Penn State Football: Power Ranking Best NFL Talent on Nittany Lions 2012 Roster

One of the positives of having Bill O'Brien as the head coach at Penn State is thought to be his knowledge of what it takes to play in the NFL. Penn State has sent hundreds of players to the NFL of course, and more figure to come in the next few years despite being hit with NCAA sanctions.

So who are some of the players on the roster now who can look to play on Sundays?

Despite some recent transfers, Penn State still has some NFL talent worth watching this season, and it is strong on the defensive side of the football. We recently took a stab at predicting which players are destined for solid NFL careers, and most of that remains true with the exception of one particular slide.

Here is a ranking of which Penn State players have the best odds to make it in the NFL.

1. Gerald Hodges, Linebacker

There is little question which player could have the highest NFL Draft stock this fall on Penn State's roster. Linebacker Gerald Hodges flirted with the idea of leaving after last season for the NFL but decided to come back for one more year on the field to help raise his overall value.

With the NFL on hold after a solid season leading Penn State's defense, Hodges will enter the 2012 season with some preseason accolades and mentions on various watch lists, which means that people are watching him closely.

Of course, playing the signature position of Penn State's football program will help bring in some more focus as the season goes, regardless of NCAA sanctions and the inability to compete for a conference title or bowl game.

Optimum Scouting ranks Hodges fourth among outside linebackers.

Read more about Gerald Hodges.

2. Jodan Hill, Defensive Tackle

Penn State may be known as Linebacker U to many, but their history on the defensive line is worth respecting as well. A season after Devon Still showed what a beast he can be, Jordan Hill is expected to be the next in line in the trenches for the Nittany Lions.

He has already earned a good amount of respect for his own skills, having taken over on the line as Still was hampered by nagging injuries down the stretch last fall.

Hill may not be quite up to par with Still at his finest, but his ability to break through the line and penetrate the offensive backfield is quite a spectacle. Should he get off on the right foot against some solid running offenses in September, Hill should continue to be considered among the elite defensive tackles in the nation. 

Optimum Scouting ranks Hill fifth among all defensive tackles.

3. Michael Mauti, Linebacker

Another linebacker figuring to make a push for some NFL consideration is Michael Mauti, although his injury history may have a negative impact on his stock when being evaluated by NFL scouts. Separate ACL injuries to both knees have slowed him down some, but his overall tackling abilities still shine through and command respect from NFL scouts.

Mauti has played outside linebacker for Penn State and is projected to take an outside position this fall, but if he is going to play in the NFL it will probably have to come on the inside, where his relative lack of speed will not be quite as exploited. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Mauti might be able to play at a level similar to the likes of Paul Posluszny, Dan Connor or Sean Lee, but with his injury problems in the past, teams will likely be a little more concerned with him.

Optimum Scouting has Mauti ranked fifth among inside linebackers.

Read more about Michael Mauti.

4. Matt Stankiewitch, Center

He flies under the radar, as most offensive linemen tend to do, but center Matt Stankiewitch could find a living in the NFL with his continued ability to be a dependable lineman. There is not much to gloss over when it comes to what he can do on the field. He is a solid blocker and handles the football about as well as you can ask from a center.

Will he a Pro Bowl player? Perhaps not, but if there is one offensive lineman who can last a while in the NFL on this team, it is Stankiewitch.

Optimum Scouting currently does not have Stankiewitch ranked in any of their offensive line rankings for 2013.

5. Anyone Else?

There is no mistaking that Penn State is light on projected NFL talent beyond this year. Sure, some players could develop and make it more likely they can play at the next level, but with some recent transfers making it a little more difficult to see, it is just guess work at this stage to see who else.

Will Adrian Amos (pictured) be a guy who sticks around and becomes a solid defensive back? He is just a sophomore this season but the upside potential appears to be there. The same goes for Bill Belton, who will take over the top rushing duties—it seems—this fall. But projecting their NFL futures after just one season would be silly at this point.

At the skill positions, who do you think has a realistic shot at playing in the NFL? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.

Kevin McGuire is the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast, managing editor of Nittany Lions Den and a member of the Football Writers Association of America and National Football Foundation. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Google+.