Penn State safety Ji’Ayir Brown heard his name called on Friday night by the San Francisco 49ers in third round of the 2023 NFL Draft as the No. 87 overall pick. He is the Nittany Lions’ fourth player selected so far during this year’s draft – all on Friday night – following the trio of Joey Porter Jr., Brenton Strange and Juice Scruggs, who were all chosen in the second round earlier on Friday evening.
Brown marks the 18th safety in program history to be drafted. Chicago Bears’ standout rookie Jaquan Brisker was the most recent Penn State safety to go in the draft, selected in the second round in 2022 and No. 48 overall. The news marks the second-straight year Penn State has had multiple defensive backs selected and the third time under Penn State coach James Franklin
Brown leaves Penn State to join the 49ers and is the 18th former Penn State player to head out west to join that franchise. He finished his collegiate career having made 153 total tackles over the course of his three year career, while breaking up 19 passes and registering 10 interceptions over that same span which saw him appear in 35 games for the Nittany Lions.
Porter Jr. kicked off Friday night’s second round action as the first player selected the second round. Strange would go No. 61 overall while Scruggs would go just one spot later at No. 62. That marked the first time in school history Penn State has had three-straight years with three or more selections in the first two rounds.
