Penn State alums make first impressions at NFL rookie minicamps

Some of the Penn State players picked in the NFL Draft last weekend got their first taste of professional football this weekend.

Leading the Big Ten with eight selections, a number good for fourth nationally in college football, four of those picks performed with their teams this weekend. They included No. 16 overall pick, Jahan Dotson, with the Washington Commanders, who made as much news off the field as on it (in a good way, of course). 

Also appearing with their teams for the first time were second-round pick Jaquan Brisker, fourth-rounder Jordan Stout, and seventh-rounder Rasheed Walker.

Let’s take a look at some of the storylines to come out of their first weekends in the NFL, here:

Penn State NFL rookie minicamp news and notes

Jahan Dotson

And another notable Penn State graduation today: Washington’s first-round pick, @JahanDotson, also received his degree today.

📸 @Commanders pic.twitter.com/aXHK0PYTsQ

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 7, 2022

The first impression Jahan Dotson left on his new Washington Commanders franchise had virtually nothing to do with football.

In the two-day minicamp running Friday and Saturday, Dotson participated only on Friday. Though he’d intended to complete the minicamp on Saturday, head coach Ron Rivera insisted otherwise.

Scheduled to get his degree from Penn State on Saturday, Dotson followed the coach’s orders.

“I was actually ready to skip the graduation and be out here at practice,” Dotson told reporters. “But he said that’s like a once in a million type of thing. He was all for me going, so honestly, I hadn’t even thought about skipping practice until he brought that up.”

Told to spend the day at his now-alma mater, Dotson did as much, donning the traditional cap and gown to walk in the graduation ceremony.

According to Dotson, the accomplishment was one unique to his family and is valued as such.

“Many people in my family haven’t achieved this goal, so it’s pretty big in my family to achieve this goal of graduating college,” Dotson said. “It’s going to be a really cool moment and the end to a great week.”

Jaquan Brisker

The story for Jaquan Brisker coming out of the first weekend of the Chicago Bears rookie minicamp was all about the dynamic duo of which he was a part. 

Selected in the second round with corner Kyler Gordon, the two players embarked on picking up the defense being installed by the new Bears’ head coach Matt Eberflus.

“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Brisker told NBC Chicago. “A new staff. A lot of new people and a lot of new faces. I think everybody wants to change this around, and that’s what they brought me here to (do) to change it around. I feel like me coming in with the new staff, a lot of new players, a lot of new people, it fits right.”

Jordan Stout

Widely seen as a curious pick for a fourth-round selection, the first opportunity for Jordan Stout to wow onlookers passed.

Beyond his control, the Baltimore region was blanketed by steady rain both Friday and Saturday, forcing the minicamp inside. As a result, the internal team report from the Ravens’ media arm told the story of Stout’s initial impression.

“Practicing indoors due to the inclement weather may have prevented fourth-round punter Jordan Stout from displaying his leg strength on a field where he could work out on his own,” the report reads. “He spent most of his time working on his holding and conversing with Special Teams Coach Randy Brown.”

Rasheed Walker

The first days in Green Bay for Rasheed Walker were littered with references to his former home.

Meeting with the media this weekend for the first time as an offensive lineman with the Packers, Walker offered that he’s already feeling right at home in Green Bay. 

“It’s real nice. It kind of reminds me of a college town. Kind of like Penn State,” Walker said. “That’s the first thing that I noticed when I landed at the airport.”

That said, Walker did give Penn State the nod when it comes to the weather he’s experienced so far. 

Able to practice in the bright sun on Saturday, the offensive lineman said his other trips were not as pleasant. 

“I think Green Bay got State College beat for the weather,” Walker said. “It’s way colder out here. I was here a couple of weeks ago and that was the coldest I’ve ever been.”

Other news and notes

A couple of other former Penn Staters raised eyebrows this weekend in their first NFL minicamps.

Making his transition from the hardwood to gridiron, Penn State forward John Harrar got in two days of work with the Philadelphia Eagles before returning to State College for graduation with a Master’s on Sunday.

Said Irv Charles was a UDFA to look out for and he's getting praise left, right and center at rookie mini camp. Got serious talent.

— David Wyatt-Hupton (@DWyattHupton) May 7, 2022

Nittany Lion receiver, Irv Charles, delivered a head-turning performance in his first showing with the New York Jets. An undrafted free agent, Charles finished his football career at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.