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FOOTBALL Ten former Lions looking to make grade in NFL Five Penn State players were chosen in the NFL Draft. Defensive tackle Austin Johnson (Tennessee Titans), quarterback Christian Hackenberg (New York Jets) and defensive end Carl Nassib (Cleveland Browns) heard their names called on the sec- ond day of the late-April event, and defensive tack- le Anthony Zettel (Detroit Lions) and defensive back Jordan Lucas (Miami Dol- phins) joined them on day three. Following the draft, three additional players signed free agent contracts with NFL teams, while two players were granted minicamp try- outs. Here's a look at where Penn State's 2016 NFL hopefuls landed: AUSTIN JOHNSON After taking him in the second round with the 43rd pick overall, the Titans will be looking to find a spot for Johnson in their 3-4 de- fensive front. He has the skill set to play either nose tackle or defensive end, and he'll be welcomed by a familiar face: friend and former Penn State teammate DaQuan Jones. CHRISTIAN HACKENBERG The Jets took Hackenberg in the second round with the 51st pick overall. As of this writing, they were in contract talks with incumbent starter Ryan Fitzpatrick. If they're unable to come to terms, Hack- enberg, who recently signed a four-year, $4.7 million contract, will find himself in a quarterback battle with former sec- ond-round pick Geno Smith and Bryce Petty, a fourth-round selection in last year's draft. CARL NASSIB The Browns use a 3-4 defense, so Nassib, who was chosen in the third round with the 65th overall pick, will need to learn a slightly new position. Cleveland also drafted Oklaho- ma State defensive end Emmanuel Og- bah in the second round, so the Penn State All-American will have face plenty of competition in his bid to see playing time as a rookie. ANTHONY ZETTEL After playing both tackle and end on Penn State's defen- sive line, the Michigan native probably fits in best at DE. Detroit, which select- ed him in the fifth round, has only five players under contract at the position, and the only other defensive lineman it drafted was DT A'Shawn Robinson of Alabama. JORDAN LUCAS Miami added a free agent cornerback this off-season and drafted Baylor's Xavien Howard in the second round, bolstering a secondary AUSTIN CITY LIMITS Johnson is set to join Ten- nessee's defen- sive line after be- ing taken in the second round with the 43rd pick in the draft. Photo by Steve Manuel |

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