1 Way Each Penn State Player Can Boost Their Stock at the NFL Combine
Seemingly every year, a former Penn State Football Player goes off at the NFL Combine, showcasing Penn State’s elite strength and conditioning program.
This year should be no different, as four former Nittany Lions are set to take the stage and field at the 2025 NFL Combine in Indianapolis this week.
While Penn State’s best opportunity to show off ridiculous athleticism took a major blow as defensive end Abdul Carter announced he would not be participating in drills due to his shoulder injury sustained during the Nittany Lions’ College Football Playoff run, Penn State still has four elite athletes participating this week.
Here is one way that each of Penn State’s NFL draft hopefuls can boost their stock at the NFL combine this week:
Defensive end Abdul Carter: Interviewing well
While defensive end Abdul Carter may not be working out this week at the combine due to the aforementioned shoulder injury, he still has plenty of work to put in at the combine.
Carter is in contention for the number one overall pick. As such, Carter will have the opportunity to interview with teams with top picks to make his case for the number one overall pick.
In 2024, Carter was selected as the Big Ten Defensive Player of The Year and has not been shy about his feelings of being the best overall player in college football.
In his initial combine interview, Carter noted that being selected as the first overall pick is “very realistic” and he feels like he is “the best player in the country and the best players should be selected number one.”
Interviewing well this week can help keep Carter in contention for the number one pick before Carter is able to showcase his elite athletic ability at Penn State’s pro day next month.
Tight end Tyler Warren: Interviewing well
Tyler Warren put plenty on tape last season to show why he is the best tight end in the country, en route to winning the Mackey Award for the nation’s top tight end and finishing seventh in Heisman voting.
In Indianapolis, however, Tyler Warren can showcase his elite athletic ability to further prove that he is worthy of a high first-round pick this April.
After catching a school record 104 passes for 1233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024, Tyler Warren’s combine workout may not be able to prove much more than what he already has on the field.
However, with his 6-foot-6 inch, 261-pound frame, Warren’s elite athleticism could solidify his position as a top pick this April.
Unfortunately, we will need to wait until Penn State’s pro day to see this on display as Warren has decided not to participate in drills this week.
Warren will have to rely on his Combine interviews to help his stock this week until he showcases his athletic ability for teams next month.
Safety KJ Winston: Interviewing well
Like Abdul Carter, safety KJ Winston is not expected to participate in drills at this week’s NFL combine. After partially tearing his ACL before week two of Penn State’s 2024 season, KJ Winston has had plenty of time to prepare mentally for the next level.
With his NFL Draft announcement, KJ Winston’s agent announced that Winston would be medically cleared March 1 for on-field drills, just after the combine this week.
Without participating in drills, KJ Winston will still have the opportunity to impress teams in his interviews this week to explain his rehab process and why he feels ready to make the jump to the NFL. Despite missing almost the entire season in 2024, Winston still showcased special talent on tape, earning Big Ten defensive player of the week honors in Penn State’s week one win against West Virginia with a career-high 12 tackles.
Safety Jaylen Reed: Interviewing well
Jaylen Reed was overlooked at the beginning of the Penn State season, with fellow safety KJ Winston getting most of the spotlight.
However, after KJ Winston went down with an injury, Reed stepped up mightily for the Nittany Lions, anchoring the back end of the defense and often not coming off the field for even a snap. Ahead of the 2025 draft, Reed is labeled as a top “sleeper” pick by 247Sports.
Reed has plenty of athleticism to showcase during the drills portion of the combine, but can impress teams during the interview portion to raise his stock. As a two-year starter that has raised his play considerably over the past two seasons, Reed must demonstrate to teams that he can continue his development in the NFL.
Linebacker Kobe King: Showcase athleticism
Kobe King is known as a vocal leader on Penn State’s defense.
Last season, King wore Penn State’s helmet communication device, relaying the plays from Dan Connor in the booth and getting the defense set. As such, King should interview well this week at the combine and display his high football IQ. King can improve his stock this week, however, by showcasing his athletic ability.
King excelled at Penn State running downhill against the running game. King can improve his draft stock by showing improved lateral agility and speed that could help him in coverage.
While only three Penn Staters will take part in drills this week at the NFL combine, plenty of others will participate in Penn State’s pro day next month. Hopefully teams and fans will also be able to see more of Tyler Warren, Abdul Carter, and KJ Winston during Penn State’s pro day as well.
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