Penn State football | Breaking down how all 13 players fared at Nittany Lions’ Pro Day | Sports

STATE COLLEGE — Thirteen of Penn State’s best moved closer to realizing their dreams at NFL Pro Day this week.

Representatives from all 32 NFL teams made their way to Holuba Hall on Friday to get a closer look at projected first-round picks such as left tackle Olu Fashanu and edge rusher Chop Robinson as well as players that could be taken in later rounds – Adisa Isaac, Theo Johnson, Curtis Jacobs and Kalen King, among others.

Here’s how all 13 players fared at Pro Day:

Theo Johnson

Tight end Theo Johnson attacked Friday’s Pro Day with something to prove, specifically that he could move dynamically for a 6-foot-6, 261-pound man.

Johnson, like many others, bypassed the 40-yard dash and other drills at Pro Day. At the combine, Johnson ran a 4.57 40-yard dash and bench-pressed 225 pounds 19 times while showcasing a 39.5-inch vertical leap.

For Johnson, Pro Day was all about consistency and doing what he does best.

“It’s just continuing being consistent with what I’ve done so far,” Johnson said. “Something a lot of people have said is, they don’t feel like I can move as well for my size, so I want to show everybody that I’m fluid in my routes and move around a lot different than a typical 6-6, 260-pound man.”

Johnson looked good running routes and catching passes from quarterback Drew Allar, a welcomed sight for him during the pre-draft process.

“It was awesome,” Johnson said. “Being here around the guys that you trained with for four years on our home field, it’s great. I’ve got a lot of love for the school and it was awesome being out here in front of my guys and my family.”

Though he posted career-highs in receptions (34), yardage (341) and touchdowns (7) last season, Johnson was used much differently than in previous seasons; something he believes raised concerns for scouts.

After going through the combine in Indianapolis and now Pro Day, Johnson feels that he’s done enough to quell any doubts.

“I think I’ve helped myself a ton,” Johnson said. “I was a guy that people had a lot of questions about. I wasn’t able to put as much as I feel like I was able to on tape but throughout this process, I think I’ve shown people I can move well. I’m not your typical big, wide tight end. I can do anything you need at tight end, so I think I’ve definitely helped myself a lot in this process so far.”

In a colorful moment on Friday, Johnson was asked what the strangest question he’s been asked in the pre-draft interviews with teams.

Suffice it to say his answer did not disappoint.

“Strangest question I had was, how many basketballs can you fit on a school bus?” Johnson said. “It was a long calculation thing about how wide a basketball is, how wide a seat, how high it is. It was a long big thing. I’m not going to try and figure it out in front of all you guys, but that’s definitely the strangest question I got for sure.”

Kalen King

A lot of eyes were on cornerback Kalen King during Friday’s Pro Day.

The Detroit native raised some concerns with a lackluster 40-yard dash time in Indianapolis, clocking the fourth-slowest time among the eight players who participated — just behind Fashanu (5.11), right tackle Caedan Wallace (5.15), and edge rusher Adisa Isaac (4.74).

Coming into the pre-draft process, much has been made of King’s 2023 season compared to his 2022 production. 

In 2023, King recorded 29 total tackles (20 solo), no interceptions and only two pass breakups. However, in 2022, King was much more productive with 30 total tackles (23 solo),  three interceptions and a career-high 21 pass breakups.

The junior could have opted to return for his senior season, but ultimately decided to forego the Peach Bowl and focus on the NFL Draft.

“I wouldn’t say it was tough at all,” King said of his decision to declare for the draft. “This is something I’ve been working toward since I was six years old. Me finally being in a position to do so, I don’t think it was tough at all.”

King felt he helped himself on Friday, posting a faster 4.52 40-yard dash and a 4.14 shuttle time.

When asked if he felt like he had something he needed to prove to NFL scouts, King bristled at the notion — saying that his value is best seen by what he puts out on the field.

