As Penn State’s season slowly dwindles to an end, the Nittany Lions (7-3, 4-2 Big Ten) currently sit fourth in the Big Ten East division, with third place Michigan and second place Michigan State left on the schedule. Those two games, plus a bowl game will be the final collegiate games for several key players, including defensive linemen Anthony Zettel and Carl Nassib, and safety Jordan Lucas. All three players will likely hear their name called at the 2016 NFL Draft, held April 28-30 in Chicago.
A few other Nittany Lions are eligible to join the party, as Penn State has a few underclassmen that can easily make the jump from Saturdays to Sundays. Head coach James Franklin and his staff have drawn mixed reactions from Nittany Lions fans, since their arrival in January 2014. Last year, offensive lineman Donovan Smith opted to forego his senior season, and became the 34th pick in the 2015 draft. Smith was among many Penn State football alumni to criticize the program following the opening season 27-10 loss at Temple. “This exact reason,” Smith tweeted, when asked why he chose to leave Penn State.
Franklin has done what many expected him to do: recruit. He hauled in a top-15 2015 class, and has a 2016 class that currently sits in the top 10. A few of those young players have contributed, namely true freshman Saquon Barkley, but as a whole, it will take time, maybe one more season, for those players to collectively leave their imprint on the gridiron. But Franklin is a mediocre 14-9 (6-8 B1G) at Penn State, albeit with a roster crippled from the 2012 sanctions.
Can Franklin recruit his existing players to stay one more season in hopes of restoring one of the most prestigious college football teams in the nation? Below is a look at the top candidates to leave Franklin’s program prematurely following this season:
QB Christian Hackenberg: 2015 Stats – 149-275, (54.2%), 1,992 total yards, 13 touchdowns, 199.2 yards per game, 3 interceptions.
Coming into the season a potential top 10 pick, Hackenberg’s stock has steadily dropped, despite a six-game, 1,415 yards stretch, in which he threw 12 touchdowns without an interception. NFL.com published an article calling him more of a “project” than a prospect last week, following a 205-yard and one interception game at Northwestern. An NFL team he still likely to take a chance on the 20-year-old, however, possible his former coach Bill O’Brien, currently seeking a quarterback in Houston. When Hackenberg walks away, he’ll be the school’s all-time leader in passing yards, attempts, completions and probably touchdowns. He won the lone bowl game of his career last season. There may not be much left for him on the collegiate level, or at Penn State at least.
DT Austin Johnson: 2015 Stats – 64 total tackles: 26 solo, 38 assisted, 12.0 tackles for a loss, 5.5 sacks; 1 fumble recovery, 1 forced fumble.
Johnson came into the season as one of the most prolific defensive tackles in not only the conference but also the nation, and he’s done nothing to deter scouts from drafting him on the first night of the draft. Johnson’s 71-yard fumble recovery touchdown against San Diego State highlighted the multi-faceted junior tackle’s skillset. When he’s not running for six points himself, he’s stopping the opponent from doing the same with his 323-pound frame taking up tons of space, while possessing the agility to close out on rushers and pressure quarterbacks in the backfield. Johnson’s presence in the inside has been one of many factors in the emergence the defensive end Carl Nassib, who leads the nation in sacks and fumbles forced.
WR DaeSean Hamilton: 2015 Stats – 31 receptions, 426 total yards, 13.7 yards per catch; 5 touchdown.
Hamilton is the most likely on this list to return to Happy Valley next season. He hasn’t exactly tore it up this season statically, largely in part due to an inconsistent pass attack. After a slow start to the season, which the Nittany Lions playcalling consisted of bubble screens and short routes that Hackenberg struggled to deliver catchable balls, Penn State has now opened the playbook up for more downfield action. Sophomore receiver Chris Godwin has had a breakout campaign, but Hamilton has been durable when called upon this season, with his team-high five touchdowns receptions ranking among the best in the conference. He led the Big Ten in receptions during his freshman season with 82 and broke the school’s freshman reception and yards record with a 14-catch, 165-yard game versus Ohio State.
Other noteworthy draft eligible players: RB Akeel Lynch, C Angelo Mangiro, DE Garrett Sickels.
