Penn State Football: An early look at next year’s NFL Draft prospects

Some other potential draft picks

The following list are players that would currently go undrafted next year – again, if they decide to turn pro after the 2021 season – but have the potential to hear their name called next April with a breakout campaign in 2022.

Caedan Wallace (OL)

Wallace is one of two returning starters along the Penn State offensive line. He started at right tackle last season, and will do so again this season, even though guard is his natural position.

If he is able to put together a solid 2022 season, even if it isn’t great, some teams might look to draft Caedan Wallace, knowing that he was playing out of position and could be much more effective on the interior of the line.

Adisa Isaac (DE)

It may take Adisa Isaac some time to get into a rhythm after missing all of the 2021 season, but once he settles in, he can be a difference maker out on the edge for Penn State Football.

The main thing that caused Isaac to fall into this ‘maybe’ category, is his health. If he is able to stay healthy and play to his potential, he will be a sure-fire draft pick next year.

Jonathan Sutherland (LB/S)

At this moment, Jonathan Sutherland is just not draft material. However, you never know how he might perform in a new position, moving from safety to outside linebacker. It could be another Jesse Luketa situation, where he was not overly effective as an off-ball linebacker, but seemed to have found a home playing closer to the line of scrimmage when he moved to an edge rusher position.

If Sutherland looks comfortable and plays well as an outside linebacker this season, he could sneak into the late rounds of the draft, especially because of what he brings to the table from a leadership and special teams perspective.

Hakeem Beamon (DL)

After missing last season for non-injury related reasons, Hakeem Beamon is ready to be a key contributor for the Nittany Lions in 2022. The defensive tackle position is currently loaded, and Beamon will be in a competition to start alongside PJ Mustipher.

If Beamon can win that job and be a sound run stopper, as well as provide some interior pressure on opposing quarterbacks, he could play his way into being a late round NFL Draft pick in 2023.

Nick Tarburton (DE)

Although Nick Tarburton was one of the two starters at defensive end for much of last season, and he showed some upside at times, he left a little something to be desired. That may not entirely be his fault though, as the redshirt senior has battled injuries for much of his Penn State Football career.

As a result, last season was the first time that Tarburton consistently saw the field. Now with a year of valuable experience under his belt, and another offseason working with defensive line coach John Scott Jr., perhaps he can build on his 2021 campaign and sneak into the end of the draft.

Daequan Hardy (CB/STAR)

Daequan Hardy was nothing short of excellent in his role as the Nittany Lions’ STAR (or nickel corner) in 2021. Presumably, Hardy will be in that role again in 2022, as Joey Porter Jr and Kalen King are the likely starters at cornerback.

The question is, will NFL teams knock him for not being one of Penn State’s traditional starting cornerbacks? They may not, and if that is the case, Daequan Hardy could be an NFL Draft pick in 2023. After all, in such a pass-heavy NFL, where defenses are forced to play a lot of nickel packages to match personnel, some teams might have an eye out for someone who thrives in that role.

The odds for any of these are not great, though some are better than others.

As mentioned, for someone like Adisa Isaac, the primary question is his ability to stay on the field. If he can play an entire season, uninterrupted by injury, he will likely have a strong case to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft.

As members of Penn State’s 2019 recruiting class, Caedan Wallace, Hakeem Beamon, and Daequan Hardy are all entering their fourth season, and would still have another two years of eligibility after that, if they choose to use one or both of them.

Unless they are able to take a big step forward, and play their way into a probable day one or two draft pick, it would probably be wise for all four of them (Isaac, Wallace, Beamon, and Hardy) to return in 2023 to try to improve their draft stock.

Nick Tarburton could return for one more year in 2023 if he chooses, while Jonathan Sutherland will be playing in his sixth and final season for the Nittany Lions this fall.

It is probably a relatively safe bet to assume that one of these six players could be drafted in 2023, but anything more than that is unlikely. Either way, the 2023 NFL Draft looks to be another good one for Penn State Football.