Watch Penn State athletes run the 40 and compete in the L-drill
Penn State football held its annual Pro Day at Holuba Hall on Thursday and Blue White Illustrated was on hand to see it all. Film evaluator for BWI, Thomas Frank Carr, breaks down the testing metrics for Nittany Lion athletes going through the 40-yard dash and agility, or L-drill, at Pro Day.
Key Penn State Players helped themselves with fast 40
He starts with the 40, which was vital for several players that did not run, or ran sub-optimal times at the 2022 NFL Combine. The biggest winner on the day was safety Jaquan Brisker, who ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and improved on his vertical leap from the combine, jumping 38.5 inches. Brisker said after the event that he tweaked his back while bench pressing (22 reps) but tried to compete afterward still. The results were a 34-inch vertical leap and a 4.49 40, which were below his expectations.
The results on Thursday were much more in line with his previously reported testing metrics. His vertical leap would have tied for second at the combine, and his 40 time would have tied for eighth. The senior safety also mentioned that NFL teams had asked him if he could play all six positions in the secondary, including slot and boundary corner. With testing numbers like that, at 206 pounds, it’s a possibility.
Penn State defensive end Arnold Ebikeite was the next player that helped himself with a 4.65 40. The 250-pound edge rusher also notched a sub 7.0 three-cone drill, rounding out his profile with great bend as an elite edge rusher. He then continued to shine during field drills with textbook bag and pass-rushing drills.
One underdog player winning Hart(laub)s on Thursday
Special teams ace Drew Hartlaub also drew eyeballs with a possibly historical time. He performed well in the on-field testing that BWI observed, and punter Jordan Stout raved about him during player interviews.
More Pro Day Content:
Bauer: Penn State CB Tariq Castro-Fields sees bright future for position
Pickel: Why can the Penn State offense be better in 2022? Jahan Dotson offers these reasons for optimism
Snyder: BWI Photos: Penn State football hosts annual Pro Day
Eckert: Final results from Penn State football’s Pro Day
“I was asked what one player we might expect that you’d want to bring with you. I told probably 29 teams you need to get Drew [Hartlaub]. He’s gonna be a gunner and he’s gonna be really good at it.”
Finally, Penn State linebacker Brandon Smith filled out his testing profile with a stellar number in the agility drill. Check out the video to see and hear why that is important for his evaluation.
