Penn State NFL Combine 2026: Full List of Players, Schedule, and Injury Updates

While Penn State Football’s new roster came together in one of its first public appearances at Penn State’s annual THON event this week, many of the members of Penn State’s 2025 roster are busy preparing for the 2026 NFL Draft.

One of the biggest steps for players ahead of the NFL Draft is this week’s NFL combine, where nine former Nittany Lions will attempt to impress NFL scouts ahead of April’s draft.

Here are the nine players that will be in Indianapolis this week for this year’s NFL combine.

Nine Nittany Lions Take the Stage at NFL Combine

The Quarterback Question: Drew Allar (QB)

Penn State Football, Drew Allar — Drew Allar’s return gives Penn State Football legitimate National Championship Aspirations in 2025. (Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images)

Of all the Penn State players to head to the combine, quarterback Drew Allar likely has the most to prove to help his draft stock ahead of April’s NFL draft.

Allar was Penn State’s starting quarterback for two and a half seasons, leading the Nittany Lions to a 26-9 record as a starter and throwing for 7,402 yards and 61 touchdowns over his four seasons in Happy Valley.

However, after an up-and-down senior season that was cut short by an ankle injury that required season-ending surgery, Allar could use a strong combine performance to put his name back into the mix at the top of quarterback draft boards.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Allar will throw at the combine this week after recovering from his ankle injury suffered in October, which will be a major first step for Allar to improve his draft stock.

Running back Kaytron Allen could be a high-riser

Penn State Football, Kaytron Allen — Oct 11, 2025; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions running back Kaytron Allen (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter against the Northwestern Wildcats at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

There’s not much more Kaytron Allen could have put on tape for NFL scouts during his time at Penn State, as Allen set the Penn State career rushing record over his four seasons on campus.

Not known for his speed, Allen plays a bruising style of football and was one of the most consistent running backs in the country over the past four years. Allen could improve his draft stock by running well in the 40 yard dash and in the individual running back drills.

Running back Nick Singleton limited to interviews

On the other side of Penn State’s two headed monster at running back over the past four seasons, Nick Singleton could have improved his draft stock during combine workouts after a slight regression during the 2025 season where he went from the co-starter at running back to running back two behind Allen for the second half of the season.

However, after a broken fifth metatarsal in his right foot suffered in the Senior Bowl practices, Singleton will be sidelined for the NFL combine and will be relegated to interviews only at the NFL combine this week.

Singleton’s career stats of 3,461 rushing yards and 987 receiving yards (and his Penn State record 54 total touchdowns) should keep him on draft boards despite the injury and inability to participate in drills this week.

Dominating the Trenches: Ioane, Shelton, and Durant

Offensive guard Vega Ioane

Vega Ioane can make his case to be the top interior offensive lineman on the NFL draft board this week at the NFL combine.

Ioane was a standout on the offensive line for the Nittany Lions the past few seasons. The 6-foot-4, 323-pound guard has all of the tools to be a plug-and-play starter on day one with whichever team selects him in April.

With a solid NFL combine performance this week, Ioane should lock himself into the first round of April’s NFL draft as one of the top interior offensive linemen selected.

Offensive tackle Drew Shelton

After being thrust into early playing time during his freshman season in 2022 after an injury to former first-rounder Olu Fashanu, Shelton quietly developed into a reliable left tackle for the Nittany Lions over his career in Happy Valley.

At 6-foot-5, 306 pounds, Shelton projects as a day two or day three pick that can really improve his draft stock during this week’s NFL combine. While he may not project as a day one starter, Shelton has the tools to develop into an NFL starting tackle a few years into his career.

The Pipeline: Dinkins, Wheatley, and Dennis-Sutton

Tight end Khalil Dinkins

Penn State Football, Khalil Dinkins — Penn State tight end Khalil Dinkins (16) catches a 9-yard pass in the end zone to score a touchdown in the first half of an NCAA football game against Indiana at Beaver Stadium Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in State College, Pa. The Nittany Lions won, 33-24.

Tight end Khalil Dinkins is the latest Penn State tight end to enter the NFL draft process from Penn State in the past few years.

However, unlike Tyler Warren, Brenton Strange, or Theo Johnson, Dinkins will need to improve his draft stock with a solid NFL combine performance to try to rise up draft boards.

Dinkins caught 37 passes over 47 career games with the Nittany Lions, providing a ton of consistency in the run blocking game but never being fully utilized as a weapon in the passing game. Dinkins will need to prove that he can be a complete tight end at the combine to improve his draft stock.

Defensive tackle Zane Durant

Defensive tackle Zane Durant is working against nature during the pre-draft process.

Durant’s size is below average for the position (6-foot-1, 294 pounds), however, Durant was highly productive despite his size during his career at Penn State.

This week at the NFL combine, Durant has to show that he can produce at the next level with his athleticism despite his size measurables.

Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton

Penn State Football — Dec 21, 2024; University Park, Pennsylvania, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton (33) reacts following a sack on Southern Methodist Mustangs quarterback Kevin Jennings (not pictured) during the second quarter in the first round of the College Football Playoff at Beaver Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew O’Haren-Imagn Images

Defensive end Dani Dennis-Sutton could be one of the biggest standouts for the Nittany Lions at the combine.

Dennis-Sutton’s strength and size should easily translate to the next level. Dennis-Sutton can prove this week that he can be a consistent player at the edge position in the NFL and push himself up draft boards with his performance this week.

Dennis-Sutton’s draft projections are all over the place from late first round to day three, so Dennis-Sutton could use this week to show why he should be a day one or two selection in April.

Safety Zakee Wheatley

Like tight end, Penn State has been pumping out safeties to the NFL draft in recent years. Fifth-year senior Zakee Wheatley should be the next up on that Penn State to the NFL pipeline at the position.

Wheatley played in 58 total games over five seasons for the Nittany Lions, becoming a starter over the past two seasons.

Like Dennis-Sutton, Wheatley’s draft rankings are all over the place and he could certainly use a solid performance to move him up the board at the safety position.

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Robert Shields

Penn State Football Reporter at NittanyCentral

Robert Shields covers Penn State Football for Nittany Central. As a Penn State graduate, Robert has covered Penn State football since 2019, but had been a fan of the Nittany Lions for well over a decade. During his undergraduate education, Robert was a manager in the athletic department of a division III school, working in various aspects of athletic management at football, soccer, baseball, basketball, and lacrosse games.

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