With the 2026 NFL Draft just a few months out, one Penn State name is starting to rise above the rest - and it's not a quarterback or a flashy skill player. It's Vega Ioane, a powerful, technically sound offensive guard who’s quietly built a first-round résumé that’s now impossible to ignore.
While Penn State had hopes of sending multiple players into the early rounds this year, it’s Ioane who stands alone in most mock drafts - and he’s making that solo spotlight count. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah not only projects Ioane as a first-rounder, but he’s also making a bold claim: Ioane might just be the best offensive lineman in the entire 2026 draft class.
Jeremiah slots Ioane at No. 14 overall to the Baltimore Ravens, a team that could be in the market for interior offensive line help, especially with center Tyler Linderbaum approaching free agency. The Ravens have long valued tough, athletic linemen who can move people in the run game and hold their own in pass protection - and Ioane fits that mold to a tee.
What’s especially notable is where Ioane stands among his peers. Two offensive tackles - Utah’s Spencer Fano and Miami’s Francis Mauigoa - are projected to come off the board earlier, but Ioane is the first interior lineman in Jeremiah’s mock. That’s a strong endorsement for a position that often gets overlooked in the first round unless a prospect truly stands out.
And Ioane has certainly earned that kind of attention.
After redshirting in 2022 and seeing limited action that year, Ioane became a mainstay on the Nittany Lions’ offensive line. He played in 40 games over three seasons - 13 in 2023, 16 in 2024, and 11 in 2025 - starting five games as a redshirt freshman before locking down the left guard spot for the next two seasons.
He missed just one game in 2025, a road trip to Iowa, due to injury. Otherwise, he was a constant presence up front.
But it’s not just about availability - it’s about production. Ioane logged 614 offensive snaps in 2025, the fourth-most on the team, and didn’t allow a single sack all season. That kind of consistency and pass protection efficiency is exactly what NFL evaluators look for in a guard, especially in today’s game where interior pressure can derail even the best quarterbacks.
Heading into the 2025 campaign, Ioane was already on the radar. He earned a spot on the Walter Camp Preseason FBS All-American Second Team, and despite Penn State’s underwhelming season, he delivered on that promise. The Associated Press named him a second-team All-American - a rare honor for an interior lineman on a team that didn’t quite meet expectations.
Now, with his college career in the rearview mirror and the draft process ahead, Ioane is shaping up to be one of the top offensive line prospects in the country. He’s got the tape, the accolades, and the experience - and if Jeremiah’s projection holds, he could be anchoring an NFL offensive line as early as next fall.
For Penn State, it’s a reminder that even in a season that didn’t go as planned, elite talent still rises. And for the Ravens - or whichever team lands him - Vega Ioane could be the kind of plug-and-play guard who makes an offensive line better from Day 1.