blown coverage on the west side of the field. He lofted a pass to a wide open Brenton Strange for a touchdown in the south end zone. Later in the scrimmage, headed in the same direction, Clifford faced pressure from the defense and stepped forward. The redshirt junior stepped forward, eyeing the same side of the field. He saw 1-on-1 coverage and - while contorting his body and jumping off the ground - lobbed up a pass. Cornerback Kalen King came down with the interception. Those two plays show the contrast in Clifford's play. He can vary from drive to drive and struggles to find consistency. Entering a season with a brand new offense for the third year in a row, Clifford must find that consistency for Penn State offensive coordinator Mike Yurcich's offense to succeed in 2021.

Following the practice, Yurcich made note of the need for consistency from his starting quarterback. "We're working on it," Yurcich said. "I don't want to give you an evaluation right now because we're not where we need to be. But the effort is there, concentration is there, the want-to is there. I don't know where it is, but we're going to continue to work every day. That's the biggest thing. Where can I help him improve? How can I coach him better? How can I get through to him faster to where we're making zero mistakes and he's on point? We're chasing that perfect game." - Centre Times

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2023

QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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04/16/21 - Nick Tarburton, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-3, 252 (DS#60 DE) + More +

Nick Tarburton knew at some point that he would return to the football field. Even on the most grueling days of rehab for Tarburton, the Penn State defensive end didn't waver in his intent to get back into action for the Lions after injuries defined the early part of his time in college. In three seasons with the Lions, Tarburton has played in only nine games. He's changed positions from linebacker to defensive end, and he's earned praise from coaches and teammates for his work in the offseason. But he's yet to fully showcase the range of skills that made him a four-star recruit in the Class of 2018 on the grass at Beaver Stadium. Tarburton, though, expects that to change this fall.

"I knew I would be back," Tarburton said over Zoom on Wednesday afternoon. "It was just a matter of time of when I was going to be fully ready to go, and I knew I was going to come back no matter what. But the time is great now, and I'm feeling the best I have since I've gotten up here, so I'm super excited for this season." Tarburton said his injuries were "a little bit of everything" and he was "nicked up in a lot of spots." But he was healthy this offseason, and it led to some hype from the men who would know best on how Tarburton is progressing. Last month, coach James Franklin highlighted Tarburton as a potential breakout candidate, while strength coach Dwight Galt praised Tarburton's work in the offseason program. "It probably was the best winter I've had since I've been here," Tarburton said. - Tribune Review

(DS#60 DE) rSr/2023

DE Nick Tarburton, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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04/09/21 - Keaton Ellis, rSr/2024, Penn State, 5-11, 185 (DS#33 FS) + More +

Keaton Ellis' sophomore season was shortened by injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic. The usual 12 games the team would play was chopped down to nine, and that number was lowered even further to six for Ellis, who missed time with hamstring issues. Now with a second shot at his sophomore season - after the NCAA didn't count the 2020 season toward athletes' eligibility clock - Ellis returns to a crowded cornerback room with a clean bill of health ready to build upon what he's already accomplished. "I think we have one of the most competitive groups on the team," Ellis said Tuesday afternoon. "We've just been going at it...We're all working hard and there's a lot of talent in the room, so you've got to come out and compete every day."

The State College native is a part of one of Penn State's deepest positions. The Nittany Lions return all of their key contributors at cornerback from last season and will add multiple new faces. One of those new faces is a transfer - John Dixon - who enters the room with more experience than most newcomers. Dixon played in three games as a freshman at South Carolina, then all 10 as a sophomore last season before leaving for Penn State. Ellis said Dixon is already adding to the loaded position group. - Centre Daily

(DS#33 FS) rSr/2024

FS Keaton Ellis, Penn State
News Source: Centre Daily
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04/04/21 - Jahan Dotson, Sr/2022, Penn State, 5-11, 181 (DS#6 WR) + More +

Jahan Dotson had his signature moment in 2020. The Penn State wide receiver reached his right hand back to snag a one-handed pass on a ball thrown behind him with Ohio State cornerback Shaun Wade all over him. The ball stuck to his hand and the junior sprinted into the end zone for a touchdown. "That catch, I've probably seen it over a thousand times, honestly," Dotson said Monday afternoon. "I'm starting to think that was the only catch I made last year. It was a pretty cool catch, but I have a couple other cool ones. I try not to watch that one, I see it a lot, though." Now in his fourth year as a Nittany Lion, Dotson is poised to grow that portfolio of catches and make an ever bigger impact. He's in a position to cement himself as a bona fide No. 1 wide receiver and potential early-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

He could have left after last season and tested his luck in this year's draft, but the junior chose to return to Penn State after a FaceTime call with teammates Tariq Castro-Fields and Jaquan Brisker, and is ready to eliminate the bad taste left in his mouth after the team went 4-5 in 2020. "We felt like last year we didn't meet the (Penn State football) standard," Dotson said. "We wanted to be those leaders on the team who set the standard for years to come after us. We know that Penn State football is used to winning and that's what we gotta do. We gotta meet that standard. We felt like this was the perfect opportunity for us to showcase our talents and meet that standard." - Centre Times

(DS#6 WR) Sr/2022

WR Jahan Dotson, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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03/30/21 - Sean Clifford, rSr/2023, Penn State, 6-2, 218 (DS#20 QB) + More +

