Penn State’s 2025 NFL season was all over the place, and it exposed some structural flaws. Despite all this, the team is poised to dispatch the largest classes in a decade.
The candidates will fall under the new Penn State coach, Matt Campbell. However, these prospects were recruited by the outgoing regime of Penn State. They were with the team for a year and were developed through a system that is no longer there. Now with the new coach, the team would like to rebuild a new blueprint going forward. But the question remains whether the prospects will be able to adapt to the new blueprint.
The choices of these prospects will shape the upcoming season of Penn State under Matt Campbell. In this, we will examine the top draft candidates of Penn State.
A. J. Harris: He is a headliner who transferred from Alabama and looked like one of the most complete cornerbacks in college football for Penn State this sophomore season. If he decides to go somewhere else, Penn State would lose its most reliable defender.
Dani Dennis Sutton: Dani Dennis Sutton also produced some great performances, and it shows in his stats (82 tackles, 24 solo stops). He became an important member of the team; in his absence, Penn State would have to rebuild once again.
Nicholas Singleton: Most of the season, he was seen battling stacked boxes and offense. It didn’t help his cause. However, his natural burst and contact balance are something not to be overlooked. He needs a capable coach like Campbell to show him a path and elevate his play.
Drew Shelton: Drew is a legitimate NFL Tackle prospect with pro-bowl level physical traits. He has a long frame along with quick feet. He can do wonders for Penn State if he returns under the guidance of Campbell.
Oluwagega Ioane: He is a developmental guard with a high ceiling. His technique might not be on par with others, but he can surely improve under Campbell in a year.
Drew Allar: He should have been the talk of the town, but due to injuries, he was often inconsistent. If he chooses to stay at Penn State, Campbell could rebuild his profile entirely.
All in all, Campbell is going to a team that could lose its best players before he starts coaching them in the spring. This draft class of Penn State is a testament to its developmental history. But it also warns about the challenge for Matt Campbell in the coming months.
This is going to be a program that Matt Campbell describes: building a tough, disciplined, unified program that thrives on development.