Combine Kickoff: Two Nittany Lions Set to Show Skills

The Penn State football program helpfully set the table for Godwin and Sickels, who will participate in their on-field workouts Saturday and Sunday, respectively.

Reminding the pair, and everyone else, about their most recent performances in Indianapolis in helping to secure a Big Ten Championship for the Nittany Lions, the question is whether or not the duo can find the same success in the combine atmosphere.

Friday afternoon, Godwin will be available to the media, as will Sickels on Saturday, before they head out to the Lucas Oil Stadium field turf to demonstrate their athletic abilities.

The big story this week regarding Godwin has been his training with former Detroit Lion great wide receiver Calvin Johnson, as reported by the Free Press.

From the story, detailing their two-day, hours-long training sessions:

Godwin called the experience "pretty surreal" and said Johnson gave him workout and route-running tips and an honest critique of his game.

"One of the things he said he liked about my game was just my ability to kind of attack the ball, and he said he liked how fluid I looked when I was running my routes," Godwin said. "He said just how aggressive I was with going and playing the ball -- and kind of shedding off defenders was something that he liked about my game.

“And there’s like little things he told me that I can improve on. He was telling me how to run different routes better, how to set up defensive backs better. Like, small details -- whether it’s, like, top of the route or showing a defender one thing when you’re going to do another thing. Just things to make it so I’m getting in and out of my routes faster or I’m selling the defensive back what I want him to see."

Maybe more important than Godwin spending time with Johnson, however, are the numbers Godwin set for himself as goals this weekend. Reportedly checking in at 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, Godwin said he hopes to hit a sub-4.5 in the 40; speed being the measurement that is likely to draw the biggest concern among scouts regarding Godwin's ability heading into the weekend.

As a junior, Godwin hauled in 59 catches for 982 yards and 11 touchdowns, adding on his 25 receptions for 321 yards and two touchdowns his true freshman year and another 69 catches and 1,101 yards and five touchdowns in 2015. And, of course, he capped his season with a stunning 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns on nine catches in the Nittany Lions' 52-49 Rose Bowl loss.

Godwin is considered widely as a mid-round projection for the 2017 NFL Draft.

The NFL Combine web site analysis of Sickels states plainly that a backup role is likely for the New Jersey-native's future.

From the analysis:

BOTTOM LINE Plays at the same pace throughout the game and finds his way into the backfield with a non-stop forward charge and some rush talent. Sickels' play strength at the point of attack is a big concern and he may be forced into an outside linebacker role in order to keep tackles off of him. Sickels projects as a backup who could eventually find the field in pass rush situations.

Can Sickels change that perception with his performance in Indianapolis this weekend?

Finishing his career as a Nittany Lion with 94 total tackles, including a career-high 47 in 2016, Sickels undoubtedly made his mark as a starting defensive end for the Big Ten Championship-winning season. He tied for the team lead this season with 6.0 sacks, and for his career he had 11 total. He also led the team this season with 12.5 tackles for loss. He finished his career with 21 total tackles for loss.

Said to need to prove his explosiveness at the point of attack, Sickels is credited in the official review with leading the league in quarterback pressures this season with 43.