Penn State’s Nick Singleton is excited as he nears fulfilling NFL dreams

“It’s the work we put in throughout the four years,” Singleton said. “We all came in together. To be able to be drafted together is an amazing feeling. We’re all blessed.”

Several other Lions might be drafted in the later rounds, but here’s a breakdown of where the other seven who are expected to be taken:

Vega Ioane, offensive guard: An All-American and a two-year starter, he appears to be a solid first-round pick. In five respected mock drafts and projections, Ioane has been penciled to go anywhere from 14th to Baltimore to 21st to Pittsburgh.

“He consistently played at a high level,” Brugler wrote. “He both looks and plays the part. He is a thick, sturdy blocker who consistently holds his ground in pass protection and covers up defenders in the run game.”

Dani Dennis-Sutton, defensive end: Penn State’s best pass rusher last season with 8.5 sacks is mostly considered to be a second-round pick, ranking from the 52nd (Green Bay) to the 57th pick (Chicago). Matt Miller of ESPN was the outlier, projecting Dennis-Sutton to wait until the fourth round and the 112th pick, owned by Dallas.

“He’s a commanding presence with the size, strength and quickness to be a force on the edge,”Brugler wrote. “He wins with a combination of quickness and power in all facets of his game.”

Drew Allar, quarterback: Also considered a first-round draft choice last summer, Allar saw his senior season end when he suffered a broken ankle in the sixth game against Northwestern. Draft analysts have a variety of opinions about him, projecting him to be taken anywhere from the 61st pick in the second round (Los Angeles Rams) to the 128th pick (Detroit) in the fourth round.

“Allar is a sturdy, strong-armed passer with promising intangibles,” Brugler wrote, “but underdeveloped timing disrupts his ability to execute at a high level.”

Kaytron Allen, running back: During a marvelous senior season, Allen broke the school record for career rushing yards and finished with 4,180. He was named to the All-Big Ten first team and received All-America second- and third-team honors.

He’s projected to be taken as early as the 90th pick (Miami) in the third round and as late as the 161st pick (Pittsburgh) in the fifth round.

“Allen is a big, powerful runner who makes it difficult for defenders to get him on the ground,” Brugler wrote. “Though he doesn’t have high-level speed to run away from pursuit, he makes smart reads and sets up his moves to create more than expected.”

Zakee Wheatley, safety: A two-year starter, he played both safety positions, finished last season as Penn State’s second-leading tackler and had two turnovers.

Wheatley is expected to be a third- or fourth-round selection, as early as the 75th choice (Miami) and as late as the 125th pick (New England).

“Wheatley is an alert, fluid athlete with starting potential in a zone scheme,” Brugler wrote.

Drew Shelton, offensive tackle: The stock of the Downingtown West product seems to be on the rise as the draft draws near. A starter for 3.5 seasons, Shelton allowed just one sack in 2025.

Analysts project him being taken anywhere from the 68th pick (Philadelphia) in the third round to the 214th pick (Indianapolis) in the sixth round.

“He made steady improvements between his junior and senior seasons,” Brugler wrote. “He struggles to stay attached at the point of attack and doesn’t have the power to move defenders against their will.”

Zane Durant, defensive tackle: A three-year starter who played in every game but the 2025 Pinstripe Bowl in his career, Durant used his quickness and strength to be a playmaker.

He’s expected to be drafted as early as the 137th pick (Philadelphia) in the fourth round and as late as the 226th pick (Cincinnati) in the seventh round.

“Durant is undersized for the trenches, which is an advantage and disadvantage,” Brugler wrote. “He uses natural leverage and lower body strength to anchor or play underneath blocks. He needs to develop more ways to get around blocks when he doesn’t win quickly.”