Two Penn State Nittany Lions crack expert's list of top-50 NFL Draft prospects
Penn State Nittany Lions continue to feature prominently as the NFL Draft discussion intensifies.
This week, NFL.com draft expert and former scout Daniel Jeremiah released the first edition of his annual list detailing the top-50 NFL Draft prospects in the 2022 class, and a pair of Nittany Lions are featured.
Penn State is one of three Big Ten schools with multiple names on the list. Michigan has three, while Ohio State also placed two prospects on the list.
Penn State DE Arnold Ebiketie – No. 24
NFL Draft experts are beginning to learn what Penn State fans did at the start of the 2021 season: Few players can rush the passer like Arnold Ebiketie.
Having transferred from Temple before the season, Ebiketie earned a first-team All-Big Ten spot, becoming a perennial presence in the opposition’s backfield.
His 9.5 sacks finished third in the Big Ten, and his 18 tackles for loss ranked second in the conference and ninth nationally.
Jeremiah describes Ebiketie as a “long, twitched-up edge rusher with a nonstop motor.” He also complimented his explosiveness and ability to finish at the top of the rush.
Jeremiah harbors some concerns about Ebiketie’s ability to defend the run, but predicts that he’ll be an immediate pass-rushing presence while learning to become a better run defender.
Overall, Ebiketie is the No. 7 edge rusher off Jeremiah’s board.
“He’s so raw and athletic, and he really hasn’t been taught anything as far as pass rushing goes — edge play,” defensive line specialist Eddy McGilvra said before the season. “So when I got my hands on him, I was like, ‘Wow, this is actually a potential top-100 pick, one of the top edge guys in my opinion that I’ve been within that class.’”
Nittany Lions WR Jahan Dotson – No. 27
Most Penn State fans shudder at the thought of where the Nittany Lion offense might have been without Jahan Dotson last season.
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He was the spark in a unit that totally lacked explosion, and Sean Clifford’s go-to guy in big moments.
He racked up 1,182 receiving yards last season in 12 games, good enough for third in the Big Ten. Since his breakout season in 2020, Dotson has averaged 98.3 receiving yards per game.
Dotson also found the end zone 22 times over that span, factoring in a rushing and punt return TD.
Jeremiah called him a “very fluid, loose route runner with the ability to accelerate in and out of breaks.’
Jeremiah also noted Dotson’s speed, and his ability to make difficult catches away from his body frame.
He listed Dotson’s overall strength as his only real concern — something Dotson said he’s worked hard on since arriving on campus.
“I took the weight room seriously as I’ve gone through my Penn State career,” he said after a big game against Maryland. “Coach [James] Franklin, the strength staff, they were always telling me that I needed to become a big time receiver; simple as that. I took that with pride. They have been pushing me ever since. I’ve been putting the work in. I’m just grateful to have them pushing me and happy to be in this position.”
