Former Penn State players pop up in new NFL mock draft: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for Jan. 23 include a new NFL mock draft, the first college coaches’ wrestling rankings, and more.
It’s time to dive into Tuesday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with a new NFL mock draft. NFL Network analyst Bucky Brooks released his first projections for the first 32 picks in this year’s pro selection process on Monday. Former Lions left tackle Olu Fashanu is slotted at No. 7 to the Tennessee Titans. It’s a familiar for the Maryland native, as numerous mock drafts have him going to the AFC South franchise within the first 10 picks. Brooks later has one-time Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson going at No. 30 overall to the Detroit Lions.
“After dealing with a season of offensive woes, the Titans prioritize the front line with the selection of Fashanu,” Brooks writes. He adds:
“The Lions need to find a complementary pass rusher to place opposite Aidan Hutchinson. Robinson is a freak athlete.”
In other news, the first college wrestling coaches’ rankings of the 2023-2024 season are. Numerous Nittany Lions are not included since they did not meet the eight match threshold to be ranked. And, ballots had to be in by the end of last week, which negated this past weekend’s action. Of the Penn State competitors who were eligible, freshman Braeden Davis is No. 11 at 125 pounds. First-year Lion Aaron Nagao is No. 2 at 133, and senior Beau Bartlett is No. 2 at 141 pounds. Mitchell Mesenbrink is the other ranked Penn State wrestler. He is No. 7 at 165 pounds.
Headlines of the day
Former Penn State commit Isheem Young has a new college football home: Linder, PennLive
T-Frank’s Film Room: Penn State gets another quality tackle project in Owen Aliciene: Carr, BWI
Former Penn State men’s basketball player Jamari Wheeler signs with Grand Rapids Gold: Allenstein, Daily Collegian
Penn State edge Dani Dennis-Sutton sees progress made, next steps: Bauer, BWI
Penn State Football Positional Grades for the coverage units: Jones, Statecollege.com
New Penn State commit Owen Aliciene opens up about his decision: Snyder, BWI
Quote of the day
“I think Coach [James] Franklin’s program really replicates what my coach has built here at Avon and what he really preaches to us, which I really like. He emphasizes education, which is really important to my family. He was talking about how for everyone on the team, there’s no option not to graduate. If you’re going to go there, you’re going to be there until you graduate, which I think is important.
“I also think that they’re heading in the right direction. When it comes to the recruits they’re getting and the development they do, I think they can develop me just as good or better than anyone in the country. I really trust Coach Trautwein and Coach Franklin. That’s pretty much why I made my decision, the trust I have in them. They were also the ones who reached out to me the most and showed the most interest in me throughout.”
–New PSU 2025 commit Owen Aliciene on the Nittany Lions.
