Highs and Lows of Penn State's Week at the NFL Combine
One of Penn State football's best marketing weeks of the year ended Sunday at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, where 10 Nittany Lions attended the nation's oddest job fair. Where else would a 300-pound person be asked to run 40 yards, and others would consider that a productive interview?
Yet Penn State players once again demonstrated the proficiency of their training program, earning a week of praise from NFL analysts marveling at their speed and dexterity. Of course, Penn State's social media platforms took advantage of the free recruiting pitch. This is earned media at its finest.
But not everything was a 4.39 on the clock for Penn State. So let's break down Penn State's week, for better and for worse, at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.
For Better
Theo Johnson
Johnson put together one of the great performances of any tight end in combine history. This didn't surprise Penn State's coaching staff, who constantly spotlighted Johnson's athleticism, but it was a showcase for the larger NFL audience.
Johnson finished among the top 3 in every testing category at his position, earning the second-highest athletic score among tight ends in combine history.
(The highest was by a former Penn State tight end: Zack Kuntz, who finished his career at Old Dominion.)
Johnson's results included a 4.57 time in the 40-yard dash, a 39-5 vertical jump and a 10-5 broad jump. According to the analytics company RAS, Johnson scored a 9.9 out of a possible 10 on his Relative Athletic Score, tied for the top spot at this year's combine. It also was the highest Penn State score recorded, just above three 9.7s: Saquon Barkley, Brandon Smith and Mike Gesicki.
Chop Robinson
The defensive end arrived in Indianapolis having plateaued in some NFL Draft mocks. One analyst graded Robinson out of the first round. But Robinson shined at the combine, generating a RAS score of 9.69 that was second among defensive ends. Robinson ran an official 4.48 in the 40, a killer time for a 254-pound lineman, and showed the explosiveness he'll use in the NFL.
Curtis Jacobs
Jacobs turned in another strong 40 time (4.58, fifth among linebackers) and had the third-best broad jump (10-4). His RAS score (9.09) ranked sixth among linebackers, and Jacobs also brought some inside linebacker experience from the Senior Bowl to his interviews. Good week for Jacobs, who had a stellar career for the Lions.
Daequan Hardy
The cornerback's RAS (8.62) wasn't among the combine's best, but Hardy certainly ran a top-end 40: 4.38 seconds, tied for fifth among cornerbacks. His 1.5-second split showed some explosion, as did his 42-5 vertical jump, tied for the combine's best overall. With that, Hardy immediately added returner (a skill he proved last season with the Lions) to his NFL resume.
Caedan Wallace
Olu Fashanu was the Penn State tackle everyone wanted to see at the combine, but his counterpart made an impression as well. Wallace scored 9.10 on his RAS, which ranked 12th among tackles. And according to the NFL's Next Gen stats, Wallace ranked fifth among tackles in athletic scoring.
For worse
Kalen King
The cornerback had a rough testing week in Indianapolis. His RAS score (6.64) ranked in the bottom five among cornerbacks. His 40 time (4.61) was the second-slowest at the position. Robinson, at 63 pounds heavier, ran more than one-tenth of a second faster. Not the week King wanted. It will be interesting to watch what drills he performs at Penn State's upcoming Pro Day on March 15.
Olu Fashanu
Not for what he did. Fashanu's 40 time (5.11) seemed pretty good for a 312-pound left tackle. But Fashanu shut down his workout after the run because of an injury, according to NFL Network's Stacey Dales. Didn't seem serious, but why do offensive linemen even run the 40 at the combine?
Johnny Dixon
The cornerback said during the week that he sustained an injury at the Senior Bowl and wouldn't run drills. The injury also likely will prevent him from running at Penn State's Pro Day. Tough break for Dixon, who could have used the athletic showcase.
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AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.
