Penn State’s 2025 Collapse Leaves NFL Draft Hopes Hanging by a Thread
The 2025 college football season was supposed to be the one that finally brought Penn State back to the top. National title buzz was real.
NFL scouts were circling Happy Valley early, eyeing a roster loaded with potential first-round talent. But when Oregon came into Beaver Stadium and blew the doors off the Nittany Lions’ season, everything changed - fast.
Now, with bowl season wrapping up and draft declarations rolling in, the once-deep pool of Penn State prospects has thinned out at the top. The first-round hype?
Nearly gone. The one name still clinging to that status: guard Vega Ioane.
Vega Ioane: The Lone First-Round Hope
Ioane stands as the last real shot for Penn State to sneak a player into the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. And it’s not just about talent - it’s about positional value and team needs. Interior offensive linemen don’t always get the spotlight, but Ioane’s combination of size, movement skills, and technique could make him a plug-and-play option for teams needing help up front.
With so many of his teammates falling short of expectations, Ioane’s consistency and upside make him the safest bet from this Penn State class. He’s not a lock, but he’s in the conversation - and that’s more than can be said for most of the roster.
Kaytron Allen: A Bright Spot, But Draft Stock in Flux
Running back Kaytron Allen was one of the few positives to come out of Penn State’s season. He ran hard, put up big numbers, and looked like a back who could handle a pro workload. But even with a career year - 210 carries, 1,303 yards, 15 touchdowns - Allen’s draft projection is murky.
Why? It’s not about what he didn’t do.
It’s about what NFL teams are looking for. The value of running backs in the draft continues to slide, and even productive, durable backs like Allen can get pushed down the board depending on positional runs and team needs.
He could still go Day 2, but a first-round selection is looking unlikely.
Drew Allar: From Franchise Hope to Draft Afterthought
No player’s stock fell harder than Drew Allar. Coming into the season, he was viewed as a borderline first-round quarterback - maybe not a top-10 guy, but someone who could rise with a strong year. That rise never came.
Injuries didn’t help. A broken ankle ended his season early, but the truth is, the struggles started well before that.
In six games, Allar threw for 1,100 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. His 64.8% completion rate was fine, but the eye test told a different story.
He looked tentative, inconsistent, and unable to elevate the offense when it mattered most.
Allar’s issues weren’t just mechanical - they were mental. Missed reads, questionable decisions, and a lack of command in key moments defined his year. The injury might’ve saved him from further damage, but it also froze his narrative in place: a talented passer who never quite put it together.
A.J. Harris: A Pause, Not a Full Stop
Cornerback A.J. Harris didn’t tank his stock, but he didn’t boost it either.
After flashing more as a sophomore, his junior campaign felt like a step sideways. He posted 33 tackles, one tackle for loss, a fumble recovery, and a couple of pass breakups - solid numbers, but nothing that jumps off the page.
Harris hit the transfer portal on December 22. That move keeps his NFL dream alive, giving him a chance to reset, find a better fit, and remind scouts of the talent that made him a highly touted recruit. His first-round window isn’t closed - just delayed.
Nicholas Singleton: A Stunning Slide
Two years ago, Nicholas Singleton looked like a future star. Explosive, powerful, and productive - he was the kind of back you build an offense around. But 2025 was a different story.
Singleton finished with just 549 rushing yards on 123 carries - the lowest of his college career. Compare that to his freshman and sophomore seasons (1,061 and 1,099 yards, respectively), and the drop-off is glaring. Even more telling: he was clearly outshined by Allen, who doubled his production and took over the RB1 role.
It wasn’t just a down year - it was a season that put Singleton’s draft future in serious question. He’s still expected to declare, but he’ll need to convince teams that 2025 was the outlier, not the new norm.
Who’s Declared - and Who’s Still Deciding
Several Nittany Lions have made it official: Vega Ioane, center Nick Dawkins, safety Zakee Wheatley, defensive tackle Zane Durant, and offensive lineman Drew Shelton are all heading to the 2026 NFL Draft. Singleton and Allen are expected to join them, while Allar’s decision is still pending.
As a group, this was never going to be a first-round parade. But the hope was that a few stars would emerge, push their way into the top 32, and give Penn State a strong showing on draft night. Instead, they’re left hoping Ioane can crack the first round - and that a few others can salvage Day 2 or Day 3 value.
Final Word
Penn State entered 2025 with sky-high expectations and a roster full of NFL dreams. But after a season-defining loss to Oregon and a string of underwhelming performances, most of those dreams have been put on hold - or dashed entirely.
There’s still time for some of these players to rewrite their stories at the next level. But for now, the 2025 season will be remembered less for what could’ve been and more for what wasn’t.