Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1520787
3 4 J U N E / J U L Y 2 0 2 4 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M Trautwein Says: "Hunter Nourzad is a football coach's dream. He's focused, determined, and he takes pride in every- thing he does. His preparation is second to none. And he's a very talented football player. Hunter joined our team in 2022 and made an immediate impact on our program. We tasked him with playing center in 2023; he took the challenge head on and earned his way to becoming an All-Big Ten honoree. He would thrive in any NFL building, and he's a great fit for the Kansas City Chiefs." Carr Analysis: The Chiefs made a long-term play by choosing Nourzad in the fifth round. The core of the team's of- fensive line strength has been up the mid- dle, with Joe Thuney at left guard, Creed Humphrey at center and Trey Smith at right guard. Humphrey and Smith were drafted together in 2021 and have expiring contracts after next season. Neither were first-round picks, so the team will have to make some tough decisions on who to keep and who to let go. Thuney's contract extends a year be- yond the other two but balloons to 10 percent of the cap this year and next year, which compounds the issues of who to pay and who to keep on the interior. Luck- ily for them, Nourzad has legitimate po- tential to play all three interior positions. Nourzad didn't exhibit the playing strength of those players at Penn State, but at 6-3, 319 pounds, he has the size to hold up in pass protection. If he can stay healthy, there's a good chance he'll be a starter in the coming years. Daequan Hardy Team: Buffalo Bills Round: Sixth Pick: 219th overall The Details: Hardy was a three-year contributor for Penn State as a nickel cor- nerback, and he also shined on special teams in his final season, averaging 14.6 yards on 17 punt-return attempts, includ- ing touchdown returns of 56 and 68 yards against Massachusetts. Hardy had to convince Franklin to give him a chance in the kicking game, and his persistence paid off. Indeed, his demon- strated ability as a punt returner was a big part of Buffalo's decision to add the 5-9, 182-pound cornerback to its draft class. Franklin Says: "Daequan has always played to his strengths, and it really im- pacted our football program in a positive way. He thrived at the nickel position for us, but he also showed his ability to play on the perimeter. He is an elite returner in the kicking game and was a difference- maker for our special teams unit." Cornerbacks Coach Terry Smith Says: "He has so many skill sets that al- lowed him to overcome his size and be the special player that he is. He has elite speed, which not only made him one of the best defensive backs in our room, but also a weapon in the return game." Carr Analysis: Hardy doesn't ex- actly fit Buffalo's needs as a slot corner- back. Like many teams, the Bills employ a 4-2 defense. But in their version of the scheme, slot corner Taron Johnson plays like a linebacker against the run. Hardy's 182-pound frame doesn't fit what they look for in a zone-first cornerback, and at 5-9, he doesn't have the physical profile of an outside cornerback, either. However, Hardy became a more market- able prospect in March when NFL owners approved major changes to the league's kickoff rules. The new rules are aimed at encouraging teams to attempt more re- turns. Hardy showed last fall that he has the speed and vision to make big plays in the kicking game, and the Bills decided to use the third-to-last selection of the sixth round to bring him to Orchard Park. Kalen King Team: Green Bay Packers Round: Seventh Pick: 255th overall The Details: King struggled at both the Senior Bowl and the combine, and the result was a plunge to the end of Day 3. The 5-11, 191-pound cornerback didn't hear his name called until late in the sev- enth round. He was the third-from-last player selected, with the Packers swoop- ing in at the very end. It's entirely possible that Green Bay got a bargain. King was being hailed as a po- tential first-rounder at this time a year ago, when he was coming off a sophomore season in which he ranked third in the FBS with 21 passes defended (18 breakups, 3 interceptions). When he joins former Hunter Nourzad could play any of the three interior offensive line positions for Kansas City after being chosen in the fifth round by the two-time defending Super Bowl champs. PHOTO COURTESY KANSAS CITY CHIEFS