Penn State Sports Magazine
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544053
A P R I L 2 0 2 6 3 7 W W W . B L U E W H I T E O N L I N E . C O M P enn State's 2026 Pro Day, held March 18 at Holuba Hall, was one of the most efficient we've seen in recent years. Twenty players had been announced as participants and 17 ended up taking part in the morning session, yet the entire process wrapped up by noon. It was a fast-paced event, with players run- ning, jumping, testing and doing on-field workouts in front of a large contingent of NFL talent evaluators. With the draft set to take place April 23-25 in Pittsburgh, Penn State's aspir- ing professionals are in the final stages of their preparations. In addition to Pro Day, nine players also took part in the NFL Scouting Combine Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis. Guard Olaivavega Ioane will be the first Nittany Lion to hear his name called. That has been the consen- sus of draft analysts for months, and he's done nothing in recent weeks to diminish his marketability. At the combine, Ioane participated in on-field drills and showed off the quick- ness, agility and overall movement skills that make him such a desirable prospect. At a lean 326 pounds, Ioane is a lab-built NFL offensive lineman who is as close to a plug-and-play starter as you'll find. A guard is less valuable than a tackle, but a high-potential player is still valuable at any position. His wave drills simulate an offensive lineman mirroring a defensive lineman in pass protection, which is Io- ane's best trait. Ioane ranks second among interior offensive linemen on Mel Kiper Jr.'s position rankings for ESPN, and he's first on Daniel Jeremiah's list for NFL.com. "Ioane was a dominant presence at left guard for the Nittany Lions," Jeremiah wrote. "He has a thick, proportioned build and plays with outstanding strength/ power. In the passing game, he can bend his knees, redirect and stay attached to defenders. He will occasionally take a loss against speed, but he handles power with ease. He is aware on stunts and games. In the run game, he latches on, runs his feet and always looks to finish. … Overall, I love Ioane's temperament, toughness and ability to anchor. He'll be an impact starter from Day 1." Ioane is Penn State's only projected first-rounder this year, but a number of Nittany Lions could be chosen on Day 2, which includes the second and third rounds. The list includes defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton, safety Zakee Wheatley, quarterback Drew Allar, and The Lions' latest batch of pro football hopefuls prepare to hear their names called in April Quarterback Drew Allar has been recovering from the ankle injury that ended his senior season in October, but he still impressed in throwing drills at the NFL Scouting Combine and Penn State's Pro Day. PHOTO COURTESY PENN STATE ATHLETICS T H O M A S F R A N K CA R R | T F R A N K . C A R R @ O N 3 . C O M NFL Draft Preview