Pair of Penn State defenders make early 2025 NFL Draft big boards: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for May 6 include early 2025 NFL Draft big boards featuring a pair of Nittany Lions, headlines of the day, and more.
It’s time to dive into Thursday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with a pair of early 2025 NFL Draft big boards. Two Penn State defenders are among the top players who could possibly be available for next year’s pro selection process. Yahoo Sports and Pro Football Focus both agree that Lions edge Abdul Carter is among the best draft-eligible talent in college football. Nate Tice puts the third-year Lion and first-year defensive end at No. 8 overall, while Pro Football Focus’ Max Chadwick has the Philadelphia native at No. 18.
“He is a long and twitchy pass rusher who can bend around corners and somehow stay on his feet despite contorting his body like Gumby,” Tice writes. “Carter is still adding layers to his usage of hands and how to keep blockers off-balance — more time on the edge instead of off-ball in 2024 will surely help that, another Parsons comparison to add to the list — but he has the package of length, quick-twitch athleticism, bend, strength and effort to give him the upside of an elite ace edge defender with double-digit sack potential in the NFL.”
Chadwick is the only one of the two to include a second Nittany Lion in his admittedly outrageously early top prospects list. But, his other pick, safety Kevin Winston Jr., is likely to stand the test of time. PFF slots him at No. 22.
Top 10
- 1New
Tom Brady helped land QB
Michigan got assist on Underwood
- 2
MSU TE hospitalized
Jack Velling injured on first possession
- 3
Rhett Lashlee
SMU coach gets extension
- 4
Justin Fields
OSU legend to make CGD picks
- 5Hot
Bryce Underwood
Michigan flips No. 1 QB Bryce Underwood from LSU
“Winston has no issues as a tackler,” Chadwick writes. “The sophomore posted just a 2% missed-tackle rate last year, which was second among all safeties in the country. His 90.6 PFF run-defense grade was third among FBS safeties as well.”
Headlines of the day
Football lettermen sweep Penn State trustee elections: Thompson, PennLive
What can Penn State fans expect on the recruiting trail in May?: Snyder, BWI
Penn State’s James Franklin Wonders Whether Helmet Mics Will Curb Sign-Stealing in College Football: Wogenrich, SI
Penn State’s Most Wanted: Updates on the Nittany Lions’ top defensive recruits: Fitz, BWI
Nittany Lions Lose Depth, but Few Key Pieces, to Transfer Portal: Jones, Statecollege.com
PSU offensive players with the most upside: 5-1: Carr, BWI
Former Penn State kicker Alex Felkins earns mincamp invite from Houston Texans: Daily Collegian
Quote of the day
“I like coach Terry Smith. He always tries to get me up there when he can so I can see how they run things and go around there. I like their DB group. I talk to some of the guys when I get up there. They are telling me how they like it.”
–Four-star 2026 CB Elbert Hill on PSU to On3’s Chad Simmons.
