Penn State Sports Magazine
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3 4 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 3 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M fensive player of the year as a true fresh- man, Scruggs was seriously injured in a car accident a few months later and didn't return to action for more than a year. Upon resuming his career, he became a fixture on the Penn State offensive line, playing in 33 games at guard and center, and starting 26 over the ensuing three seasons. Scruggs had been told by his agent that he could expect to go somewhere in the third round, so he was thrilled, but also unprepared, when head coach DeMeco Ryan called him just ahead of his selection late in Round 2. "I saw that Houston number pop up on my phone, and my heart just started racing," he said. "It was kind of a speechless moment. I'm ready to get to work, though." FRANKLIN SAYS: "Juice is a special player and extremely deserving of this opportunity with the Houston Texans. He embodies toughness and resilience. … He was determined and committed to leading the offensive line's growth." CARR'S ANALYSIS: Scruggs should thrive in the system being implemented by new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik. The center is an important part of outside zone blocking schemes, be- cause it's his job to reach-block the nose tackle and seal backside pursuit on run- ning plays. Scruggs has the quickness and length to execute this job. He's also famil- iar with it from his time in coordinator Mike Yurcich's system at Penn State. Beyond that, the center's job is mostly to wall off penetrating blockers on the backside of pull plays and ex- ecute combo blocks with guards. From a pass-blocking perspective, Scruggs was rarely an issue at center. He should be a quality blocker in the middle of the line. Ji'Ayir Brown ROUND: Third (87th pick overall) TEAM: San Francisco 49ers DETAILS: Brown was given a draft grade of 6.30 by the NFL. That num- ber carries with it the expectation that a player will eventually be a "plus starter," and it certainly aligns with Franklin's as- sessment of the 5-11, 202-pound safety. "I don't think he's getting enough at- tention," Franklin said last year. "I don't think enough people are talking about him when it comes to college football awards, when it comes to the NFL. His name should be all over the place." The 49ers agreed, choosing him mid- way through the third round after a Penn State career in which he intercepted 10 passes. Known to his coaches and team- mates as "Tig," Brown wrapped up his college career by claiming defensive MVP honors in the Rose Bowl. FRANKLIN SAYS: "The San Fran- cisco 49ers gained a tremendous ath- lete, teammate and leader. He is a special player because of his drive, competitive- ness and willingness to sacrifice. Tig not only took advantage of every opportu- nity presented to him, but he learned and grew from every opportunity as well. He consistently put himself in positions to make big plays." CARR'S ANALYSIS: The 49ers run a three-safety system similar to Penn State's third-down package. In this re- spect, Brown will be in familiar territory as an underneath defender. San Francisco will likely use his blitz- ing skills more than it did with recently departed safety Jimmie Ward. How- ever, Ward, who signed with Houston in March, played exclusively over the slot last season and did some heavy lifting as a man-coverage cornerback. If the 49ers want to use Brown similarly, they won't be playing to his strengths. His fit will depend on what situations the coaches put him in. If they feature zone concepts and ask him to blitz from the slot, Brown could have an instant- impact, all-rookie season. On the other hand, if they ask him to run with the likes of Seattle receiver Tyler Lockett, he could be in big trouble. Sean Clifford ROUND: Fifth (149th pick overall) TEAM: Green Bay Packers DETAILS: Clifford wasn't invited to the NFL Combine in February, and many analysts predicted that he was more likely to enter the league as a free agent than as a draftee. But the four- year Penn State starting quarterback was unfazed. "When I didn't see my name as a combine guy, I felt disrespected, for sure," Clifford admitted at the Penn State Pro Day in March. "But hey, it's just more fuel to the fire." The Packers liked Clifford's skill set and leadership abilities, and with longtime starter Aaron Rodgers off to the New York Jets, they boosted their depth by landing the Cincinnati native, who ranks first at PSU in career passing yards (10,382) and passing touchdowns (84), among other records. At age 24, Clifford is actually three and a half months older than projected starter Jordan Love. Barring a free agent Penn State Standouts Land Free-Agent Deals Following Draft Four additional Nittany Lions found NFL opportunities in the days after the draft concluded. Defensive tackle PJ Mustipher signed a free-agent contract with the Den- ver Broncos, while wide receiver Mitchell Tinsley landed with the Washington Com- manders. In addition, the Seattle Seahawks signed both linebacker Jonathan Sutherland and long snapper Chris Stoll. Mustipher had decided to use his bonus year of eligibility in 2022 after suffering a season-ending leg injury midway through the previous campaign. The 6-foot-4, 318-pounder didn't stuff the stat sheet at PSU, but he was a formidable presence in the middle of the defensive front and one of the team's most widely respected leaders. Tinsley played only one season at Penn State after transferring from Western Ken- tucky, finishing with a team-high 51 recep- tions for 577 yards and 5 touchdowns last fall. Stoll won the Patrick Mannelly Award last year, which goes to the nation's top long snapper. Sutherland was a versatile defender who played linebacker and safety for the Nittany Lions and was a four-time team captain. After signing with the Seahawks, the Ot- tawa, Ontario, native was selected by the Montreal Alouettes with the fifth overall pick in the Canadian Football League draft. The Alouettes will hold Sutherland's rights if he opts to play in the CFL. — Nate Bauer