Best, worst fits for Penn State players in NFL Draft: BWI Daily
This past weekend, Penn State had eight players selected in the 2022 NFL Draft. So who went to a good situation? Who found themselves stuck in a bad one? Blue White Illustrated film analyst Thomas Frank Carr and reporter Greg Pickel discuss that on the BWI Daily Edition. They breakdown the entire draft weekend from former Nittany Lion Jahan Dotson going 16th overall to the four undrafted players signing with teams after the event’s conclusion.
Penn State in the NFL Draft: Recap
They start the show with Pickel’s observations about the trends of the NFL and the draft based on the changing landscape of the NFL.
T-Frank picks up on Pickel’s thought and discusses Penn State’s top selection, Dotson, who went higher than most experts anticipated. What caused his draft stock to rise? T-Frank compares the situation to the “slide” of linebacker Micah Parsons last season. Before moving on to the next Nittany Lion draft pick, T-Frank comments on one very unique aspect of this draft that he saw play out on Thursday and Friday night.
From there, T-Frank shows the full list of drafted Penn State Nittany Lions, which Pickel comments that a bulk of the talent from Penn State went in the final two rounds. He also touches on Rasheed Walker and Brandon Smith leaving college early and not finding a home until Day 3 of the draft.
Check out the full show for more. Subscribe to Blue White Illustrated on YouTube for more great video content. Also, find the BWI Daily wherever you get your podcasts.
How Arnold Ebiketie fits with the Atlanta Falcons
After years of trying to find a consistent pass rush, the Atlanta Falcons finally have their guy in former Penn State defensive end, Arnold Ebiketie. The Falcons have taken multiple swings at defensive end over the years, between Takkarist McKinely and Vic Beasley in the first round. Ebiketie should end that need and pair well with All-Pro defensive tackle Grady Jarret on the interior.
Here is what I wrote about Ebiketie’s ideal fit at the next level earlier this week.
“More importantly, Ebiketie isn’t a bad run defender. From a production standpoint, the former Penn State Nittany Lion is top-25 among daft eligible edge defenders in 2021. He uses his hands and quickness to slip blocks and create issues in the backfield for runners. Does he occasionally lose to a bigger, strong lineman? Yes, but no player is perfect.
That’s why the wide nine defense is an excellent fit for Ebiketie. He can use angles and speed to slip blocks from a wide (outside the tight end) alignment, and it’s a perfect defense for speed rushers to terrorize offensive tackles.”
