Which Penn State players are participating in Pro Day?
Penn State is set for its annual Pro Day. The event brings NFL personnel to State College every year to see former Nittany Lions who hope to make the pros work out in the Lasch Building, where the bench press is held, and Holuba Hall, where everything from the 40-yard-dash to on-field position-specific workouts take place.
Head coaches, general managers, and scouts alike from nearly or all 32 NFL teams have made the trek during the James Franklin era. Who will they watch this year? A total of 13 Lions are set to participate.
Five Lions on offense will take part
Five former Penn State players on offense will do some or all of the drills at Pro Day. Receivers Parker Washington and Mitchell Tinsley will take part. So, too, will quarterback Sean Clifford, tight end Brenton Strange, and guard Juice Scruggs.
What will we be watching for?
Let’s start with Washington. He attended the NFL Combine but did not participate in on-field work due to the foot injury he suffered toward the end of the 2022 season. That, of course, hurt his NFL Draft stock after leaving school with eligibility still on the table. But, if he can run at Pro Day, he could easily bump it back up. Whether or not that will happen, though, is unclear, despite his inclusion on the list.
“I’m still working through the process,” Washington told PennLive in February. “I’m just trying to get better every day. It’s been an exciting process, an exciting draft development. I’m excited.”
Strange and Scruggs tested well at the NFL Combine. So, it will be interesting to see how much they do. Tinsley, then, could improve on his number from Indianapolis. And, of course, all eyes will be on Clifford. His path to making a pro roster will be difficult as an undrafted free agent. But, Pro Day will give him his last best shot to impress scouts.
There are five participants on defense, too
Five former Lions defenders will work out. The list includes safety Ji’Ayir Brown, cornerback Joey Porter Jr., defensive tackle PJ Mustipher, linebacker Jonathan Sutherland, and defensive end Nick Tarburton.
What will our eye be on with this group?
Mustipher did not put his best testing foot forward in Indianapolis. To be fair, defensive tackles his size rarely do. But, he has a chance to take a step forward back on his home turf. As for ‘JPJ’, his first-round status is secure. He may end up doing nothing in front of pro scouts unless they request to see something. And, even that he could turn down. So, we’ll see what he decides to do. Brown, then, could possibly put better running numbers on the board. So, it would be a surprise if he didn’t do those drills.
Full Penn State Pro Day participant list
Punter Barney Amor
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown
Quarterback Sean Clifford
Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher
Kicker Jake Pinegar
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr.
Guard Juice Scruggs
Long snapper Chris Stoll
Tight end Brenton Strange
Linebacker Jonathan Sutherland
Defensive end Nick Tarburton
Receiver Mitchell Tinsley
Receiver Parker Washington