Sean Clifford is entering his fifth season as a quarterback at Penn State with a fresh perspective and another new offense. He's seen plenty of turnover in his time on campus, from teammates coming and going to coaches doing the same. He's now on his fourth offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in those five years, but is choosing to look at the bright side of those changes. "Honestly, I see it as a good thing," Clifford said Monday morning. "...I've had four offensive minds that I can pick...You'd like to have a little bit of consistency, but at the same time I feel like I've taken advantage of every single person that has walked through this building, from an offensive coordinator perspective. I think that's gonna benefit myself, my teammates and everybody in the long run as long as we just take it as an opportunity to grow and learn from every person." Clifford is the lone veteran in an inexperienced room and is utilizing lessons learned from the 2020 season - when the team started 0-5 and he was benched - to help him move forward and lead in yet another offense, this time under the stewardship of offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach Mike Yurcich. - Centre Times

(DS#20 QB) rSr/2023

QB Sean Clifford, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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03/28/21 - *Micah Parsons, Jr/2021, Penn State, 6-3, 246 (DS#1 OLB) + More +

At Penn State's pro day, linebacker Micah Parsons said he considered himself "one of the most versatile players in this draft." Parsons was talking about his ability to play any of the linebacker spots. But in an interview with the NFL Network's Kim Jones at Thursday's event, he ended up all over the field. Weighing in at 246 pounds, Parsons ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the pro day. "I feel like I really helped myself," Parsons said. "I think a lot of people had me like 4.5, 4.6 maybe. But I think I'm the fastest linebacker in this draft, and I really showed people how good I can move. I think a lot of people slept on that. They knew I was fast, but I don't think they knew I was that fast."

That led Jones to share that Penn State coach James Franklin had said Parsons could have been as successful in college at running back as he was at linebacker and been a top NFL Draft prospect as a ball-carrier, too. "You know, that kind of makes me upset," Parsons said, "because I told him to let me play running back. He wouldn't let me play running back. My true position growing up was running back, so you could have looked at me as a Derrick Henry, really..."I got some old clips I can pull up. In high school, I averaged 11 yards a carry, so I always had that nice little elusive stiff arm." - Birmingham News

(DS#1 OLB) Jr/2021

OLB *Micah Parsons, Penn State
News Source: Birmingham News
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03/27/21 - *Jayson Oweh, rSo/2021, Penn State, 6-5, 257 (DS#2 DE) + More +

Oweh, a defensive end at Penn State, could potentially play elsewhere in the NFL. He has the length and athleticism - he also reached 39.5 inches in the vertical jump Thursday - to play either outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense or defensive end in a 4-3 defense. Regardless of his position, he'll likely be asked to be an edge rusher who spends his time in the league chasing down quarterbacks. Critics will point to his lack of sacks - none in the 2020 season - as reason for concern about his ability to get to the quarterback at the next level, but Oweh isn't concerned about the criticism or what he can do on the football field. "If you really understand what is going and you watch film, you don't just look at the box score, you understand that that's not even who I am," Oweh said. "If you go off (the game against) Indiana, that game, I would have had five sacks that game if I wasn't just a split second off...My best years in football are ahead of me." - Centre Times

(DS#2 DE) rSo/2021

DE *Jayson Oweh, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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03/25/21 - Tariq Castro-Fields, rSr/2022, Penn State, 6-1, 197 (DS#17 CB) + More +

Tariq Castro-Fields isn't supposed to be analyzing the benefits of one more spring practice this year. Fact is, there was never supposed to be a 2021 season for him in a Penn State uniform. In an ideal world, he'd have been long gone, pursuing his NFL dreams. After his junior season in 2019, he considered leaving the program early for the NFL Draft; but he wanted to show he was fully recovered from some nagging injuries that slowed him during the second half of that campaign. And after nagging injuries cost him the final six games of the 2020 season, even a strong first three games couldn't convince him that giving a run at the NFL a shot right now.

So, while many of the top prospects who came to Penn State with him in the 2017 recruiting class will work out for NFL scouts on campus during the program's Pro Day on Thursday, Castro-Fields hopes he can make one more run at a starting job, one more run at a Big Ten championship. And one more run at a Nittany Lions legacy he hopes will end on his terms. "Staying healthy is the main goal," Castro-Fields said. "Being able to be available is the most important thing, being able to play the whole season and show what I can do. I have so much more in the tank that I haven't been able to show." - Tribune Review

(DS#17 CB) rSr/2022

CB Tariq Castro-Fields, Penn State
News Source: Tribune Review
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02/27/21 - *Micah Parsons, Jr/2021, Penn State, 6-3, 246 (DS#1 OLB) + More +

The NFL announced its 2021 pro day schedule on Wednesday afternoon. Penn State will host its pro day on March 25. During the pro day circuit, NFL decision-makers will get the chance to see top draft prospects go through on-field drills and learn their official measurements ahead of the 2021 NFL draft, which will take place from April 29 to May 1 in Cleveland. The seven Nittany Lions that declared for the draft are: linebacker Micah Parsons, defensive end Jayson Oweh, tight end Pat Freiermuth, defensive end Shaka Toney, safety Lamont Wade, offensive lineman Michal Menet and offensive lineman Will Fries. - Centre Times

(DS#1 OLB) Jr/2021

OLB *Micah Parsons, Penn State
News Source: Centre Times
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