Penn State is hosting their Pro Day on March 24th, inviting scouts from NFL teams to watch former Nittany Lions go through drills.
13 players are getting the opportunity to showcase their skills and meet with personnel to improve their draft stock. There are names like Joey Porter Jr. and Ji’Ayir Brown who have solidified themselves as picks, but there are also fringe players hoping to hear their names called in the late rounds.
The list of participants on the offensive side of the ball includes, quarterback Sean Clifford, offensive lineman Juice Scruggs, tight end Brenton Strange, wide receivers Mitchell Tinsley and Parker Washington.
The defensive players participating are, defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, defensive end Nick Tarburton, linebacker Jonathan Sutherland, cornerback Joey Porter Jr. and safety Ji’Ayir Brown.
Three specialists will also showcase their skills. Long snapper Chris Stoll, punter Barney Amor and kicker Jake Pinegar will be going through drills and meeting NFL teams.
Here are five players that can improve their draft stock by performing well at the Pro Day.
Jan 2, 2023; Pasadena, California; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Sean Clifford (14) celebrates on the podium after the Penn State Nittany Lions defeated the Utah Utes in the 109th Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
After finishing his career at Penn State by winning the Rose Bowl, Sean Clifford played in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl game. He received praise from former NFL coach, Jeff Fisher, after the event.
However, Clifford was not one of the 15 quarterbacks invited to the NFL Combine. That decision raised some eyebrows by people considering who else was invited.
This is a big opportunity for Clifford to showcase his talents and potentially compete for a roster spot if he goes undrafted.
Oct 29, 2022; University Park, Pennsylvania; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Parker Washington (3) reacts after making a catch during the fourth quarter against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Beaver Stadium. Ohio State defeated Penn State 44-31. Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
Although Parker Washington was invited to the NFL Combine, he did not compete in the on-field drills while he was recovering from his foot injury. It’s not determined yet if Washington will be doing on-field drills during the Pro Day.
Not running and doing drills at the combine hurt his draft stock. If he’s able to showcase what he can do athletically for the scouts in attendance, Washington will definitely hear his name called during the draft. Even if he can’t participate in the on-field drills, it’s another opportunity for him to meet with NFL teams.
Penn State defensive tackle PJ Mustipher (97) celebrates after tackling Indiana running back Stephen Carr (5) in the first half of their NCAA college football game in State College, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
PJ Mustipher did not have a good performance at the NFL Combine. He ranked near the bottom of the defensive tackle group for the 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle and bench press.
That is not a good showing for Mustipher who is projected to go undrafted. He has a major opportunity to improve his stock if he can show his athleticism during this Pro Day. If he’s able to, it could be argued that the combine performance was just an off-day and he could work his way into the late rounds of the draft.
Dec 12, 2020; University Park, Pennsylvania; Penn State Nittany Lions kicker Jake Pinegar (92) kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans at Beaver Stadium. Penn State defeated Michigan State 39-24. Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports
This name might shock some people, but let’s be honest, has anyone seen the state of kicking in the NFL? Teams sometimes go through multiple kickers in one single season. Kickers are a premium position at the next level. Nobody notices the good kickers, but everyone notices the bad kickers.
That’s why Jake Pinegar has a great opportunity to put his name on the call list with a good performance at the Pro Day. His college stats aren’t anything that will make scouts clamor over him, but with a good performance in front of their eyes, that could go a long way for Pinegar.
STATE COLLEGE, PA – NOVEMBER 20: Jonathan Sutherland #0 of the Penn State Nittany Lions celebrates after a play against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights during the first half at Beaver Stadium on November 20, 2021 in State College, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Jonathan Sutherland might be another name that surprises people, but he could work himself into a special teams role at the NFL level. That is not a bad profession to have and teams like the New England Patriots put a premium on finding these types of players.
Sutherland is probably not athletic or talented enough to hold down a rotational position in the NFL. He’s currently projected to go undrafted, which makes the journey to a roster much more difficult. However, if he performs well at the Pro Day, he could find himself competing for a roster spot.
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