College football programs lose players to the NFL draft every year, whether it be underclassmen or seniors. Last year, the Georgia Bulldogs had 15 players...
Sean Clifford Celebrated by Penn State Twitter for Dominant Performance in Rose Bowl
Jan 3, 2023
Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford (14) sets up to throw a pass during the first half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Sean Clifford has been a member of the Penn State football program for the past six years. The super senior saved his best for last, delivering an immaculate performance in his final start in a Nittany Lions uniform to lead Penn State to a 35-21 win over Utah in the 2023 Rose Bowl.
Clifford threw for 279 yards and two touchdowns on 16-of-21 passing to power the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions to victory over the No. 8 Utes, the team's first bowl win since 2019.
It was a stellar way to end a lengthy collegiate career that began with a redshirt season in 2017. Clifford played backup to Trace McSorley the following year before assuming the starting position in 2019 and never relinquishing the spot. He holds every significant passing record in program history.
Fans on social media were impressed with what they saw from Clifford in the Rose Bowl, with many touting it as the best performance in his Penn State career:
The term “legacy game” is used far to often but I think it’s absolutely what you can call this for Sean Clifford. Will absolutely change the way PSU fans remember his career.
Clifford doesn't plan on ending his football career and will immediately turn his attention to preparing for the NFL Scouting Combine in hopes of being selected in the 2023 draft.
Monday's performance likely opened some eyes, as Clifford proved that he can perform at a high level when the lights are brightest.
Joey Porter Jr. NFL Draft 2023: Scouting Report for Penn State CB
Dec 30, 2022
WEST LAFAYETTE, IN - SEPTEMBER 01: Penn State Nittany Lions cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) lines up on defense during a college football game against the Purdue Boilermakers on September 1, 2022 at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Indiana. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
HEIGHT: 6'2.5"
WEIGHT: 193
HAND: 10"
ARM: 34"
WINGSPAN: TBD
40-YARD DASH: 4.46
3-CONE: TBD
SHUTTLE: TBD
VERTICAL: 35"
BROAD: 10'9"
POSITIVES
— Has very good length and size for the cornerback position.
— Physical player with toughness. Likes to get hands on and control receivers.
— Long strider with good recovery and long speed.
— Has good ball skills. Gets head around to locate the ball and has good timing when breaking up catches.
— Willing tackler who does a good job of getting the ball-carrier on the ground.
NEGATIVES
— Struggles with pad level at times. Can play high, leading to slower transitions.
— Can be too physical with receivers, leading to him being handsy downfield.
— Although aggressive in run support, comes in out of control at times. Has difficulty bending and redirecting when slipping blocks.
2022 STATISTICS
— 10 GM, 27 TOT, 11 PBU, 1 FR
NOTES
— Son of 13-year NFL veteran Joey Porter
OVERALL
Joey Porter Jr. is a physical cornerback with ideal length and size. He's an aggressive cover corner who likes to play press and get his hands on receivers to disrupt routes.
Due to his height (6'2"), he can struggle with his pad level at times, which causes him to rise up out of his stance and occasionally lose a step. His elite athleticism gives him the recovery speed to catch up to receivers and the top-end speed to travel with them deep.
When playing the ball, Porter shows good understanding of route timing by getting his head around to locate the ball and shooting his hands to break up passes at the reception point. He tends to get too handsy downfield with receivers, which he'll need to clean up in the NFL.
When playing the run game, Porter does a good job of identifying and reacting to what he sees. He isn't afraid to come up and stick his nose in the mix. Though he has shown to shoot the gap, he has some tightness when bending around blocks. Porter is a good tackler who generally shoots for the legs to wrap and wrestle ball-carriers down to the ground.
Porter is the best cornerback in this draft class. He may not be as polished as some of the other top cornerbacks in previous classes, but with his length and physicality, he's comparable.
Porter will need to clean up his hand usage and placement when in coverage, but his ball skills and awareness will serve him well in the NFL. He will be on the top of the cornerback board for many teams and should only continue to get better.
