Penn State has as good a chance as anybody to be this season’s national champion, and it wouldn’t be in that position if it didn’t have NFL talent on the roster.
ESPN insider Pete Thamel reported on College Football Countdown Saturday morning that, when he was in Happy Valley a few weeks back, an NFL team told him that Penn State has “11 draftable players.”
The most the school has ever produced in one draft is 10, which happened in 1996.
That draft featured several players— such as receiver Bobby Engram and offensive linemen Jeff Hartings and Marco Rivera— that were fixtures on the undefeated 1994 team that many still feel was robbed of a national title.
For many, this 2025 team should be the best one Penn State has had since ‘94. One advantage this team has that wasn’t available to the ‘94 team is the 12-team College Football Playoff. So if Penn State doesn’t win it all, it won’t be because it didn’t get a fair chance.
As far as the specific “draftable players”, Thamel didn’t throw out any specific names but Penn State fans could probably guess them.
Offensively, quarterback Drew Allar could be the first overall pick. Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen could be among the first running backs to go. On the offensive line, Vega Ioane and Drew Shelton each could go in the first round, and at least one of Penn State’s transfer receivers (Trebor Pena, Devonte Ross, Kyron Hudson) should play themselves into a draft spot, as should tight end Khalil Dinkins.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Defensively, Dani Dennis-Sutton might be the first defensive end off the board, and opposite end Zuriah Fisher could go in the later rounds.
Defensive tackle Zane Durant may also be a first-round pick.
In the secondary, A.J. Harris could be the first Penn State DB to ever go in the first round, and safety Zakee Wheatley is a good bet to be an early-round selection.
So, really, 11 might be the minimum of Penn State players that could go.
There are players such as defensive tackle Alonzo Ford Jr. and center Nick Dawkins that one could argue will be drafted.
The possible journey to a national title begins Aug. 30 against Nevada at Beaver Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 on CBS.
