Ranking Penn State's NFL Draft Eligible Players
It won't be in Las Vegas, commissioner Roger Goodell won't be handing out any jerseys for photo ops, and the studio operation will be limited, but the annual show of the NFL Draft is continuing on as scheduled next weekend.
Among the hundreds of players vying for an opportunity to pursue their dreams at the next level, Penn State will have its own handful hoping to hear their names.
And though early entrants Yetur Gross-Matos and K.J. Hamler are likely to be the first former Nittany Lions off the board, Blue White Illustrated contributor Thomas Frank Carr has picked out the players most likely to find themselves with NFL franchises - whenever and wherever they reconvene.
Gross-Matos, Hamler and John Reid will get full breakdowns in advance of the draft next week, but let's get started today with a brief look at the others and where they might project:
8. LB Jan Johnson - 6-2, 231
Johnson’s calling card is run defense. He is one of the best in that category and does an excellent job diagnosing, attacking and limiting running plays between the tackles. He has the requisite power to do so at the next level as well.
The biggest and most obvious hole in his game is coverage. He is a limited athlete outside of the tackle box and likely does not have the speed to play at the next level.
Projection: UDFA
7. S Garrett Taylor - 6-0, 198
Tough, versatile safety who played well overall, but does not have any specific skills for a team to fall in love with. He does not force a high rate of incompletions and his tackling is inconsistent, especially in space.
Taylor does not jump out on tape as an exceptional athlete. Without offseason testing (he wasn’t invited to the combine), he will likely go undrafted.
Projection: UDFA
6. P Blake Gillikin - 6-2, 196
He likely won’t be drafted. NFL punters come from everywhere and at times in his career, Gillikin was a difference maker. Great shot at playing in the NFL but projecting that position is about as reliable as forecasting the weather.
Projection: Late Round/UDFA
5. DT Robert Windsor - 6-4, 285
A classic tweener with no defined position. Participating in the Combine was critical for Windsor and his results, along with his physical conditioning are big pluses. His length (6-4 with 33 inch arms) are also right in the sweet spot for a defensive lineman.
The killer for Windsor is his clear and obvious lack of power. If he does not win with quickness off of the snap his options as a pass rusher are extremely limited. He does not have the size at 290 to hold up as a 3-technique defensive tackle either, While he’s a good athlete for his size, he does not fit the profile of an edge defender.
Projection: Rounds 6/7
4. LB Cam Brown - 6-5, 233
Brown looks and runs like a modern linebacker but has an unfortunate mix of skills that make him a tough evaluation. His narrow-hipped build limits lower body mass and change of direction skills which lead to a host of problems, chief of which is missed tackles.
Without the ability to stop his momentum and close on underneath routes, he's a liability in coverage despite his size and length as well. He is also not adept in man coverage for similar reasons, which is unfortunate given his physical dimensions to match up with tight ends.
Brown is a good run defender but it will take a team falling in love with his size and potential over his on-field production and lack of versatility. His draft spot is all over the map and could be selected at any point on Day 3.
Projection: Rounds 4-7
Check back next week to see where we have Gross-Matos, Hamler and John Reid landing.
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