Tracking Penn State Football Players in the 2012 NFL Draft

James WalkerApr 26, 2012

Penn State fans are used to producing studs for the NFL, and the time has arrived to see which Penn State player will be drafted to carry on the Nittany Lions' tradition of NFL excellence.

That’s right! The 2012 NFL draft starts tonight, and the only question is which Penn State player who’s drafted over the next three days will become the next great NFL player.

The NFL draft starts at 8:00 PM ET tonight and continues over three days ending late Saturday afternoon. This slideshow will track any and all Penn State players who are drafted this year, so stay tuned as we track the progress of these future NFL greats.

The following players are expected to or could go in this year’s draft:

Jack Crawford, DE
Derek Moye, WR
D’Anton Lynn, CB
Chaz Powell, CB
Nate Stupar, LB
Johnnie Troutman, OG

Stay tuned as this slideshow will be updated as soon as one of the above Penn State players is selected.

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Devon Still, DT, Drafted by Cincinnati Bengals, No. 53 Overall

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There has been a lot of talk around other defensive tackle prospects such as Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe with their exceptional upside, but for some reason or another, Devon Still has not generated much discussion, despite his production.

The 6'5", 310-pound defensive tackle seemed to find a way to harness his talent during his senior season for the Nittany Lions, nabbing 17 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in 2011.

There are a lot of varying opinions on where exactly Still ranks in comparison to his fellow DT counterparts. West Bunting of the National Football Post has him as his second-best tackle, while Still is listed as the fifth best defensive tackle on Mike Mayock's rankings.

Still does a lot of things well in both the run and pass game and has the versatility to line up almost anywhere on the defensive line. According to Bunting, Still shows flashes of dominance:

"
Has the ability to bend, as he at times keeps his base down and butt under him off the snap. And when he can gain leverage on contact the guy has the ability to consistently overwhelm at the point and dominate.
"

The issue with Still is that he simply does not have the incredible upside as other prospects like Poe and Fletcher Cox. He does not show the incredible explosiveness that makes a scout think that he can continue to improve at the next level. There is also a question as to exactly how motivated he can be on the field. After an average junior season, there is justifiable skepticism that he is a bit of a one-year wonder. He has been known to take plays off and not keep a consistent motor running.

To me, Still has a very good chance to be a solid player in the NFL. With proper coaching, he can start immediately for just about any team looking for D-line help. His size of just over 300 lbs allows him to play in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme, so just about every team could use a player like him on the roster.

Still is not going to be the next Warren Sapp, but if he can stay motivated and build on what he did during his senior year at Penn State, he can be productive from day one.

Johnnie Troutman, OL, Drafted by San Diego Chargers, No. 149 Overall

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Johnnie Troutman was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft. More information will be forthcoming.

Jack Crawford, DE, Drafted by Oakland Raiders, No. 158 Overall

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Defensive end prospect Jack Crawford, a Longport, New Jersey native, was a four-year contributor at Happy Valley and was named to the All-Big Ten second team in 2011.

He had a strong senior season for Penn State, posting 40 tackles (7.5 for a loss), 6.5 sacks and six passes defended.

Crawford possesses all the physical attributes scouts look for when evaluating 4-3 defensive ends. He ran a 4.76-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine—a terrific number considering he's 6'5" and weighs 274 pounds.

What the Experts are Saying

NationalFootballPost.com sums up their evaluation as such:

"
A big, strong defensive end prospect who still has some upside to his game. But won't be able to take that next step until he learns to play with a more consistent pad level. A size prospect worth developing long term.
"

CBSSports.com gives us Crawford's positive and negative attributes:

"
Positives: Looks the part with 10-inch hands, 33 1/2-inch arms on a tall, long frame. Solid musculature and he's a hard work off the field. Gets his hand in the passing lanes and will make hustle plays. Decent production -- 14 career sacks -- and has shown steady progress.

Negatives: Lacks overpowering strength and can stick to blocks. Lacks explosive speed to bend and flatten off the corner with stiff hips and ankles. Not flexible or fluid. Uncreative pass rusher who lacks counter moves. Raw technique. Streaky and slow to react. Has some durability concerns stemming from foot issue lingering from 2010 to '11.
"

Projected Rookie Impact

Crawford will need to show coaches some major improvement in training camp if he hopes to make the opening-day roster.

He has the physical tools to become a regular contributor as a rotating lineman to keep starters fresh, but Crawford will need to get stronger and more technically sound before he's ready for that kind of action.

At worst, expect Crawford to be signed to the practice squad as he develops those tools.

The Raiders have Matt Shaughnessy leading Oakland's defensive ends with Tommy Kelly and Richard Seymour providing the ferocity at DT. Crawford will provide some needed depth.

With easily the most underachieving team in the AFC West, Oakland will look to build their offense with the news recently breaking that the Raiders will sign Matt Leinart and the hopeful return of Darren McFadden.