Now that college football season is over, it’s time for those players looking to go pro to showcase their talents to scouts in preparation for April’s NFL Draft. This weekend sees the start of the all-star contests, which feature nine Nittany Lions hoping to hear their names called in the draft.
The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl kicks off at 1 p.m. Saturday on FS1, followed by the East-West Shrine Game at 3 p.m. on the NFL Network. The Reese’s Senior Bowl begins at 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 27 on the NFL Network.
Safety Troy Apke is the lone representation from Penn State in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, which will be played at the Rose Bowl. Apke was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten by the media after finishing fourth on the team with 55 tackles this season.
Jason Cabinda, Curtis Cothran, Parker Cothren, Grant Haley, and DaeSean Hamilton will all suit up for the East team in the East-West Shrine Game at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Cabinda led the Nittany Lions with 88 tackles this season and was voted to the All-Big Ten second team by coaches. He finished his career tied for eighth at Penn State with 287 tackles.
Both Cothran and Cothren were voted to the honorable mention All-Big Ten teams this season. Grant Haley also was voted honorable mention All-Big Ten, while ranking second for the Nittany Lions with 10 pass breakups and eighth on the team with 40 tackles. Hamilton leaves Penn State as its all-time receptions leader and earned a second team All-Big Ten selection this season.
DaeSean Hamilton/WR/Penn State picking up where he left off yesterday. Beating opponents every way possible. Scouts I am sitting next to are buzzing about him.
— Draft Analyst (@DraftAnalyst1) January 17, 2018
Hamilton is certainly taking advantage of the opportunity and very well may be rising on the draft boards after impressing scouts in practices.
The Reese’s Senior Bowl features three players who should hear their names early in this year’s draft. Marcus Allen finishes his career fifth on Penn State’s career tackles list with 321, Christian Campbell led the team with 12 pass breakups, and Mike Gesicki earned first team All-Big Ten honors from the media this season.
