Penn State Football: Breaking Down Stock of Top NFL Draft-Eligible Nittany Lions

The Penn State Nittany Lions have six draft-eligible players for the 2013 NFL draft. Michael Mauti. Gerald Hodges, Jordan Hill and Matt McGloin highlight that group.

Of those, which are destined to be drafted next April when NFL franchises picks their future stars?

Let's take an early look at where each might be selected and break down what each brings to the table for an NFL team.

Michael Mauti, LB

Penn State linebacker Michael Mauti, believed to the top linebacker out of “Linebacker U,” was outshone by teammate Gerald Hodges at times in 2012. Injuries have also been a problem for him. Before his first season at Penn State he tore his ACL in his right knee and then tore the left ACL in 2011.

Still, the instinctive linebacker rebounded in 2012 and had a very productive senior season for the Nittany Lions until a knee injury kept him out of his final game at Penn State.

Overall, Mauti is an instinctive player that has the ability to diagnose plays and has the quickness to react to his reads. Still, he isn’t the best athlete you’ll find playing on Sundays.

If teams evaluate him and clear him medically, he should go to a team in the mid rounds.

Projected Round: Fourth

Gerald Hodges, LB

Penn State linebacker Gerald Hodges had the benefit of playing next to Mauti and eventually surpassed him in 2012. The senior linebacker led the Nittany Lions with 109 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for losses and two interceptions. He also led the team with nine pass deflections.

Overall, Hodges projects as a very solid 4-3 outside linebacker due to his size, ability to play in coverage and speed. He likely wouldn’t fit at the Mike backer spot due to struggles shedding blocks. Getting him out into the flat in coverage or on blitzes off the edge would be the ideal spots him.

That could limit him to situational opportunities initially and special teams duty until he can develop and refine his technique.

Hodges should go ahead of Mauti due to having no red flags and an added versatility that makes him a multi-use player.

Projected Round: Third 

Jordan Hill, DT

Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill, a senior defensive lineman with an excellent motor and work ethic, finished second on the Nittany Lions defense in sacks with 4.5. He ended the year fourth in total tackles with 64 and also finished with 8.5 tackles for losses and one interception.

Penn State’s top man on the middle of its defensive front took advantage of the departure of Devon Still to the NFL in 2012. He proved that not only can he make up for his perceived lack of size, but that he can be a disruptive player on the defensive line.

He isn’t a typical space-eater who will absorb two blockers and help close down running lanes. However, as a three-technique in a 4-3 defense he could play alongside a player of that type.

His quickness off the snap will help him beat offensive linemen occasionally and get into the backfield to disrupt plays.

Projected Round: Fourth

Matt McGloin, QB

Penn State’s senior quarterback Matt McGloin had a resurgent season under new Nittany Lions head coach Bill O’Brien. O’Brien was formerly the New England Patriots’ offensive coordinator prior to taking the job before the 2012 season.

The biggest benefactor of his coaching and scheme was definitely the senior quarterback. McGloin earned an All-Big Ten honorable mention as the conference’s top passer. He averaged 272.2 YPG and tosses 24 touchdown passes, both the best in the conference.

His senior-season efforts netted him the Burlsworth Award, which is given to the top player in the country who began his college career as a walk-on.

McGloin’s success may have helped the Nittany Lions to an 8-4 record, but it probably didn’t boost the quarterback’s draft stock incredibly.

The 6’0”, 200-pound quarterback doesn’t have prototypical size for the position or the big arm that NFL teams look for. He’s also indecisive in the pocket, especially when pressed. O’Brien’s offense helped him by providing him quicker throws and check-down options, but he still held onto the ball too long at times.

On the positive side, he led a team during an incredibly difficult situation and was the unquestioned leader of his team. Despite not having elite arm strength, he has decent accuracy and can make most throws that would be asked of him as a backup or practice squad player at the next level.

Projected Round: UDFA 

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