The record-setting 2026 NFL Draft is behind us (as is the Blue-White Game), and we are well and truly off into this year’s off-season. There’s playoff hockey and basketball, as well as golf and baseball to fill our time over the next 4 months, but as always, we want football!
So let’s look ahead to next year’s NFL Draft, and see if we can sort out which Nittany Lions may hear their names being called. Any thoughts on who may end up on someone’s draft board? I have a few.
Rocco Becht, QB
QB1 heading into the summer,
Rocco transferred from Iowa State when new head coach Matt Campbell joined the Nittany Lions. He’ll have 1 year to prove what he’s got, and if he can settle where a lot of people hope he can – that is, a more mobile version of Sean Clifford – there’s a good chance he gets picked up next year.
James Peoples, RB
A surprise transfer from Ohio State, Peoples is only a junior, so he could stick around for a few years. But if the Lions offense clicks, and if James shows out, he could work his way into draft discussions. If it’s a running back by committee approach, he may not have the individual stats to really shine, but time will tell.
Quinton Martin Jr, RB
A home grown player, Quinton will finally move out of the shadow of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen, both of whom are now on NFL rosters. Like Peoples, there’s an opportunity to become RB1, and really wow people. If not, and he shares the rock, it may be another year or two until he heads to the Draft.
Andrew Rappleyea, TE
Sneakily, Rapp was the best tight end the Lions had last year, and as a redshirt junior, certainly has the experience. With the departure of Luke Reynolds, the opportunity is there for him to be TE1 in what should be a tight end-heavy offense at Penn State. A solid year from him and he could hear his name called next spring.
Anthony Donkoh, OT
The offensive line looks solid, if a little on the green side. Donkoh is a redshirt junior, and while a couple other OL could also test the waters, Anthony may be the only one that gives it a go.
Tony Rojas, LB
If I’m being honest, I’m not sure if any Penn State defender will hear their name called next year. The defense looks fine on paper, but I just don’t see any real game breakers on that side of the ball. Maybe the Lions have a lunch pail kind of defense that doesn’t have any super stars but still performs well, but I am very much in a prove-it mode for that side of the ball. In any case, Rojas has plenty of experience and has flashed a lot of potential at LB. As a redshirt junior, he may head to the NFL if he can rebound from injury and put together a solid 2026 campaign.
Jeremiah Cooper, S
Another Iowa State transfer, Jeremiah moves into a safety room that is starting fresh. A redshirt senior, it would be nice if Cooper could lock down the back end of the defense and play well enough to earn a draft position. But like I said, the defense in general looks kind of meh, so I’ll reserve judgment for that entire half of the ball until the actual season gets here.
But what do you think? Are there any Nittany Lions I missed whose name you think will be called next April?
