A significant number of Penn State players still have decisions to make in the time leading up to the 10th-ranked Nittany Lions’ Dec. 30 Peach bowl date with No. 11 Ole Miss in Atlanta.
A couple of players have already made theirs.
Stay in college, or leave early for the NFL?
Play in the bowl game, or focus on training for the scouting combine?
PSU edge rusher Chop Robinson, a third-year player who was recently selected third-team Associated Press All-American, declared for the NFL Draft last week. Robinson will not play in the bowl game.
Lions tackle Olu Fashanu, who could be a top-10 pick in the 2024 draft, remains with James Franklin’s program. The fourth-year player was selected first-team AP All-American on Monday.
And Penn State tight end Theo Johnson, like Fashanu a member of Franklin’s 2020 recruiting class, announced last week the Peach Bowl will be his final collegiate game before starting on his 2024 draft prep. Johnson caught 32 passes for 325 yards and six touchdowns during the regular season.
Franklin was asked Monday during PSU’s official Peach Bowl invitation ceremony about Johnson’s decision to play in the bowl game.
“I think Theo and his family know that we are going to do what’s best for Theo,” Franklin said.
“But I also think there’s a balance where you can do both — finish with your teammates, finish what you start, and finish the season and do it the right way.”
Johnson and Fashanu aren’t the only members of PSU’s 2020 class who have NFL-caliber talent. Tight end Tyler Warren is one and so is linebacker Curtis Jacobs. Wideout Parker Washington left PSU early to enter the 2023 draft. He was picked in the sixth round by Jacksonville.
Other Lion names to know include defensive end Adisa Isaac and corners Kalen King and Johnny Dixon.
Isaac, a member of Franklin’s 2019 recruiting class, was a first-team All-Big Ten choice after producing 15 tackles for loss, 7.5 of them sacks.
“I think it’s more challenging than it’s ever been before,” Franklin said, referring to decisions to play in a bowl game.
“These guys are hearing from people in every direction and being pulled in 1,000 different directions. I think it’s harder than it’s ever been.
“But Theo’s a great example of a number of guys that we’ve had that have been in similar positions. We’re going to work with these guys, as well. And we’ve done that, really, since I’ve been here.”
Penn State great Saquon Barkley, a third-year player at the time, played in the Lions’ 35-28 Fiesta Bowl win over the Washington Huskies and declared for the 2018 draft afterward. He was taken No. 2 overall by the New York Giants.
In the Fiesta, Barkley ran for 137 yards and two touchdowns and caught seven passes for 38 yards.
“I remember we had a specific plan for Saquon Barkley, who was going to be predicted as maybe the No. 1 pick in the draft and ended up falling all the way to No. 2,” Franklin said.
“But there was conversations with Saquon and his family about how we were going to manage the practices, how we were going to manage the game, and all those types of things.”
Franklin also noted a big Peach Bowl effort by a Penn State player can enhance his draft stock.
“I still believe that this game, for most of them, creates an opportunity,” Franklin said.
“Obviously, for us to finish this thing as a family, and as a team and represent Penn State one more time, but also to create more value for themselves.
“You go out and have a great Peach Bowl game in that type of venue, in that setting, against this type of opponent on national television, I think it can really help the student-athlete and what they’re trying to do for their future in the NFL, as well.”