The 2023 NFL Combine is approaching quickly. There will be a decent number of Penn State players in the NFL Combine this year. This is a chance for these young players to show their skills, meet with NFL coaches, and boost their draft stock. There will be seven Nittany Lions present this year. Here is a look at the Penn State players in the NFL Combine this year.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Ji’Ayir Brown
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown spent three years with the Penn State Nittany Lions and made his name known within the school. Penn State has had a strong defense, and Brown is a large reason for that. Despite only playing in six games his freshman year, in 2021 and 2022, he played in 13 games both years.
In his three years with the Nittany Lions, Brown had a total of 153 combined tackles, 122 of which were solo, according to Sports Reference. Brown had nine tackles for loss in three years, but seven of those were in 2022. In addition to that jump, he also had 4.5 sacks in 2022. Penn State defensive coordinator Manny Diaz joined the team in 2022 and may have been a big part of the difference with Brown when it comes to tackles for loss and sacks.
In addition to his strength at tackling, Brown caught ten interceptions in just three years with Penn State. Of those interceptions, he was able to take them for 226 total yards and one touchdown. He also had nine pass deflections, and three forced fumbles. In addition to his success with interceptions, he has had three fumble recoveries, one being for a touchdown. Brown will be one of the players in the NFL Combine to watch, and expect him to rise as a draft prospect.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: PJ Mustipher
Defensive tackle, PJ Mustipher is another Penn State player that will be heading to the NFL Combine. Mustipher spent five years with the Nittany Lions and has been a great player for them. His one downfall has been health, but returning to Penn State for a fifth year may have been a great decision for him, as he played in 13 games.
In his five years, Mustipher had a total of 144 combined tackles, 68 of which were solo, and 10.5 tackles for loss according to Sports Reference. He also had three tackles and two forced fumbles. Mustipher also had one pass deflection, which is something that demonstrates his reflexes. Mustipher’s ability to come back in his fifth year and play in 13 games already helped boost when he may get drafted, but watch him during the NFL Combine as he gets another chance to prove himself.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Joey Porter Jr.
Cornerback Joey Porter Jr is an expected first-round pick, and as one of the players in the NFL Combine, he has the chance to meet with NFL coaches and personnel. This can be his chance to make teams push to get him, not expecting him to fall to them. Porter spent four years with the Nittany Lions and was a big reason for their defensive success.
In Porter’s four years, he had a total of 113 tackles, 86 of which were solo, and two tackles for loss according to Sports Reference. He also had two tackles for loss and one sack. When looking at Porter’s seasons, his third year may look like his best, as he also played in the most games that year, but in 2022 there was something different about his game. Before 2022, Porter had a total of nine pass deflections. In the 2022 season, he had 11. The large jump in just one season is a big reason Porter will most likely be drafted in the first round of the NFL Draft.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Juice Scruggs
Penn State center, Juice Scruggs will also be one of the players in the NFL Combine this year. Scruggs has been with the Nittany Lions since 2018. Penn State struggled with protecting the quarterback early in the season, but about halfway through has a big turnaround. Similarly to Mustihpher, playing one more year may have been a great decision by Scruggs. Penn State went on to win the Rose Bowl, playing against a tough defense with Utah.
Pro Football Focus also ranked Scruggs among the top five standouts in the East-West Shrine Bowl. According to Pro Football Focus, Scruggs only lost three of his 56 pass-blocking snaps. Based on his performance, expect Scruggs to slowly creep up during the draft and be drafted earlier than some may have expected.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Brenton Strange
Tight end Brenton Strange had a great season for the Nittany Lions this year and is a player that NFL teams and fans should look at. Strange became a clutch player for quarterback Sean Clifford to throw to and was a player to do whatever he could for extra yards. Strange spent four seasons with the Nittany Lions, and each season he has demonstrated improvement.
In Strange’s four years with the Nittany Lions, he had 70 receptions for 755 total years and 11 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Throughout four seasons, he averaged 10.8 yards per reception, which is a statistic that demonstrates he fights for as many yards as he can. As one of the players in the NFL Combine, Strange will have the chance to meet with teams that are looking for a tight end that they can rely on.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Mitchell Tinsley
Wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley spent just one season with Penn State, after transferring from Western Kentucky. Tinsley did very well with Western Kentucky, but transferring to Penn State may have been a great help for him to potentially be taken in the NFL Draft.
In three years of college football, Tinsley had 181 receptions for 2,356 receiving yards, according to Sports Reference. In his second year, when he was with Western Kentucky, Tinsley had 1,402 receiving yards. He also had 23 touchdowns in three years.
PSU Players in the NFL Combine: Parker Washington
Wide receiver Parker Washington only needed three years at Penn State to show he is good enough to move on to the NFL. Washington has the potential to be drafted pretty early in the 2023 NFL draft. Washington was a player who did everything he could in order to make the reception. As he is one of the players in the NFL Combine this year, this is his chance to talk to NFL coaches and personnel to boost his draft stock even higher.
In his three years, Washington had 146 receptions for 1,920 yards and 12 touchdowns, according to Sports Reference. Washington averaged 13.2 yards per reception as well. Washington did end his season early this year due to injury. Luckily for him, he should still be able to be at his best for the 2023 NFL Combine.
The NFL Combine will take place from February 28th to March 6th. in Indianapolis. Having seven Penn State players in the NFL Combine this year is great for the school, and all of these players deserve a shot in the NFL.
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