The Utah Utes come into the Rose Bowl as Pac-12 champions for the second straight season. Utah is hoping it avoids the same kind of wide-open Rose Bowl it...
Report: Rose Bowl 'Strongly Considering' Penn State Over Ohio State If OSU Misses CFP
Nov 30, 2022
Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. (18) makes a catch in front of Penn State cornerback Johnny Dixon (3) during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
No. 5 Ohio State is listed ahead of No. 8 Penn State in the College Football Playoff rankings and has a head-to-head win over the Nittany Lions, but that reportedly won't stop the Rose Bowl from potentially passing on the Buckeyes even if given the opportunity to select them.
Nicole Auerbach and Stewart Mandel of The Athletic reported Wednesday that "the Rose Bowl is strongly considering taking Penn State instead of Ohio State this year" if the Buckeyes do not finish in the top four and make the CFP.
While the Rose Bowl traditionally takes the Big Ten champion, Michigan figures to be in the CFP if it defeats Purdue in the conference title game Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium. That would leave the bowl opening for another team, and Ohio State would normally be the selection.
However, as Auerbach noted, the Rose Bowl is not obligated to pick the highest-ranked team of the remaining options.
On paper, passing up on a chance to pick the Buckeyes seems foolish.
Data indicated before the season started that Scarlet and Gray have the biggest fanbase in college football. They are also television ratings juggernauts who routinely draw millions of eyeballs to watch their games.
According to Sports Media Watch, Ohio State had the highest-ranked game of the week four times this year when it faced Michigan, Maryland, Penn State and Notre Dame. It also finished in the top five most-watched games of the week when it played Toledo, Wisconsin, Michigan State, Iowa and Northwestern.
That all adds up to an easy selection for the Rose Bowl, right?
Well, not so fast.
Ohio State was just in the Rose Bowl last year and is one of the programs that approaches every season with a championship-or-bust mentality. Fair or not, the fanbase views a trip to the Rose Bowl and not the CFP as a disappointment, especially if it came after a loss to archrival Michigan.
The Buckeyes lost to the Wolverines for a second straight year when a win would have all but clinched a spot in the top four. Their fans were not enthusiastic about a Rose Bowl game consolation prize last season in the same scenario and didn't even sell out their allotment of tickets for the matchup with Utah, per Auerbach.
There is also the reality that many Ohio State players could opt out ahead of the exhibition game.
That was the case last season when Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson were among the players who didn't play to protect their NFL draft status, although that didn't stop the Buckeyes from defeating Utah in a high-scoring thriller.
Quarterback C.J. Stroud has already said he would consider sitting out a non-playoff bowl game, and he likely wouldn't be the only one.
Penn State, on the other hand, hasn't been to the Rose Bowl since the 2016 campaign. It isn't quite in the national-championship-or-bust mode that Ohio State is every year, and its fans would likely be more enthusiastic about such a trip to a prominent bowl game.
All of that means the Rose Bowl may decide to jump at the chance to take the Nittany Lions.
If the Buckeyes have their way, though, Utah will defeat USC in Friday's Pac-12 Championship Game and open up a spot in the CFP after all.
Penn State CB Joey Porter Jr. Declares 2023 NFL Draft; Will Skip Bowl Game
Nov 30, 2022
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) lines up against Minnesota in the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Penn State redshirt junior cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is ready to take his talents to the next level.
Porter announced on social media that he is declaring for the 2023 NFL draft, and he will skip the Nittany Lions' bowl game to prepare for the pre-draft process:
Porter played in 10 games in 2022 and racked up 27 total tackles, 11 passes defended and a fumble recovery. He ends his career with 94 tackles, 19 passes defended and one interception.
Porter was the only Penn State player to be named to the All-Big Ten first team. The No. 8-ranked Nittany Lions finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, with their only losses coming against No. 2 Michigan and No. 5 Ohio State.
NFL teams in need of defensive help will be jumping to the front of the line to draft Porter. B/R's NFL draft big board has him ranked as top defensive back and No. 6 overall prospect in the 2023 class while also listing him as the best cornerback when it comes to man-to-man coverage. B/R's most recent mock draft projected Porter as the No. 8 pick to the Philadelphia Eagles.
