Penn State football 2026 NFL Draft prospects: An early look at where Drew Allar may land

Penn State football is preparing for its most anticipated, star-studded season under head coach James Franklin.

The Nittany Lions are expected to be a top-five preseason team, make it back to the College Football Playoff and contend for a national title.

Even more? They could bring a possible record-setting contingent to next year’s NFL Draft. That should include another couple of first-round picks.

For comparison, Penn State earned eight draft picks twice under Franklin, including in 2024. They landed five picks in this year’s NFL Draft that ended Saturday evening, including first-rounders Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren.

The Lions’ seven-round record: 10 draft choices back in 1996.

Here’s why their 2026 NFL Draft could challenge that. A way-too-early look at next April in Pittsburgh:

Penn State football 2026 NFL Draft prospects

Drew Allar, quarterback, senior

Drew Allar has everything, physically, to be a first-round draft pick quarterback: great size (6-foot-5, 235 pounds), tremendous arm strength and ever-increasing mobility. He’s also been a careful, accurate passer, owning the school record for completion percentage (62.9).

Can he make the step into a big-game QB extraordinaire? If he becomes a difference-maker at the end of his toughest games, there may be no stopping his draft rise into the top-five.

He’s the early No. 1 overall pick in this early draft projection and lands in the first round in most others.

Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, senior

An injury slowed his national breakout season last year, but Dani Dennis-Sutton finished strong, as hoped. Now, he’s sitting on an All-America campaign and potential first-round draft status.

His size and power are nearly unmatched at one of the most highly-valued NFL positions. He should be Penn State’s next elite pass rusher, following Abdul Carter, Chop Robinson, Odafe Oweh and Micah Parsons — all first-round picks.

This mock draft has him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers as the No. 20 pick overall — and three other Lions going in the first round.

Nick Singleton, running back, senior

Nick Singleton can become Penn State’s all-time leading rusher this coming season.

The talk from him, and new running backs coach Stan Drayton, is attempting to add more open-field elusiveness to his big-play running style.

Hitting another growth level could push him into first-round draft territory, as well.

Kaytron Allen, running back, senior

This punishing, co-starting tailback also could potentially top Penn State’s all-time rushing list as a senior.

Kaytron Allen should team with Singleton to form the top running back duo in the nation. And if he continues to improve as a receiver and stay healthy, he should be a Day Two pick in Pittsburgh.

Zane Durant, defensive tackle, senior

Senior defensive tackle Zane Durant may be one of the top defensive tackles in the nation this fall. He often played like that last season and seemed underappreciated in Penn State’s Top 10 defense.

He’s improved his playmaking in the backfield each season, to go along with a sturdy presence up front against the run.

He’s a strong second- or third-round draft projection, at this point.

Zakee Wheatley, safety, redshirt senior

Zakee Wheatley grew from a starter-quality safety into a national-grade playmaker by the end of last season.

In his last performance, against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff, he registered 16 tackles — the most by a Penn State defender in a bowl game in 45 years.

The senior expects to grow on that 2024 season, which featured three interceptions, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.

Nick Dawkins, offensive lineman, redshirt senior+

Nick Dawkins starred as a first-time starting center in 2024 and will anchor one of the nation’s top offensive lines.

After Saturday’s Blue-White Game, coach James Franklin called him one of the best leaders he’s ever coached.

Drew Shelton, offensive lineman, senior

Drew Shelton accounted for himself well as a first-time starter last season at left tackle. He would have earned a draft-eligible grade this year, if he would have chosen to leave.

Instead, he will team up with Dawkins to help form one of the nation’s top offensive lines.

Vega Ioane, offensive lineman, redshirt junior

Vega Ioane may be the most athletic member of Penn State’s star-studded offensive line — and the one with the most NFL Draft upside.

He could push toward a first-round grade, which may help him leave PSU with a year of eligibility remaining.

Nolan Rucci, offensive lineman, redshirt senior

An intriguing draft possibility after starting just six games last year, his first at Penn State. But the former high school All-American finally began to grow into his enormous potential and should lock down that right tackle job early on.

A.J. Harris, cornerback, junior

The former five-star recruit who started his career at Georgia enjoyed a stellar 2025 with the Nittany Lions.

This season could be his time to garner national recognition, he is that talented. If so, he could leave early for the NFL, like Ioane.

Penn State football NFL Draft picks 2024

• Round 1, Pick 3: Abdul Carter, EDGE, New York Giants
• Round 1, Pick 14: Tyler Warren, tight end, Indianapolis Colts
• Round 3, Pick 82: KJ Winston, safety, Tennessee Titans
• Round 6, Pick 187: Jaylen Reed, safety, Houston Texans
• Round 6, Pick 201: Kobe King, linebacker, Minnesota Vikings

Frank Bodani covers Penn State football for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at  fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.

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