Skip to main content
penn-state logo

Penn State wrestler drops out of NWCA All-Star Classic; Abdul Carter gets first-round NFL mock draft slot: Newsstand

Greg Pickelby:Greg Pickel•10/17/24•

GregPickel

compounding-situations-limit-penn-state-options-winston-absence
Penn State defensive end Abdul Carter (Photo credit: Ryan Snyder/BWI)

Penn State news and notes for Oct. 17 include a surprise update on the wrestling front, a new NFL mock draft, 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 wrestling. Defending 285-pound NCAA champion Greg Kerkvliet is no longer set to compete at next month’s NWCA All-Star Classic exhibition event in State College. The senior was slated to take on Ohio State’s Nick Feldman in a bout between the FLO Wrestling’s top-ranked and No. 3 heavyweight. Iowa State broke the news when it tweeted that Yonger Bastida, who is ranked No. 6, would face Feldman in the event instead.

No additional details were available from either Penn State or FLO, which organizes the event. But, it will now be a situation in need of monitoring as the Lions sit a month away from their regular season opener with Drexel on Nov. 17 at Rec Hall. Five other members of head coach Cael Sanderson’s team are still slated to compete in the event, which is in State College on Nov. 16. They are Beau Bartlett (141 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (149), Tyler Kasak (157), and Levi Haines (174).

1:30 p.m. wrestling update: BTN has released time and TV info for select matches. Read more here.

In other news, ESPN’s Jordan Reid released his first 2025 NFL mock draft. He put Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter at No. 3 to the Carolina Panthers.

“

“The Panthers are lacking impact players at edge rusher; they are getting pressure just 20% of the time (last in the NFL) and have a 31.7% pass rush win rate (28th),” Reed writes. “Carter would immediately be the team’s best young player there. After a slow start, the converted off-ball linebacker is steadily adjusting to his edge role, racking up four sacks and 18 pressures over six games.”

Headlines of the day

One Penn State fan ran onto the field with USC on Saturday. Here’s how the viral troll happened: Ralph, PennLive

Penn State locks in visits with two Pennsylvania prospects, including a key four-star target: Snyder, BWI

How Penn State’s Second-Half Schedule Sets up for a Playoff Run: Jones, SI

Penn State has ‘good mojo’ for bye week: James Franklin notebook: Bauer, BWI

Penn State ‘Hoping’ Injured WR/PR Kaden Saunders, Reserve Linebacker Return in 2024: Engle, Statecollege.com

Andy Kotelnicki takeaways: Tyler Warren’s evolution, the Penn State Pribula package, Drew Allar’s growth and more: Pickel, BWI

College Football Head Coach Salaries: USA Today ranks Top 25 highest-paid coaches: Kosko, On3

Quote of the day

“Resilient group. That last game, they showed up when it mattered. The one thing people always forget is, we got some good players. Lot of mouths to feed. And those guys have done a good job when called upon. When you look at that last drive [at USC] and [Julian] Fleming showing up the way he did, and how those guys are approaching every day to improve, it’s been everything that I’ve been wanting.

“They’re totally embodying playing with a chip on their shoulder, wanting to go out there and do a great job. And here we are at the midway point of the season, and those guys are still getting better. They’re still wanting to improve. And so I’ve been very pleased with with what they have done so far and will continue to do.”

–PSU OC Andy Kotelnicki on the Lions’ receivers through the first six games.

You may also like