Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1496986
M A Y 2 0 2 3 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Brenton Strange TE | 6-4 | 249 Projection: Fourth-/ Fifth-Round Pick Strange is one of the most quietly in- triguing players in this year's NFL Draft class, according to ESPN analyst Todd McShay. "Get to know that n a m e ," M c S h a y tweeted in March. "The Penn State TE is one of the least talked about and most underrated play- ers in the draft. His combine numbers were pedestrian but his tape is impres- sive. Despite a loaded TE class, you'll hear his name called on Night 2." Strange may not have elicited the same buzz as Notre Dame's Michael Mayer or Utah's Dalton Kincaid, both of whom are being tabbed as likely first-rounders, but he said at Penn State's Pro Day that teams have been impressed with what they've seen on film. "Basically, every single team, they just love how I'm a versatile piece," he said. "That's what I was for Penn State, too." A starter from the midway point of the 2020 season to the end of his career, Strange had an ability to make spectacu- lar plays, like the 67-yard catch-and-run touchdown he scored in the final seconds of the first half at Purdue last September, but he was just as happy doing the quiet work as a blocker that allowed the of- fense to be successful. "It's not every week that you're going to see me get the ball five to 10 times," Strange said. "But some weeks you are. I do a lot more things that are unseen in the game, and [teams] realize that and know I'm a moveable piece. I could play fullback. Whatever it is, that's what I told them I want to do to help a team be suc- cessful, even play on special teams." — Greg Pickel Juice Scruggs C | 6-3 | 305 Projection: Fifth-/ Sixth-Round Pick A few years ago, it didn't appear likely that Scruggs would have a future in the NFL. He had suffered a serious back injury in a car accident in 2019, and there were doubts that he would be able to resume his college career, much less work himself into position to be drafted. But Scruggs persevered through a lengthy rehab and eventually developed into one of the Lions' more durable of- fensive linemen. He started all 26 games over his final two seasons, earned an in- vitation to the combine in February and parlayed his performance in Indianapolis into a likely spot in the latter rounds of the upcoming draft. "It's definitely surreal," Scruggs said at Penn State's Pro Day. "That's the perfect word for it. I've just got to give all credit to God. Without him, I'm not here. My family sacrificed a lot for me to be here, and Penn State gave me the opportunity. They had my back through it all. Without all of them, I wouldn't be here." Scruggs' versatility should help him find a home in the NFL. Although he saw most of his action at center, he also played guard earlier in his Penn State career and is open to doing either at the pro level. Describing his football career as a jour- ney from "dream to reality," he said he's been staying grounded amid all the ex- citement about the draft. "I'm trying not to get starstruck," he said. "You're sitting down with teams that you see on TV and you're trying to stay chill, not show too much emotion, but at the same time, [feeling] super happy." — Matt Herb Other Nittany Lions Who Might Be Selected There were seven Penn State players at the NFL Scouting Combine, while 13 former Nittany Lions took part in the team's Pro Day. As usual, James Franklin's team has a sizeable contingent of pro football hopefuls, but by the time the seven-round draft wraps up April 29 in Kansas City, Mo., it's likely that only five to seven of those players will hear their names called. In addition to the five players profiled elsewhere in this section, the ones most likely to be chosen are receiver Mitchell Tinsley and defensive tackle PJ Mustipher. Tinsley, a Western Kentucky transfer, made the most of his lone season at a Power Five school, finishing as Penn State's second-leading receiver last year with 577 yards on 51 catches. He was in- vited to the combine and emerged as a potential late-round pick. Mustipher was a three-year starter and two-time team captain, but he struggled at the combine, posting the slowest 40-yard time (5.41 seconds) and fewest bench press reps (19) of any defensive tackle. In a seven-round mock draft issued in late March, ESPN analyst Jordan Reid had him going late in the sixth round to the New York Giants. Also working out at Pro Day were defensive end Nick Tarburton, linebacker Jonathan Sutherland, quarterback Sean Clifford, long snapper Chris Stoll, kicker Jake Pinegar and punter Barney Amor. All are viewed as likely undrafted free agents. — Matt Herb Measurements ARMS 31 INCHES HANDS 9.5 INCHES 40 4.7 SECONDS BENCH 23 REPS VERTICAL 36 INCHES BROAD 10 FEET, 4 INCHES 3-CONE 7.25 20-YARD SHUTTLE 4.46 Measurements ARMS 33.25 INCHES HANDS 10.25 INCHES 40 5.22 SECONDS BENCH 29 REPS VERTICAL 32 INCHES BROAD 8 FEET, 6 INCHES 3-CONE 7.75 20-YARD SHUTTLE 4.65