"Very few cornerbacks play with the same physicality and zeal as Porter does," the evaluation for Porter stated. "His approach can get him in trouble with his coverage, as he becomes too grabby, but his overall competitiveness might be the best in the entire class."
While Porter leaving for the NFL is a blow to Penn State's defense next year, the Nittany Lions received good news earlier this week when stalwart offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu decided not to enter the draft and instead return for his senior season.
Penn State's Olu Fashanu to Return for Senior Season, Opts Against 2023 NFL Draft
Nov 28, 2022
Penn State offensive lineman Olu Fashanu (74) during their NCAA football practice, Saturday, April 17, 2021, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
One of this year's top NFL draft prospects reportedly will not turn pro in 2023.
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Penn State offensive tackle Olumuyiwa Fashanu will not enter the NFL draft and instead will return to return to school for his senior season. In B/R's NFL draft big board, Fashanu was ranked as the top offensive lineman and No. 12 overall prospect in the 2023 class.
Per Thamel, Fashanu said he has "unfinished business" and hopes to help lead Penn State to a Big Ten championship as well as a national championship next year.
Fashanu, who will earn a degree in supply chain management next year and intends to pursue a master's, also named his relationships with offensive line coach Phil Trautwein and head coach James Franklin as factors in his decision to return.
"We couldn't be more excited to have Olu return for the 2023 season," Franklin said. "He is a person of high character who exemplifies our core values, leads by example and models what it means to be a complete Penn State student-athlete. We will continue to work extremely hard to help Olu achieve all of his goals on and off the field and look forward to another season with him and his family in Happy Valley."
Fashanu is only 19 years old and in his first season as a full-time starter, but he already has wowed pro scouts by anchoring an offensive line that helped the Nittany Lions achieve a 10-2 record. The 6'6", 308-pound redshirt sophomore is a Waldorf, Maryland, native and played at Gonzaga College High School.
In B/R's most recent mock draft, Fashanu was projected as the No. 6 pick by the Las Vegas Raiders. He was tabbed as "the complete package when it comes to the physical tools necessary to excel as an NFL offensive tackle."
With a year of polish, Fashanu could emerge as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2024 draft class.
Week 11 in college football kicked off this weekend, and there were plenty of exciting moments and plays. In the early slate of games on Saturday, UConn became...
Former Penn State LB Bani Gbadyu Dies at Age 34 After Cancer Diagnosis
Oct 22, 2022
STATE COLLEGE, PA - OCTOBER 30: Linebacker Bani Gbadyu #15 of the Penn State Nittany Lions defends against the University of Michigan Wolverines at Beaver Stadium on October 30, 2010 in State College, Pennsylvania. Penn State won 41-31. (Photo by Ned Dishman/Getty Images)
Former Penn State linebacker Bani Gbadyu died Saturday morning after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, per Frank Bodani of the York Daily Record. He was 34.
Bodani reported on Gbadyu's cancer diagnosis in an article earlier this month, writing that the former Nittany Lion was "stunned" by the news and was hospitalized in intensive care. Gbadyu also said the following in a Facebook post last week, per Bodani:
"I feel blessed that there is an army invading heaven with prayers on my behalf. I know and can feel that God is loving me through this unimaginable time. I know everyone is supporting me, and most importantly my wife, family and kids believe in me. I hope that my journey can be a lesson for someone, at some point in time. We are going to lean on God and Fight On. #FightOnBani."
A GoFundMe page created to help Gbadyu's family with medical costs had raised more than $85,000 as of Saturday night.
Gbadyu, who left war-torn Liberia with his father and older brother when he was a young boy, played for the Nittany Lions from 2007-10, serving primarily as a backup linebacker and occasional starter.
In four seasons at Penn State, he posted 118 tackles, seven tackles for a loss, one interception, one pass breakup and one forced fumble.
Following his college football career, Gbadyu earned a tryout with the then-Oakland Raiders but was cut early and never played a game for the franchise. In recent years, he served as a high school football coach around Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
