Abdul Carter was expected to command the attention of Penn State’s Pro Day on Friday. Instead, with Carter medically sidelined, that focus will shift toward a vast contingent of Nittany Lions, many of whom were snubbed invites to February’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
Tyler Warren, the reigning Mackey Award winner for the nation’s top tight end, is expected to join Carter in the first round of the NFL Draft. But a handful of players other than Warren and Carter could hear their names called, and Pro Day will serve as an opportunity to prove themselves in front of scouts and team personnel.
Let’s take a look at the Penn State players expected to be in attendance at Holuba Hall on Friday, and where they currently stand on draft big boards.
DE ABDUL CARTER (PROJ: PICKS 1-5)
What more needs to be said? Carter won’t participate on Friday as he recovers from a shoulder injury sustained in the College Football Playoff, but he hardly needs to. His film from the past three seasons should speak for itself. Carter’s draft placement will likely come down to whether the Tennessee Titans, who hold the No. 1 overall pick, select a quarterback or not. He won’t be waiting in the green room long.
TE TYLER WARREN (PROJ: ROUND 1)
There’s hardly a question surrounding who is the draft’s top tight end. It’s almost certainly Warren, with Michigan’s Colston Loveland trailing close behind. Warren has done everything to solidify himself as a first-round pick. It’s really only a matter of how early he comes off the board. Warren sat out the combine, and could sway teams with top-10 picks if he performs glowingly at Pro Day.
S KEVIN WINSTON JR. (PROJ: ROUNDS 2-3)
He entered the season a preseason All-American candidate and projected first-round draft pick, but safety Kevin Winston Jr.’s year was cut short just after it began when he partially tore his ACL. Winston told reporters at the combine he plans to run the 40-yard dash at Pro Day, which — if it goes accordingly — could provide team personnel some comfort in selecting a recovering star.
S JAYLEN REED (PROJ: ROUNDS 4-7)
Those who watched Penn State closely this past season know all about Jaylen Reed. He’s a versatile and hard-nosed safety who was poised to play the nickel prior to Winston’s injury. Reed surprised himself when he ran a 4.49 40-yard dash at the combine, and a promising Pro Day performance could continue to boost his stock as a Day 2 pick.
LB KOBE KING (PROJ: ROUNDS 4-7)
The Nittany Lions are scrambling to find a replacement for Kobe King’s leadership and playing ability. That should say something about how valuable he was last season. King is in much of the same boat as Reed. He has the potential to come off the board on the second day of the draft, but could slip further than anticipated. A strong Pro Day could help.
OL SAL WORMLEY (PROJ: ROUNDS 6-UNDRAFTED)
A surprising combine snub, Sal Wormley made a name for himself in January’s East-West Shrine Bowl, a showing that could help him become the eighth Penn State offensive lineman drafted in the past five years. Wormley was a three-year starter at right guard and a staple of the Nittany Lions’ offense over that stretch. He’s a name to keep an eye on as the draft nears.
CB JALEN KIMBER (PROJ: ROUNDS 6-UNDRAFTED)
Another combine snub who attracted attention at the East-West Shrine Bowl was cornerback Jalen Kimber, who declared for the draft after just one season at Penn State. Kimber met with a handful of teams at the Shrine Bowl, he told The Draft Network’s Justin Melo, a sign that he could be under the close eye of the scouts and team personnel attending Pro Day.
DE AMIN VANOVER (PROJ: ROUNDS 7-UNDRAFTED)
This wasn’t the original plan for Amin Vanover. He applied for a waiver to grant an extra year of eligibility, but was denied by the NCAA. Rather than potentially starting at defensive end next season and boosting his stock, Vanover was forced to enter the draft. By the time his waiver was denied, Vanover had missed the Senior Bowl and East-West Shrine Bowl.
Maybe more than anyone else, Vanover needs this Pro Day. He was fantastic down the stretch for the Nittany Lions, accumulating two tackles for loss, a sack and a forced fumble in the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State. There could be an NFL career in Vanover’s future, and an opportunity to prove himself in front of decision-makers could be major.
WR JULIAN FLEMING (PROJ: ROUNDS 7-UNDRAFTED)
There was a time that Julian Fleming appeared poised to become a future NFL star. He was one of the nation’s top overall recruits out of high school, but his young success hardly translated to the stat sheet over four years at Ohio State and one at Penn State. But Fleming remains an exceptional blocker, which could entice teams at Friday’s Pro Day.
DT COZIAH IZZARD (PROJ: ROUNDS 7-UNDRAFTED)
Coziah Izzard’s final four games with the Nittany Lions, in which he combined for 14 tackles and four tackles, should stand out to evaluators. He finished his career on a high note, showcasing an ability to find success against some of the nation’s top programs. But there hasn’t been much attention surrounding his name. Perhaps that could change on Friday.
DT DVON J-THOMAS (PROJ: ROUNDS 7-UNDRAFTED)
Dvon J-Thomas was Penn State over the past two seasons. He was a solid defensive tackle and even better leader. Sure, finding success in workouts should give teams an idea of what J-Thomas might bring to the table. But it should be in individual meetings that scouts and coaches leave most impressed.
