Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1509432
6 4 N O V E M B E R 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 Porter grabbed a Lamar Jackson fade in front of receiver Odell Beckham Jr. Through five games, Porter had 6 tackles and 2 passes defended in ad- dition to his game-changing pick. Allen Robinson II (2011-2013), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers: Robinson was third on the Steelers with 17 catches for 137 yards through five games. He had 5 catches for a season-high 64 yards on open- ing day against San Francisco. Miles Sanders (2016-18), RB, Carolina Pan- thers: Playing his first season in Carolina after four years in Philadelphia, Sanders had carried 61 times for 190 yards (3.11 yards per carry) through five weeks. His best performance during that span came on opening day when he gained 72 yards on 18 carries in a 24-10 loss to Atlanta. His only touchdown came on a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter of a 37-27 loss to Seattle in Week 3. Nick Scott (2014-18), S, Cincinnati Bengals: A starter at safety in his first season with the Ben- gals, Scott was third on the team with 37 tackles through five games. Juice Scruggs (2018-22), C, Houston Texans: Scruggs opened the season on injured reserve after sustaining a hamstring injury in preseason camp. He didn't play in the Texans' first five games but was expected to be activated in the coming weeks. Donovan Smith (2011-14), OT, Kansas City Chiefs: In his first season in Kansas City, Smith has started at left tackle for the defending Super Bowl champs. Through five weeks, the Chiefs were ranked seventh in the league in total offense with an average of 381 yards per game. Chris Stoll (2017-22), LS, Seattle Seahawks: He has been the Seahawks' long snapper all season. Jordan Stout (2022), P, Baltimore Ravens: Stout had averaged 47.3 yards on 26 punts through Bal- timore's first five games. Only 9 of his punts were returned, and 11 landed inside the opponent's 20-yard line. He had a punt attempt blocked for a safety in the Ravens' loss to Pittsburgh. Brenton Strange (2019-22), TE, Jacksonville Jaguars: Strange had seen action in every game and caught 2 passes for 7 yards in the first five weeks of his rookie season. Both catches came in a 37-17 loss to Houston in Week 3. Mitchell Tinsley (2022), WR, Washington Com- manders: Tinsley, a rookie free agent who made the Commanders' 53-man roster, had yet to see action through the first five weeks of the season. Rasheed Walker (2018-21), OT, Green Bay Packers: After playing in just one game as a rookie, Walker has emerged as a starter in Year 2. He made his first NFL start in Week 2, playing at left tackle in Green Bay's 25-24 loss to Atlanta. Parker Washington (2020-22), WR, Jackson- ville Jaguars: Washington was placed on injured reserve in October after his knee was hurt on a punt return against Atlanta in Week 4. The injury occurred on the first snap of his NFL career. ■ Matt Herb contributed to this report. PFF Lauds Penn State Trio In Latest 2024 Draft Projections Pro Football Focus released its latest 2024 draft projections in early October, and three Penn State players were listed among the first 20 picks. According to PFF, the first PSU player off the board will be junior offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fasahnu. Analyst Trevor Sikkema wrote that Fashanu will be a top-10 pick and noted that the New York Jets would be a good fit with quarterback Aaron Rodgers coming back from the potentially season- ending Achilles injury he suffered last month. "They'll need to bolster their offensive line, in that case, and Fashanu is the man for the job," Sik- kema noted. "He could have been a top-10 pick if he had declared last year. The Penn State tackle is following up an impressive 84.7 pass-blocking grade in 2022 with an even better 92.9 pass-blocking grade in 2023." Sikkema had junior defensive end Chop Robinson going 12th overall to New Orleans. "The Saints have a decently talented roster, but it is aging, especially on defense," he noted. "Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson is one of the most twitched-up athletes in the 2024 draft class, and that fits the mold of what New Orleans has prioritized over the years — unique athletes, especially in the trenches. It has taken him a bit to get warmed up this season, but Robinson earned a 92.1 pass- rush grade against Iowa in Week 3 with a 46.7 percent pass-rush win rate." Later in the first round, PFF had junior cornerback Kalen King going to Indianapolis at No. 20. "The Colts could use some youthfulness in their secondary," Sikkema wrote. "King posted an impressive 90.6 coverage grade in 2022 and an even more impressive 91.7 coverage grade in single coverage." — Greg Pickel Junior offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu will be the first Penn State player off the board next April, according to Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema. PHOTO BY STEVE MANUEL