Three standout Nittany Lion defenders accepted an invitation the Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile,Ala. this week. Linebacker/defensive end Jesse Luketa, safety Jaquan Brisker and defensive end Arnold Ebiketie are each expecting to attend the event.
The Senior Bowl, which dates back to the 1950s is an opportunity for draft eligible upperclassmen to play and work in front of NFL coaching staffs and evaluators. The game and the lead up to it is generally seen as one of the major information gathering events for NFL scouts and evaluators similar to a team’s Pro Day or the NFL Combine.
The 2022 Senior Bowl is set to take place Feb. 5 at Hancock Whitney Stadium (University of South Alabama) and will air on the NFL Network.
“It’s a blessing,” Luketa on Wednesday. “It’s a testament to my hard work. I came back for this exact reason, being able to display my versatility and help the defense at a position we were hurt [at] after a guy like Adisa [Isaac] goes down. So the way I play football, whenever I’m out there with this defense, I’m giving everything that I got, so just being able to have that recognition, it’s a blessing.”
Speaking to reporters, Luketa added that his participation in the Senior Bowl didn’t automatically mean that the longtime Nittany Lion was headed to the next level – Luketa still has one year of eligibility remaining.
“I’m looking forward to Senior Day,” Luketa said. “Just having guys like Tariq Castro-Fields and [Jaquan Brisker] who participated in it last year, it meant everything being able to have them [back] I’m excited. As far as what it’s been for me, it’s been quite a journey. It’s gone by fast. Honestly, like, this past week has been so surreal for me, just looking back on my journey and just seeing wow, four years flew by just like that. But it’s been a great experience, my time at Penn State.”
That is generally theme this Saturday as Penn State takes part in Senior Day – waiting and seeing – as a handful of Nittany Lions weigh their options, be that returning for one more year, or taking on whatever might be next in their lives or careers.
