Victory Bell Rings
Fansided

DE Garrett Sickels 2017 NFL Draft Preview

By Barry Leonard Jr.

Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Penn State defensive end Garrett Sickels speaks to the media during the 2017 combine at Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

Defensive end Garrett Sickels will hope to hear his name called during the 2017 NFL Draft.

It was a bit of a surprise when Penn State defensive lineman Garrett Sickels announced after the Rose Bowl that he was going to forego his senior season in Happy Valley. Sickels decided to make himself eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft.

After declaring, the defensive end received an invitation to the NFL Combine in February.  He didn’t put up the best numbers among his position group in Indianapolis, but may have done enough to show he’s worth being drafted.

More from Victory Bell Rings

If there’s one thing that Sickels excels at, it’s getting into the opponent’s backfield and putting pressure on the quarterback. He led the Big Ten in 2016 with 43 quarterback pressures. He also tied for the team lead with six sacks and 12.5 tackles for loss. Sickels was seventh on the team with 47 total tackles.

Sickels’ performance during his junior season earned him a spot on the All-Big Ten second team.

When Sickels entered Penn State as a freshman in 2013 he was one of the top high school defensive line recruits and one of the top players from New Jersey. He was given a red shirt that season in order to spend more time growing and developing.

In 2014 Sickels plays in every game. He followed that up with 12 starts during the 2015 season.

2016 saw Sickels playing time in all 14 of Penn State’s games with 12 starts. He had a monster game in the upset of Ohio State, making nine total tackles and recording 2.5 sacks.

Sickels was a quality defensive end at the collegiate level and has decent size — six-foot-three, 261 pounds — to play at the next level. However, according to his scouting report on NFL.com, he could be moved to outside linebacker once he gets to the NFL.

If he’s selected, expect it to be near the end of the draft, likely in the seventh round. However, if he’s not selected, it shouldn’t take long for Sickels to find a home as an undrafted free agent.

Next: Safety Malik Golden 2017 NFL Draft Preview

VBR wishes Garrett the best of luck in the future!

Home/Penn State Football