“My game shows my toughness, my heart, my competitiveness, and the way I just approach the game,” King said. “I feel like I’m one of the most competitive guys out there, and qualities like that don’t really show up on times. I always feel like I’ve got something (to prove to myself). Even when I don’t, I always do. I always put that expectation on myself to earn the respect of everybody. That’s what I go off of.

“I feel like I answered a lot of questions today. I’m just ready to get on a team and show the team what I can do as a player. I’m not really here to prove anything to nobody. I’ve only got to impress myself at the end of the day. I’m not here to impress anyone. I just know the type of work that I put in.”

Keaton Ellis

Safety Keaton Ellis was one of four Nittany Lions who weren’t invited to Indianapolis for the NFL combine.

Ellis used the Pro Day to put his best foot forward in front of NFL scouts. Coming in at 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Ellis benched 225 pounds 13 times, clocked a 4.43 40-yard dash and registered a 39-inch vertical leap.

According to Ellis, though he wasn’t invited to the combine, he’s been going through a mini-combine of sorts with his teammates.

“Every Friday, we come in same time as we would have it today and go through everything,” Ellis said. “We knew we were going to be doing all the drills so we needed to make sure that we felt what it would be like, so every Friday we came in and we kept getting better and better each week and we’re just really happy with the work that we’ve put in. It’s kind of a be your brother’s keeper thing. When someone’s having a bad day, I was there to pick them up and help us get to work. I’m just grateful for this friendship and being able to work Coach (Terry) Smith. I appreciate him for training us and forever thankful for that.

“I’ve enjoyed it and just to kind of really focus in and making the main thing the main thing and just every day coming in and trying to get better. I’m just gonna continue to work. Obviously, it doesn’t stop here. I’ve got to continue to work and get better at everything I can and I’m just excited for the future.”

Olu Fashanu

As mentioned earlier, Fashanu is projected to be a top-10 pick in next month’s NFL Draft. The 6-foot-6, 312-pound left tackle performed well at the NFL combine, despite not performing any bench press reps.

Simply put, Fashanu is a sure thing. After all, he was considered a top-10 pick after the 2022 season but elected to return to Penn State to get his degree and play one more season in Happy Valley.

Fashanu navigated the 2023 season well, playing limited reps at times due to the team’s depth on the offensive line and successfully managed to not compromise his draft stock.

“It’s gonna be great,” Fashanu said. “I mean, that’s the moment that I’ve dreamt of for a long time. It’s been a very long goal of mine since I started playing football and when that moment comes, I’m not really sure what I’m gonna do. I’m just gonna make sure I embrace everyone who’s been with me this entire time.”

Like with Johnson, Fashanu admits he was asked some left field questions during the interview process but maintains he didn’t get anything nearly as thought-provoking as Johnson.

“I think I was pretty fortunate,” Fashanu said with a smile. “I didn’t have too many odd questions. The only question that I got was not football-related was who’s the G.O.A.T., LeBron or MJ?”

When asked who he chose, Fashanu didn’t hesitate, “LeBron.”

Chop Robinson

Prior to Pro Day, edge rusher Chop Robinson made waves by running a 4.48 40-yard dash time at 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds — giving him the third-highest athleticism score among edge rushers with an 84.

“When I finished, I looked up and I didn’t see the time,” Robinson said of his viral 40 time. “I was walking back. I saw Adisa and the guys I was training with Exos just clapping and so happy for me and I knew I hit something crazy. I was just excited after seeing those guys.”

According to his draft profile, Robinson projects as a first-year starter and mock drafts have him going in the 20s next month.

Robinson insists he doesn’t concern himself with any of the projections with the draft 41 days away.

“I don’t pay attention to any mock drafts,” Robinson said. “I know what type of guy I am, what type of player I am so wherever I end up first, second, third round, fourth round, doesn’t matter to me. They’re gonna get the same player regardless of what pick.”

