Penn State puts two in NFL Draft top 25 for the first time since 2003: Newsstand
Penn State news, notes, and updates for April 26 include a recap of Day 1 of the NFL Draft, headlines of the day, and more.
It’s time to dive into Friday’s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.
Penn State tweets of the day
We start with a recap of the opening round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Penn State had two players go off the board within the first 25 picks of Round 1 for the first time since 2003 when Jimmy Kennedy, Michael Haynes, and Bryant Johnson went Nos. 12, 14, and 17, respectively. This year, the New York Jets picked left tackle Olu Fashanu at No. 11 before the Miami Dolphins took defensive end Chop Robinson at No. 21. It marks the 10th time Penn State has had multiple first-round selections in the same draft.
According to Penn State football communications, Fashanu is the 27th former Nittany Lion to go to the Jets and the first since quarterback Christian Hackenberg landed with the AFC North franchise in 2016. He is also the second-highest draft pick in Lions lore since running back Saquon Barkley went to the crosstown New York Giants in 2018 and the seventh offensive lineman to be drafted in the James Franklin era.
“With Olu, obviously him being a left tackle, what he does in pass pro, his production in pass pro, he has very low-pressure rates playing in one of the best conferences in the country,” New York Jets general manager Joe Douglas said. “He’s just a really high-level, high-impact pass protector. I don’t think he gets enough credit for his run-blocking. He’s a very tough, competitive young man.”
As for Robinson, he is the 13th Nittany Lion selected by the Miami Dolphins and the first since Mike Gesicki in 2018. The Maryland native is also the seventh defensive end drafted in the James Franklin era.
Headlines of the day
What kind of fit is Penn State first-rounder Olu Fashanu with the New York Jets? A near-perfect one: Flounders, PennLive
What they’re saying about Penn State All-American Olu Fashanu going to the New York Jets: Pickel, BWI
NFL Draft: What Penn State’s Chop Robinson Brings to the Miami Dolphins: Wogenrich, SI
Future Penn State prospect Lyrick Samuel among ‘ascending’ receivers in 2025 class: Snyder, BWI
Chop Robinson rookie contract figures with Miami Dolphins revealed after NFL Draft: Truax, On3
Penn State fallers from spring camp: Carr, BWI
Quote of the day
“Lyrick Samuel has a lot of things going for him the more I learn about him. First off, he should be a 2026 guy, age-wise. He’s extremely young. So, when you look at his development, it totally makes sense. This guy is 16 years old and he’s getting better and better at a rate that’s probably a little faster than some of the other receivers that we’ve known about for a while.”
–On3 Director of Scouting Charles Power on PSU Class of 2025 commit Lyrick Samuel
