Penn State Football: CBS Sports Has Smith, Amos And James High On Position Rankings

April 30th and the first day of the NFL Draft in Chicago is rapidly approaching, and with it a clear path for former Nittany Lions to the next level.

While not being drafted is far from the end of the road, the few short days in which the draft occurs will go a long way towards changing the lives of many college athletes. 

Former Penn State offensive tackle Donovan Smith will make the trip to Chicago to possibly hear his name called in person. The rest will watch with their friends and families from home, hoping to get that call. For those like Mike Hull and Jesse James it could come sooner rather than later. For Sam Ficken, he will likely wait for a call following the draft to sign as a free agent.

No matter how they get to their next destination it will be a memorable few days for everyone involved.

CBS Sports has ranked nearly every player in the draft at their position. Some teams will likely not agree with their assessment, picking one player for his skill set over another maybe ranked higher. Either way, it’s a good gauge of how these former Nittany Lions stand up against the rest of the field.

Regardless of how it all ends up, for Smith and all of his former teammates it’s a long journey nearing a completion.

“I promised (Joe Paterno) and my family that I would get my degree,” Smith said the day he announced his intentions to go pro. “After achieving one of my life goals of receiving a degree from The Pennsylvania State University, I feel it’s time to continue the pursuit of my dream of becoming a NFL player. The past four years have been a physical and emotional roller coaster, but have ultimately made me a better man.” 

“Thank you to my family, all of my teammates, coaches and the best fan base in college football for the best four years of my life. I am eternally grateful to you all. WE ARE!!!!”

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