Penn State is fully focused on the College Football Playoff semifinal game Notre Dame. A win will advance to the final competition of the year: the national title game. Some Nittany Lions like star tight end Tyler Warrenwill have to move on at the end of the season. Others, like All-American Junior Abdul CarterRunning backs Nicholas Singleton And Kaytron Allenand more, must make a decision whether to stay or go. As the college football world prepares for back-to-back semifinal days on Thursday and Friday, the NFL world prepares for the start of the playoffs while continuing the mock draft process. That’s what we’re briefly focusing on today.

ESPN’s Jordan Reid takes a new look at how the first 32 picks could play out now that picks 1-18 are locked up due to teams’ lack of postseason play. He has two Nittany Lions in action on the first day of the draft. By the way, it takes place April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisc. Unsurprisingly, Carter comes off the board first. The All-American will decide for the pros at the end of this season by unanimous consent. Reid predicts he will then end up with the Las Vegas Raiders. They have the No. 6 overall pick.

“The Raiders appear to have made it difficult to select a quarterback for the second year in a row. “Two wins in the last three games would put them out of position for Ward or Sanders unless there was an expensive trade,” Reid writes. “As with their process in selecting Brock Bowers in 2024, the Raiders could select the best player available at the position”.

“The 1.80 meter tall and 110 kilogram Carter fits this bill as he is number 2 overall in my ranking. He has a lightning-quick first step, with a 17.7% pressure rate (fourth-best in the FBS) and 11 sacks this season.”

Warren is the other Penn State star projected to go in the first round. Reid sends him to Indianapolis. It owns the No. 14 overall pick.

“(Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson) needs more quality players to throw to in the passing game,” Reid wrote. “Warren would help fill that void. His versatility in targeting makes him one of the most dangerous targets in the country. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound

“Warren’s 77.2 receiving yards per game ranks second among FBS tight ends. Not only did he accumulate 98 catches for 1,158 yards and eight touchdowns, but he is also a reliable run blocker who could bolster the Colts’ rushing attack.”

Eight Penn State players were selected in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Lions have had at least five selections in seven consecutive years. PSU is also one of three schools to have had a player selected in the first three rounds for 19 consecutive years. USC And LSU are the others. This winning streak at Penn State will celebrate its 20th anniversary this spring.