Adisa Isaac

Isaac figures to be an early-round draft pick next month coming off a career year in 2023 with 37 total tackles, 7.5 sacks and 16 tackles for loss.

Two years removed from a torn Achilles tendon and missing the entire 2021 season, Isaac said he hasn’t been asked about the injury during the pre-draft process and hopes to put the injury further in the rearview the rest of his career.

Though he has played primarily on the edge, Isaac believes he’ll be asked to play outside linebacker in certain schemes.

“Some teams run a different scheme than Penn State so I’ll be in that outside linebacker spot for them,” Isaac said. “It’s pretty much the same things that I’ve been doing here. Similar drops. There might be a little more depth to those drops being an outside linebacker but pretty much the same movements I’ve been doing, same technique. For the majority of it, I’ll still be going forward in the system, but just being able to drop cover.”

Curtis Jacobs

A three-year starter at linebacker, Curtis Jacobs put up a 4.58 40-yard dash along with a 35-inch vertical leap in Indianapolis.

Going through the draft process, Jacobs has had to answer questions about his range as a tackler and ability to navigate blocks.

Jacobs was able to show some things during Pro Day that he couldn’t in Indianapolis, specifically his shuttle time and three-cone drill performance. He posted a 4.4 shuttle time and a 7.15 time in the three-cone drill.

“I feel like it was a great build-up,” Jacobs said. “Obviously, being able to do a combine and getting to do this is something you dream of. I had a great process. It was just amazing to be out here with my guys competing.”

Caedan Wallace

Right tackle Caedan Wallace participated in the shuttle drill, posting a time of 4.78 on Friday.

The versatile 6-foot-5, 314-pound lineman has spent time at almost every position on the offensive line. Most recently, Wallace was asked to fill in at right guard and left tackle at the East-West Shrine Bowl in Frisco, Texas, on Feb. 1.

“Funny story about that, I didn’t practice at guard for the East-West Shrine,” Wallace said. “I was going to start at right tackle that game, then the guy who was playing right guard opted out of the game so I was flung into the spot and I loved it. I had a good time. Obviously, I’m a scheme studier. I knew what my plays and my drills were that I had to do so it all worked out.

“I did pretty good, but it was just fun to be kind of flung in there and be able to show my talents, my versatility. I also played right tackle in that game a little later, so I just like showing teams I can do anything; I can do left side. I can do right side. I can do guard. I can do tackle.”

When asked what the most eye-opening part of the pre-draft process has been, Wallace said the details.

“I’d probably say like the detail of everything,” Wallace said. “Obviously, football is a super detailed sport but having to learn new tactics for interviews or new schemes that different teams run and just the detail of everything, it’s been pretty eye-opening.”

Alex Felkins

Field goal kicking specialist Alex Felkins kicked off the Pro Day festivities with his workout in front of NFL scouts.

Felkins, who hit 19 of 24 field goal attempts last season with a long of 50 yards, successfully banged in field goals from 44, 54, 60 and 61 yards out on Friday.

When asked to grade his performance, Felkins felt there was room for improvement.

“Could have been better, but I thought I showed some really good stuff overall,” Felkins said. “I showed my leg strength, ended with 61 and then kickoffs, I did pretty well. … I had a couple of guys come up to me when I was warming up. So yeah, we’ll see what happens.”

Since 2014, only two kickers have been taken higher than the fourth round: Michigan’s Jake Moody, who was taken by the San Francisco 49ers in the third round in 2023, and Florida State’s Roberto Aguayo, who was drafted in the second round by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2016.

The reality is specialists like Felkins either get taken late or not at all; leaving them to be signed as undrafted free agents.

Understanding the limited opportunities to be an NFL kicker, Felkins prefers to focus on controlling the controllables.

