Penn State news, notes, and updates for April 18 include NFL Draft round grades for a handful of former Nittany Lions. It\u2019s time to dive into Friday\u2019s top tweets and headlines about the Nittany Lions and college athletics.<\/p>\n
ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid has assigned final round grades to 350 former college football players. Only 256 will hear their name called over three days next week in Green Bay, Wisc. The rest will become undrafted free agents. The good news for five Penn State players, however, is that each has a number assignment inside of the top 230. Unsurprisingly, the list is led by Abdul Carter<\/a><\/strong> and Tyler Warren<\/a><\/strong>. The All-Americans check in at No. 2 and No. 10, respectively, on Reid\u2019s final big board<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cCarter\u00a0started slowly in his first season fully transitioning from off-ball linebacker to the edge, but he eventually showed why he\u2019s capable of being a 3-4 outside linebacker or 4-3 defensive end in the NFL,\u201d Reid writes. \u201cA two-sack performance against Illinois in\u00a0Week 4<\/a>\u00a0really got him going, and\u00a0Carter finished last season with 12 sacks and an 18.5% pressure rate, the third highest in the FBS. He is an explosive and rangy player off the edge who should make an immediate NFL impact.\u201d<\/p>\n On Warren, Reid adds:<\/p>\n \u201cHe can attack and find holes in zone coverage and can win against contested man coverage, which he showed during a 17-catch, 224-yard performance\u00a0against USC<\/a>. Warren\u00a0also adds value as a flexed-out or inline run blocker and can contribute immediately in the NFL.\u201d<\/p>\n Other former Nittany Lions with draftable grades include safety KJ Winston Jr.<\/a><\/strong> (third round, No. 67); safety Jaylen Reed<\/a><\/strong> (fifth round, No. 197), and linebacker Kobe King<\/a><\/strong> (sixth round, No. 229). <\/p>\n