The Nittany Lions saw three players drafted into the National Football League in the 2015 draft and three more went on to sign rookie free-agent contracts, giving Penn State a total of six players in the NFL this spring.
Donovan Smith (Owings Mills, MD) was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the second pick of the second round; Adrian Amos (Baltimore, MD) was picked by the Chicago Bears; and the Pittsburgh Steelers selected hometown tight end Jesse James (Glassport, PA) in the fifth round.
Deion Barnes (Philadelphia, PA) signed with the New York Jets; standout linebacker Mike Hull (Canonsburg, PA) committed to the Miami Dolphins; and Miles Dieffenbach (Pittsburgh, PA) contracted with the Steelers.
Donovan Smith – Tackle
Smith is the first Penn State tackle to be selected by the NFL since Levi Brown was drafted in 2007 and is the highest Nittany Lions draft pick since Jared Odrick was selected 28th in 2010.
Smith was an instrumental blocker for two of Penn State’s top quarterbacks, Matt McGloin and Christian Hackenberg and started in 31 of 37 games played. He participated in 19 of the program’s 100-yard rushing games and was a preseason finalist for the Outland Trophy.
Offensive Line Coach Herb Hand was complimentary of Smith’s abilities and stated his belief that Smith will do well in the NFL.
“Donovan has the talent and tangibles to play in the National Football League for many years. His combination of size and athleticism are rare,” Hand said. “Donovan has the athletic ability to play either tackle and also possesses the girth and power to play on the interior.”
Adrian Amos – Safety
Amos is the first Penn State safety to be selected since Justin Brown went to the Rams in 2008 and was the 142nd overall pick in the 2015 draft.
Amos received an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in the 2014 season for collected three interceptions and 42 tackles (30 solo). He also received a spot on the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl for his performance last year. With 37 consecutive starts (38 total), he led the team.
Head coach James Franklin noted that Amos’ versatility on the field will serve him well with the Bears.
“He has quick feet and great ball skills that will help him on the next level,” said Franklin. “Adrian is a versatile defensive back that has worked really hard and will be a great addition to the Bears’ secondary.”
Jesse James – Tight End
James is the 25th Penn State player to be drafted by the Steelers, but the first since A.Q. Shipley since 2009.
James holds the Nittany Lion record for career touchdowns by a tight end with 11, launching himself ahead of Hall of Famer Ted Kwalick with a catch against the Maryland Terrapins in November 2014. He has exponentially improved his catching performance in each season he’s had with Penn State, making 15 catches in his freshman year, 25 in 2013 and 38 in his last season wearing a Nittany Lions uniform.
James was instrumental in the overtime wins at the Croke Park Classic in Dublin, Ireland, and in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium.
Franklin affectionately called James a “freak athlete” before clarifying that, “Jesse has the ability to be a tremendous offensive weapon for the Steelers. As he continues to work on his game at this next level, he has the potential to grow into a complete tight end.”
Miles Dieffenbach – Offensive Lineman
Dieffenbach was the second Nittany Lion to be signed by the Steelers this spring and the fourth player to enter the NFL this season. He will join Jesse James, another Pittsburgh native, on the team.
Despite an injury during spring practice in 2014, Dieffenbach battled back to play in the final five games of the season, collecting three starts along the way.
Hand commented on Dieffenbach’s skill and adaptability.
“He has a good understanding of concepts and scheme and is very athletic,” said Hand. “In the right situation, Miles could be a nice addition as an interior player with his best opportunity to contribute coming at the center position.”
Mike Hull – Linebacker
Hull, a celebrated Linebacker U graduate, led the Big Ten conference and was ranked ninth in the FBS standings with 140 tackles, receiving eight All-American accolades in the 2014 campaign.
With 294 tackles, the Nittany Lions MVP, the 2014 Big Ten Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year, and first-team All-Big Ten selection ranks sixth in Penn State program history. He led the Lions in tackles in 11 games during his senior season.
Despite his small stature, his tenacity and work ethic earned Hull a great deal of praise by his coaches. Franklin describes Hull as being “one of the best linebackers that I have worked with in my 20 years in football.”
Deion Barnes – Defensive End
With his commitment to the Jets, Barnes was the final Penn Stater to sign a rookie free agent deal in the NFL.
With an average of 12.5 tackles for loss and six sacks, Barnes earned a trip to the 2015 Reese’s Senior Bowl and an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention for the 2014 season. He made a total of 14 sacks and 98 tackles during his time as a Nittany Lion.
Defensive Line Coach Sean Spencer praised Barnes’ work ethic.
“He has the ability maximize all of his skills by his work ethic and effort. He is a consistent pass rusher, who understands technique and leverage. What will help him at the next level is his ability to just outwork people.”
Additionally, Bill Belton (Sickerville, NJ) was invited to a rookie camp tryout by the Jets, Brad Bars (Nashville, TN) was invited to rookie camp by the New York Giants, and Stephon Morris (Greenbelt, MD), a 2013 rookie free agent with the New England Patriots, was invited to rookie camp by the Buccaneers.
The Nittany Lions will start the 2015 season against Temple at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Saturday, September 5.
Photo Credits: GoPSUSports.com
