Ranking the greatest Penn State hidden NFL draft gems since 2000
The 2024 NFL draft is approaching and Penn State has plenty of prospects who will be selected on Day 2 or 3 of the NFL draft. These are the best later-round picks that the Nittany Lions have produced.
By Josh Yourish
. Cameron Wake, OLB/DE. Cameron Wake. . Undrafted. 31. Cameron Wake, OLB/DE. 3. player. 2005
Cameron Wake was such a hidden gem that he essentially went undiscovered. Wake was undrafted in 2005 and was cut by the New York Giants who signed him as a UDFA. He spent 2006 as a mortgage broker before playing two seasons in the CFL, dominating the league enough to earn an NFL tryout with the Miami Dolphins.
Wake went on to play 11 years in the NFL and rack up 100.5 sacks. He was a five-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro in 2012 when he posted a career-high 15.0 sacks.
Wake could be the best player on this list, but he's held him down at No. 3 because he wasn't drafted, so it's a bit of cheating to count him as a draft hidden gem.