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Here’s Where the Undrafted Penn State Nittany Lions Ended up

By Alec Whitaker

MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 04: Ellis Brooks #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a defensive stop during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MADISON, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 04: Ellis Brooks #13 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts to a defensive stop during the first half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium on September 04, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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Oct 29, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Irvin Charles (11) hangs onto the ball as Purdue Boilermakers cornerback Da’Wan Hunte (2) defends in the 2nd half at Ross Ade Stadium. Penn Sate won the game 62-24. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2016; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions wide receiver Irvin Charles (11) hangs onto the ball as Purdue Boilermakers cornerback Da’Wan Hunte (2) defends in the 2nd half at Ross Ade Stadium. Penn Sate won the game 62-24. Mandatory Credit: Sandra Dukes-USA TODAY Sports /

Irvin Charles to the Jets

Irvin Charles did not finish his career with Penn State, but it’s easy to question the trajectory of the program without him.

Charles left Penn State after the 2017 season and reemerged at Indiana University of Pennsylvania to finish his college career. That gamble worked out, as he was signed by the New York Jets on Saturday night.

Charles made one of the most important plays in recent Penn State history. Back in 2016, Penn State trailed Minnesota 13-3 at the half. Early in the third quarter, Trace McSorley found Charles down the seam, and he took it 80 yards for a touchdown. The play jump started Penn State’s offense as they went on to win the game and would not lose again that year until the Rose Bowl.

There certainly is a ‘what if’ game to play if Charles wasn’t in on that play and did not score. Would Penn State have won that game and go on to win the Big Ten without that play, or would they have ended up 7-5?

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