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USA Today pegs two Nittany Lions as first-round draft picks
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Could the 2018 NFL Draft be Penn State’s show this year? USA Today certainly thinks so.
While USA Today’s most recent mock draft doesn’t have the Nittany Lions owning the first round of the draft, it does believe it will have more Day One selections than any other team in the B1G. Yes, more than Ohio State and Michigan.
The publication lists two Penn State players as potential first round picks, running back Saquon Barkley and safety Marcus Allen. The Draft Wire has Barkley going No. 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns while Allen is projected at N0. 16 and headed to the Baltimore Ravens.
Only one other B1G name made the list as Ohio State’s Jerome Baker was slotted to go to the Minnesota Vikings at No. 22.
So far, Barkley has racked up 1,218 all-purpose yards (rushing, receiving, kickoff returns) and seven total touchdowns through the first five games of the season. Allen has recorded 29 stops, four tackles for loss, an interception and three pass break-ups for the defense.
Obviously there’s plenty of time for the mock drafts to fluctuate, but right now, Penn State might have the best day of anyone in the B1G when the first-round of the draft rolls around.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB