Penn State Football’s First-Round NFL Draft Success Puts Future Recruits on Notice | STASZAK
Two elite Penn State Nittany Lions hearing their names called in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft spells double jeopardy for the rest of the league.
But, more importantly for head coach James Franklin and his program, it sent a clear, powerful message to potential recruits across the country: If you want to play football on Sundays, play football on Saturdays in Happy Valley.
On Thursday night, edge rusher Abdul Carter was selected No. 3 overall by the New York Giants, while tight end Tyler Warren was taken 14th by the Indianapolis Colts. The selections marked one of the most high-profile nights in Penn State draft history and underscored the university’s growing reputation as a breeding ground for elite NFL talent.
For Carter, the pick was the culmination of a dominant and high-energy career in Blue and White. Known for his explosive playmaking ability and relentless motor, Carter emerged as one of the most feared offensive disruptors in the country this past season, highlighted by his performance in the National Semi-Final against Notre Dame, playing and dominating the second half with basically one arm.
Carter’s selection by the New York Football Giants at No. 3 makes him the highest drafted Penn State player since Saquon Barkley was taken at No. 2 by the same organization back in 2018.
It also sets a new standard and a breakthrough for defensive players within the program.
Meanwhile, Warren’s selection in the middle of the first round highlights the continued evolution of Penn State’s offensive identity.
A versatile weapon in both the passing game and as a blocker, Warren’s rise speaks volumes about the program’s ability to develop multi-dimensional athletes at tight end, an increasingly coveted position in today’s NFL. Of the five Penn State tight ends who were drafted in the last seven seasons, Warren is the highest rated:
2025: Tyler Warren – No. 14 overall
2024: Theo Johnson — No. 107 overall
2023: Brenton Strange — No. 61 overall
2021: Pat Freiermuth — No. 55 overall
2018: Mike Gesicki — No. 42 overall
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How James Franklin, Penn State Can Leverage Top NFL Draft Picks Into a Bright Future
Together, the selections of Carter and Warren serve as more than just a celebration of individual success. They represent a recruiting tool, a vivid, undeniable statement to four and five-star high school prospects watching the draft from their living rooms.
“This is what we mean when we talk about ‘The Penn State Way,’” Franklin said in a post-draft statement. “We’re developing men on and off the field, and preparing them to compete at the highest level. When recruits see Abdul and Tyler walk across that stage, they see themselves.”
Coach is right.
Penn State has been steadily carving out its place among the nation’s elite in terms of NFL development. Over the past several drafts, the program has produced standout pros like Micah Parsons, Chop Robinson, Jahan Dotson, and Joey Porter Jr., each making their mark on Sundays – Dotson came within inches of scoring the first touchdown of last February’s Super Bowl for the Eagles.
But, having two first-rounders in one night, especially at such critical positions, elevates the conversation even further.
Recruiting analyst Brian Dohn of 247Sports weighed in: “This kind of draft result is what separates a good program from a great one. When you’re putting guys in the first round consistently, especially on both sides of the ball, you become a magnet for top-tier talent.”
Beyond recruiting, the draft success reinforces the strength of the Penn State brand.
It validates the coaching staff’s development process, the strength and conditioning program, and the overall culture that Franklin has cultivated in Happy Valley.
“We tell recruits all the time, if you come here, we’ll prepare you for Sundays,” Franklin said after the draft. “Abdul and Tyler are proof of that. These guys didn’t just show up. They bought into the process. They put in the work and now they’re walking into NFL buildings as first-round picks.”
What this means for the future of the program can’t be overstated. Young athletes watching Thursday night saw Penn State’s logo behind not one but two first-rounders. For a program competing with SEC and Big Ten heavyweights in the recruiting arms race, moments like this are the moments that could tip the scales.
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It was at PRISM where Staszak produced live games and began his career as an on-air reporter.
After a couple of brief stints with CBS-3, WB-17 and WGAL-8 in Lancaster, PA, Staszak began a 12 year stretch at FOX 29 where he became the lead sportscaster in 2007. It was there that Staszak found himself in the middle of Philadelphia Phillies World Series Championship coverage that earned him an Emmy nomination for best sports reporter in 2008.It was one of five Emmy nominations that Staszak earned over the course of his career.
All told Staszak covered three World Series, two Stanley Cup Finals, an NBA Finals and one Super Bowl during his television run.
Staszak left the TV business for 97.5 The Fanatic in 2013, where he enjoyed eight years bloviating his beliefs on how a professional football team should be run.In 2018 when he fortunate enough to be the first sports talk host in the city, along with cohort Zach Gelb, to provide post-game coverage of the first Super Bowl Championship for the city’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles.
Staszak was also a writer for 97.5 The Fanatic along with 4 Philly Sports and now covers Penn State athletics for NittanyCentral.com.
- Penn State Football’s First-Round NFL Draft Success Puts Future Recruits on Notice | STASZAK - April 26, 2025
- NFL Draft 2025: Penn State Tight End Tyler Warren a Perfect 10 For Chicago Bears? - April 21, 2025
- Abdul Carter Called ‘Best Player in the Draft’ by NFL Executive: ‘A One-Man Wrecking Crew’ - April 20, 2025