“Just control what I can control, really,” Felkins said. “Especially from here on out, every workout I do has opportunity to either extend my career or shorten it so every time I get an opportunity like this, try to take my full advantage. We’ll see what happens after today. Hopefully, I’ll get some private workouts here within the next few weeks and then we’ll see what happens in the draft and after that.”

Daequan Hardy

Cornerback and punt return specialist Daequan Hardy has really improved his draft stock after a remarkable performance in Indianapolis.

Hardy ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and registered an eye-popping 42.50-inch vertical leap. Considering the concerns over his size at 5-foot-9 and 182 pounds, Hardy did much to silence those concerns — managing to bench 225 pounds 15 times on Friday.

“I just showed them I’m athletic at my size,” Hardy said. “I can run with the best and I can jump with the best.”

In terms of the next level, Hardy projects as a nickel corner but he’s comfortable playing corner or safety if needed.

“It’s been mostly nickel conversation, but I do give the option that I could play also on the outside as well,” Hardy said. “I think I also plan on the hash as a safety, so it’s always an option.

Johnny Dixon

Cornerback Johnny Dixon did not participate in drills Friday and did not test at the NFL Combine due to a hip injury suffered in the Senior Bowl back in January. Dixon measured out at 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds in Indianapolis.

Though injured, Dixon said he’s been able to meet with several NFL teams and make his case through the interview process while he recovers.

“I just approach everything like a pro,” Dixon said. “Show my personality, show them who I am, how I approach my every day and how much I love the game.

“It was a good experience. Most of it was testing your football I.Q., see who you are as a guy. And, for me, that’s easy enough for me to talk to people and I’m real good at talking football so it’s been a great process.”

As far as his injury, Dixon is off of crutches and estimated he’s 2-3 weeks out from being able to make team visits and resume football activities.

While it has been frustrating to be sidelined by injury during the pre-draft process, Dixon remains upbeat about his situation by keeping things in perspective.

“I’ve been through worse,” Dixon said, “so it was just realizing that my journey isn’t over. My story isn’t over, and I know that I’m gonna make it through it. I’m gonna still be everything I want to be.”

Dixon appeared in 12 games last season before opting out of the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in late December. The Tampa, Florida, native recorded 26 total tackles , 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks with four pass breakups, one interception and a forced fumble.

Since opting out of the Peach Bowl, Dixon returned to Tampa, where he started his pre-draft preparation at House of Athlete.

When asked about the decision to opt out of the bowl game, Dixon admitted it wasn’t an easy decision but ultimately was necessary.

“It was tough, but it was a lot that went into it,” Dixon said. “I just decided to not go, and go train.”

Dixon’s Penn State career speaks for itself: 37 games played, 60 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks and three interceptions while playing an integral part of one of the nation’s elite defenses.

In terms of where he fits in among cornerback prospects, Dixon is confident in his ability and versatility to play anywhere in the secondary.

“I’m always gonna think I’m one of the best,” he said. “I feel like I proved that within this last year that I’m one of the best corners. I’m very versatile, so whether it’s nickel corner, I feel like when you get me, you’re getting DB through and through.”

Hunter Nourzad

Center Hunter Nourzad did not participate at the NFL Combine due to a stress reaction in his leg, which he feels was brought on due to focusing on athleticism and explosiveness during the training process.

Nourzad did not work out at Friday’s Pro Day, but was able to get favorable measurables during the portion he was able to do in Indianapolis. Nourzad measured at 6-foot-3 and 319 pounds and benched 225 pounds 27 times.

Trey Potts

Potts was the No. 3 running back behind Kaytron Allen and Nick Singleton last season. The Minnesota transfer made the most of his limited touches as he rushed for 132 yards on 21 carries while throwing an 11-yard touchdown pass and catching three passes for 27 yards in 2023.

Measuring at 5-foot-9 and 202 pounds, Potts ran a 4.6 40-yard dash and registered a 35-inch vertical leap. He also managed a 9-foot-4 broad jump and benched 225 pounds 22 times at Pro Day.