Blue White Illustrated

June-July 2022

Penn State Sports Magazine

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J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 2 41 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M ways, it's a bit of a man-zone concept. Cover 4 fits Castro-Fields very well with his impressive deep speed and burst. The issue is when he has to rally and tackle. You'd never expect a sixth-round pick to start his rookie season, but the biggest issue for Castro-Fields will be the depth and competition at the position. Rasheed Walker ROUND: Seventh (249th overall pick) TEAM: Green Bay Packers DETAILS: Despite receiving mixed assessments of his draft potential, Walker decided to leave Penn State before exhausting his eligibility. Some observers felt he needed another year of refinement at the college level, but Walker took his chances, and he ended up hearing his name called, albeit to- ward the end of the draft's final day. His Penn State career ended uncer- emoniously when an injury forced him to miss the Outback Bowl. However, he was a three-year starter and two-time All-Big Ten pick. As a recruit coming out of North Point (Md.) High, he was seen as a pros- pect with a ready-made NFL frame who would one day flourish at the next level. That time has now arrived. FRANKLIN SAYS: "Rasheed is ex- tremely deserving of this opportunity with the Packers. He has been a steady contributor to our program, with 32 starts at left tackle." CARR'S ANALYSIS: Walker finds himself in an unusually good situation regarding potential playing time, be- cause the Packers do not have a start- ing right tackle on the roster. There's a realistic scenario in which the 6-6, 325-pound tackle finds himself in the starting lineup or in a key reserve role as a rookie. Jesse Luketa ROUND: Seventh (256th overall pick) TEAM: Arizona Cardinals DETAILS: Luketa's selection on the draft's third day capped a memorable run during which he made many big plays and switched successfully from linebacker to defensive end during his final season. A native of Canada, he crossed the border to play his high school football at Mercyhurst Prep in Erie and developed into a four-star recruit in the 2018 class. Luketa played in 46 games at PSU and started 17, amassing 151 tackles (11.5 for loss). FRANKLIN SAYS: "The Cardinals just selected a player who absolutely loves the game of football. I'm a huge fan of Jesse, and I'm proud of all he has ac- complished within our program." CARR'S ANALYSIS: Arizona needs a new pass rusher, but the 6-3, 247-pound Luketa never displayed that capability at Penn State. The Cardinals also drafted San Diego State's Cameron Thomas in the third round. Luketa will need to use his length and physicality to make it on spe- cial teams for long enough to learn how to rush the passer. ■ Nate Bauer, Thomas Frank Carr, David Eckert and Greg Pickel contributed to this report. Joey Porter Jr. Lauded As Potential First-Rounder In 2023 The 2022 NFL Draft was barely over when the first batch of 2023 mock drafts started appearing online. BWI sampled the drafts put together by The Athletic, CBS Sports, Bleacher Report and Pro Football Focus. The one Penn State player who caught nearly everyone's attention was redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. Porter eschewed the NFL Draft this past offseason, electing to return for a third year as a starter in Happy Valley. While he struggled with pass interference penalties as a sophomore, he was an effective de- fender, and he appeared in the first round of three of the four mock drafts. Dane Brugler of The Athletic was espe- cially bullish on Porter, projecting him as the 20th overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts. Ryan Wilson of CBS Sports had him going 26th to the Seattle Seahawks, while Brent Sobleski of Bleacher Report tabbed him 30th overall to the Detroit Lions. Michael Renner of PFF was the only analyst who had Porter outside of his first round. The analysts like Porter's length and physicality. The son of former Pittsburgh Steelers All-Pro linebacker Joey Porter Sr., he's listed at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds by Penn State. Sobleski noted that Porter "brings a certain level of toughness and skill worthy of his name. … [He] has been taught the right way to play football by his All-Pro father. The younger Porter will stick his nose into the action and won't concede a single inch." Brugler noted that Porter "isn't the most consistent cover man and has his share of missteps on tape, but he is a long, fluid athlete with the potential to be a future first-round pick with continued development." Four From PSU Sign Free Agent Deals In addition to the team's eight draftees, four former Penn State players signed free agent contracts fol- lowing the draft. As of early May, the Nittany Lions' contingent of free agent signees consisted of inside linebacker Ellis Brooks (Green Bay), safety Drew Hartlaub (Carolina), defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo (Atlanta) and of- fensive lineman Eric Wilson (New Orleans). — David Eckert Porter is preparing for his third season as a starting cornerback for the Nittany Lions. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL

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