Ohio State Dominates NFL Draft & Penn State Lands Elite Wide Receiver Transfer
The Buckeyes' mark of 14 draftees in one year narrowly trails Georgia’s all-time record, set in 2022, with 15 total selections.
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Penn State’s Wide Receiver Room
The Nittany Lions finished their 2024 campaign just three points short of a national championship berth, largely due to inconsistent pass catching production along the outside.
Zero Penn State wide receivers hauled in a reception during the squad’s semifinal matchup against Notre Dame. Consequently, James Franklin and Co. picked up 198 catches, 2,446 receiving yards, and 23 touchdowns from 2024 alone out of the transfer portal this offseason.
On Saturday, Penn State landed the services of Syracuse transfer Trebor Pena as the Nittany Lions’ third wide receiver transfer of the cycle.
Pena served as Syracuse’s top receiver in catches, yards, and touchdowns from a year ago, racking up 84 receptions for 941 yards and nine scores as gunslinger Kyle McCord’s favorite weapon.
Now, he’ll likely start in the slot for the Nittany Lions alongside USC transfer Kyron Hudson former Troy burner Devonte Ross.
Ohio State’s NFL Draft Production
To little surprise, no school was better represented during last week’s NFL Draft than the reigning national title winners, Ohio State.
Former Buckeyes’ names were called 14 times throughout the three-day spectacle in Green Bay, tying Ohio State’s previous record of 14 selections set in 2004.
The 2025 cycle marked the first time four Ohio State defensive linemen were selected in one draft, featuring Tyleik Williams, JT Tuimoloau, Jack Sawyer, and Ty Hamilton.
Ohio State’s mark of 14 draftees in one year narrowly trails Georgia’s all-time record, set in 2022, with 15 total selections.
UCLA’s Recent Portal Additions
UCLA hasn’t won at least 10 games since 2014, but second-year head coach DeShaun Foster is well on his way to restoring the Bruins’ historic brand.
Aside from Foster adding proven five-star signal caller Nico Iamaleava to his roster after his unexpected departure from Tennessee, UCLA recently picked up prized running back Jaivian Thomas via Cal.
Thomas served as tailback Jaydn Ott’s primary backup in 2024, tallying 626 rushing yards on 100 carries.
Currently, the Bruins hold claim to nation’s 19th best transfer portal class, with six offensive and seven defensive transfers expected to start for Foster’s unit entering 2025.
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Big 12’s NFL Draft Results
The SEC and Big Ten led all Power Four conferences with 80 and 71 former players selected in this year’s NFL Draft, respectively.
Trailing the distinguished group of leagues was the Big 12, which compiled just 31 total draft picks, equating to just 1.9 draftees per program.
Moreover, three Big 12 schools failed to have a single player drafted, including BYU, Baylor, and Houston.
Between the three schools above combined with Arizona State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, and Utah, the group of six programs produced just four total draft picks this year.
Colorado’s Retired Numbers
During Colorado’s spring game less than two weeks ago, the Buffaloes’ athletic department unveiled the retirement of Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders’ uniform numbers after spending two seasons each in Boulder.
Following Hunter’s Heisman Trophy winning campaign, the two-way phenom was picked No. 2 overall in the NFL Draft after the Jacksonville Jaguars traded up to select the generational talent.
As for Sanders, however, the quarterback slid from a sure-fire first round projection to becoming a fifth-round selection. Ultimately, Coach Prime’s son was nabbed by the Cleveland Browns with the 144th overall pick.
While Hunter’s jersey retirement was well received by college football fans and Colorado supporters alike, giving the same honor to Sanders, who compiled a 13-11 record as a starter under center, raised eyebrows.
Former Colorado program staples, including Chad Brown and Joel Klatt, both expressed questions regarding the athletic department’s decision to permanently hang up Sanders’ No. 2 threads.
“[It’s] not a good look,” Klatt said. "… With Shedeur, it’s way too easy from the outside looking in to say, ‘Would this happen if he had a different name on his back?”
Between The Numbers 📊
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Texas Tech’s promising offseason steeped in elite player acquisition has continued to thrive throughout April, highlighted by the addition of Stanford edge rusher David Bailey.
Through three years with the Cardinal, Bailey’s numbers are terrorizing.
Last season, the Irvine, California native compiled 31 total tackles and seven sacks. Most impressively, the speedy defensive end holds claim to seven career forced fumbles, including five from last season alone.
The clip of five forced fumbles in 12 games ranked fifth in the FBS following the 2024 campaign.
With the addition of Bailey, the Red Raiders firmly grasp the nation’s second-best transfer class, ahead of Ole Miss, Miami, and Oregon.
If head coach Joey McGuire’s group can land one additional commitment, his program’s portal haul will overtake LSU’s top-ranked class.
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After quarterback Jayden Daniels went second off the board to the Washington Commanders in 2024, the Tigers had yet another top five selection in former left tackle Will Campbell.
The Louisiana native made 38 starts at LSU, allowing only five sacks in 2,553 snaps.
On Thursday, Campbell became LSU’s sixth top-five NFL Draft pick since 2010, landing fourth overall to the New England Patriots. He joined an impressive crew of former Tigers among the likes of Joe Burrow, Patrick Peterson, and Devin White.
This year, the Tigers finished fourth among all SEC teams with seven players selected, trailing only Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss.
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Shoutout to Connor Krause for helping to write this newsletter and putting it together!
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