Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1519242
M A Y 2 0 2 4 3 9 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M JOHNNY DIXON CB | 5-11 | 188 Projection: Fifth-/Sixth-Round Pick Since Terry Smith returned to his alma mater as a position coach in 2014, Penn State has had five cornerbacks drafted. That total could grow to eight in the weeks ahead, with Dixon, Kalen King and Daequan Hardy all having seemingly realistic chances of being selected. Dixon transferred to Penn State from South Carolina in 2021 and has started 25 games over the past three seasons. During his tenure with the Nittany Lions, Dixon was a tenacious cover cornerback with 3 career intercep- tions and 15 passes defended. He also displayed a unique talent for mak- ing plays in the opponent's backfield. Dixon finished his PSU career with 10.5 tackles for loss, including 7.5 sacks. His 4.5 sacks last fall were the most by any cornerback in the FBS. Dixon's draft prep went awry in Jan- uary when he suffered a glute injury at Senior Bowl camp. Not only did he miss the game, he was unable to work out at the NFL Combine or Penn State's Pro Day. Before the injury, he said he was working on enhancing his speed. "I was training in the low 4.40s," he said. "I was trying to get a high 4.3 at the combine." While the injury was a setback, Dixon is still believed to have a good chance of being drafted on Day 3 thanks to his work in the PSU secondary. NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein described him as a "feisty" player in man coverage situ- ations with "above-average competi- tiveness," but also said Dixon is "miss- ing some key attributes that might be necessary for true NFL success." " D i xo n g ive s o u t b u m py r i d e s against press release and does a nice job of creating coverage leverage with his footwork, but he struggles to get his hips opened when crossed up or when flipping to match a vertical route," Zi- erlein wrote. "He has below-average speed deep but can smother routes with physicality and ball skills when he stays attached. His technique and effort as a tackler need to improve. The cover skills are fine, but questionable NFL speed and fluidity could create too many coverage inconsistencies as a pro." — Matt Herb CAEDAN WALLACE OT | 6-5 | 314 Projection: Fifth-/Sixth-Round Pick Wallace was overshadowed by a pair of bookend tackles during his five seasons at Penn State. He started out playing opposite Rasheed Walker, now a starter with the Green Bay Packers, and he finished his career lining up at the other end from consensus All- American Olumuyiwa Fashanu. Along the way, though, Wallace started 40 games and won honorable mention All-Big Ten honors as a red- shirt senior after allowing just 1 sack on 359 pass-blocking snaps. With all of that Big Ten experience under his belt, he's become an NFL prospect in his own right and has a good chance of hearing his name called on Day 3 of the draft. At 6-foot-5, 314 pounds, Wallace said he could play anywhere on an NFL offensive line. Although all of his colle- giate starts were at right tackle, he also practiced at guard when needed and said he's capable of playing center, too. "I'm a versatile guy," Wallace said. "I'm lefthanded, but I played on the right side [at Penn State], which is kind of weird. I'm going to be able to do anything. I'm excited to get to the league and be able to help my team at tackle or guard." NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein said that Wallace has the skill set to develop into a starter at the pro level, noting that he is a tenacious blocker with good posture and body control but adding that he needs to work on his pad level. "He's a clock-puncher who plays with better fundamentals and tech- nique than his highly regarded team- mate, Olumuyiwa Fashanu," Zierlein noted. "Wallace won't flash as often as a run blocker and he might be some- what capped out in terms of what he's going to be as a tackle. He has NFL size and good body control and should find work as a backup with the potential to start as a guard or tackle." — Matt Herb Measurements ARMS 34 INCHES HANDS 10 ¾ INCHES 40 5.15 SECONDS BENCH — VERTICAL 31 INCHES BROAD 9 FEET, 8 INCHES 3-CONE — 20-YARD SHUTTLE 4.78 SECONDS Measurements ARMS 29 ½ INCHES HANDS 8 ⅝ INCHES 40 — BENCH — VERTICAL — BROAD — 3-CONE — 20-YARD SHUTTLE —