8 former Penn State players invited to 2022 NFL Combine

STATE COLLEGE — Penn State will be well-represented at the 2022 NFL Combine later this month and into March.

Eight former Nittany Lions were invited to participate in the event in Indianapolis, which is scheduled to run from Feb. 28 through March 7, ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft:

• Defensive back Jaquan Brisker
• Defensive back Tariq Castro-Fields
• Wide receiver Jahan Dotson
• Defensive lineman Arnold Ebiketie
• Defensive lineman Jesse Luketa
• Linebacker Brandon Smith
• Punter Jordan Stout
• Offensive lineman Rasheed Walker

Penn State tied with Michigan for the Big Ten team with the most players invited to the combine. The only schools with more invitees were Georgia (14), Alabama (11), Oklahoma (11), LSU (nine) and Texas A&M (nine), while Arizona State, Cincinnati and Ole Miss each had eight invited as well.

During the combine, Penn State’s draft prospects will be subject to a battery of tests, measurements and workouts, along with interviews with the NFL teams. It’s a prime opportunity for a prospect to boost his draft stock with plenty of evaluators in attendance.

Dotson is viewed as a first-round pick in many mock drafts, while there’s a wide range of outcomes projected for Brisker and Ebiketie. Smith, a former five-star recruit with immense physical tools, could boost his draft stock substantially. He’ll be one to watch closely in Indianapolis.

Luketa, who split time between defensive end and linebacker for Penn State in 2021, impressed at the Senior Bowl last week and projects as an intriguing prospect at the next level. There should be plenty of NFL teams with interest in him.

Castro-Fields, Stout and Walker all play key positions where plenty of teams will have needs, too. All eight of Penn State’s invitees could be off the board by early on the third day of the draft, depending on how teams value Stout as a punter.

Two notable players who weren’t invited to the combine: linebacker Ellis Brooks and defensive tackle Derrick Tangelo. Both players impressed at the East-West Shrine Bowl last week, and both are seen as late Day 3 picks.