Looking ahead: 10 Penn State football players who could be taken in the 2024 NFL Draft

Penn State had six players taken in the 2023 NFL Draft over the weekend and four more signed with teams as undrafted free agents to begin their professional careers.

Let’s take a look at the next group of Nittany Lions who could hear their names called next year during the 2024 NFL Draft.

OT Olumuyiwa Fashanu

There should be no surprise that Fashanu tops this list. He’s the best offensive tackle in college football and could have been a top-five pick had he chosen to enter the draft this season. Instead, he will return and likely dominate for another season. He has elite size and length and uses his long arms to keep pass rushers at bay. His balance is unmatched by other college tackles and it would be a surprise if he doesn’t go in the top five next season.

CB Kalen King

Joey Porter Jr. surprisingly fell out of the first round this season, leaving the number of Nittany Lion cornerbacks in program history drafted in the first round at zero. King will have a chance to break that streak next year and should bring the type of ability that solidifies himself on the first day of the draft. He’s a lockdown corner and has the versatility to play at an elite level in either man or zone coverage.

DE Chop Robinson

There’s a world where Penn State has three first round picks next season. The Nittany Lions have players at three high priority positions who are as talented as they come and Robinson is the third. He has elite bend around the edge and the kind of athleticism that will show itself on the film and at the NFL Scouting Combine. Robinson could have a huge year in his third in college and that would put him squarely on the first round radar.

TE Theo Johnson

Johnson could be in position for a big year. He’s set to be the starting tight end and should be the team’s primary red zone target because of his size and athleticism. He’s already taken a step forward as a blocker, and should become a favorite target of sophomore quarterback Drew Allar early on. He’s a good enough athlete to go on the second day of next year’s draft. It’s worth nothing that Johnson was recently charged with two misdemeanors stemming from an incident at a fraternity this winter.

DE Adisa Isaac

Isaac made last year’s version of this list but decided to return for another year. He showed he was all the way back after tearing his Achilles tendon and missing the entire 2021 season. This season will give him an opportunity to put out a full year of film at his highest level. He’s an athletic edge rusher with the size and strength to handle himself in the running game. Isaac could go in the middle rounds next year.

CB Johnny Dixon

While King will get the headlines this coming season — and rightfully so — Dixon could make a name for himself, too. He’s a good athlete who has established himself as the second best outside corner on the roster. The senior has good size and should be able to show he’s worth a draft pick this upcoming season. There’s an opportunity for him to be a late round pick with the room for even more growth this year.

LB Curtis Jacobs

Jacobs is an interesting case. He’s a little bit undersized at only 6-foot-1, 235 pounds but is the highest level of athlete for a linebacker. He flies all over the field and can excel at times in coverage, although he still occasionally gets lost there. Jacobs has been a good blitzer, increasing his value, but will have to play his best this season to guarantee himself a good draft spot. Off-ball linebackers, like running backs on offense, aren’t as valued in the draft.

WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith

The first seven on this list feel likely to get drafted but things are up in the air for the last three. Lambert-Smith is an excellent athlete with the short area quickness to create space against even the best cornerbacks in college football. He’s had issues in the past, however, with drops. That’s the biggest facet of his game that needs improvement and if he gets there he could make a major move in the eyes of NFL scouts.

S Keaton Ellis

Ellis is a good athlete who should take over as the leader of Penn State’s safety room. He’s good in coverage and a solid tackler but will need to show he can be more than a solid starter this season. He’s a good enough athlete to have a future in the NFL as a special teamer even if he doesn’t stick on defense, but there’s room for growth for the State College native heading into Penn State’s season.

CB Daequan Hardy

Nickel cornerbacks tend not to get drafted as highly, but players like Hardy have found a way to stick in the NFL for a long time. Like Ellis, his speed could help him on special teams and that should help with his staying power at the next level. However, he’s also good enough in coverage, and physical enough at times in the running game, to find his way onto rosters as a nickel corner.