Penn State center Juice Scruggs explains decision to enter 2023 NFL Draft, provides outlook on Lions' line next year
LOS ANGELES — Penn State center Juice Scruggs announced on Dec. 23 that he would not return to the Lions for another season in favor of entering the 2023 NFL Draft. It was a choice the senior said he made only one day earlier.
The 6-foot-3, 310-pound multi-year starter from Erie, Pa., will play his final game in blue and white when the Lions battle Utah in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 2. He has yet to figure out where he will train for the next level following it. But, he’s confident about what lies ahead.
“The night before [the 23rd], it just hit me,” Scruggs said at a media event here on Thursday. “I told my family, and they were like, we got your back, and we support you. They just let me know they’re with me no matter what. It was just something I felt, and I went with it.”
“It was definitely hard. I was contemplating and going back and forth, thinking about coming back or going. But at the end of the day, I sat down with my family and my support cast, and I just realized it was the best decision for me to go for it and put my name in the Draft.”
Scruggs aims to boost his Draft stock next following his final Penn State game
Scruggs will start his 13th game at center and 26th overall as a Lion against the Utes. NFL scouts will undoubtedly like his versatility, as he played guard to start his time at Penn State before moving over one spot along the offensive line in 2022.
However, his name does not appear on many media draft boards just yet. And, feedback so far indicates he’s a Day 3 pick, at best, right now. But, that can change following the Shrine Bowl, which Scruggs will play in, and other events leading up to the selection process in April.
“I got anywhere from fourth, fifth, sixth round, but you know how all that changes,” Scruggs said. “I’m looking forward to putting myself out there and changing that projection.”
Penn State will enter 2023 without Scruggs but with an experienced offensive lineman in line to take his place. That’s current starting guard Hunter Nourzad, who is projected to slide inside for Mike Yurcich’s attack next fall. He’ll be joined by returning starting left tackle Olu Fashanu plus numerous other experienced Lions.
“I got nothing but faith in those guys,” Scruggs said. “Olu, as you guys know, is going to be a top-10 pick in the future. Hunter, he’s going to be a great center.
“Then, you got young guys, Drew Shelton and Vega [Ioane] coming in and stepping up. Then, you got Landon [Tengwall] coming back off of injury. You got Nick Dawkins coming back off of injury. You just got a whole bunch of guys, and a whole lot of depth. I’m excited to watch them, and I’m going to be rooting for them every week.”
