All of the waiting and the projecting and the talking is over.
The NFL Draft starts Thursday night and with it, the next chapter in the careers of many Nittany Lions who hope to take the talents to the professional level.
Some players know the odds are not in their favor. Sam Ficken will enter the draft knowing his best bet is as a free agent, and he’s okay with that. Others, like Donovan Smith, have been invited to Chicago with the hope of hearing his name called in the first round.
Ultimately the stories will all take their own unique paths. Some former Nittany Lions will end up as free agents and have long careers. Other might be drafted in the middle rounds and see their careers never pan out. It is an exciting few days, but days that do not bring certainty as much as they bring opportunity.
Officially, the draft is slated to begin at 8 p.m. with the first round the only one being selected on Thursday evening. From there the draft will resume at 7 p.m. on Friday for the second and third rounds. Saturday at noon will see a flurry of action and the completion of the draft before free agents being signing Saturday night into Sunday afternoon.
Anything is possible, but as the clock ticks down to the first pick in the draft, this is how it all stacks up:
Donovan Smith:
Likely the first Nittany Lion to be drafted, Smith is slated to go anywhere from the second to third round. Despite being advised to return for his final season of eligibility, Smith’s athletic ability has helped drastically increase his stock leading up to the draft.
Jesse James:
Like Smith, James’ biggest asset is his size and athleticism. He’s projected as a third or fourth round selection. James needs to work on using his size as an advantage, but he’s coachable and has physical traits you can’t coach into a player. James might not be perfect right now, but he has all the tools.
Adrian Amos:
Amos is a prospect who has seen draft projections that are all over the board. Some analysts have had Amos go as early as the second or third round. Others dropped him down to the sixth round. What does seem to be certain is that Amos will be drafted and end up somewhere before the weekend is over. That in many ways is all Amos really wants.
Mike Hull:
Some have knocked Hull’s size, but none have said a bad word about his work ethic and football IQ. Most see Hull as a fourth rounder or later which is a solid late round choice for a player who isn’t going to be a liability on or off the field. Some day down the road Hull might be seen as a steal and that’s quite alright with him.
Deion Barnes:
Slated as a seventh round choice or free agent. Physical off the edge and with his best collegiate season last year, Barnes has had success to back up his decision to go pro. The question is — does he have what teams need in a pass rusher that they can’t get somewhere else. At the very least Barnes will make a training camp somewhere as a free agent and will have the chance to prove himself there.
The Rest: Probable Free Agent Signings
Sam Ficken
Miles Dieffenbach
CJ Olaniyan
Brand Bars
Bill Belton
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