Since the 2017 NFL draft is now done (check our coverage here), it’s not too early to think about potential 2018 NFL draft picks for the Nittany Lions. We’ve done it and so have Penn Live and 247 Sports. Of course, Saquon Barkley is at the top of everyone’s list for future Nittany Lion draftees.
Yet another ranking where Michigan and Ohio State are listed higher than Penn State? Don’t worry; it’s a ranking from 247 Sports of the richest football programs in the Big10, based on gross revenue. Penn State came in third behind the Wolverines and Buckeyes.
In wrestling news, Penn State wrestlers Mark Hall and David Taylor secured wrestling titles at the U.S. Open this week. Freshman defending NCAA champion Hall took the UWW Junior Freestyle title at 74 kg and Taylor won the U.S. Open title at 86 kg.
In other sports, because we’re that awesome, Penn State is tied for the national lead in total NCAA Championships since 2007. Penn State’s 19 NCAA championships over the past 10 years are tied with Oregon, Southern California and Stanford. Oh, and the Nittany Lions’ 19 NCAA Championships are more than double the number of titles won by every other Big Ten Conference school over that timespan.
Is Penn State on the way to even more NCAA or Big 10 Championships? Penn State men’s and women’s lacrosse teams hope so. With the #9 men’s lacrosse team and #5 women’s lacrosse team both defeating Michigan this week, they’ve secured Big Ten tournament spots. The men’s team starts Thursday against Maryland, and the women’s team starts Big 10 tourney play Friday against Northwestern.
The Nittany Lions men’s volleyball team also has its sights set on another NCAA championship, and starts NCAA tournament play with a first round matchup against #4 Hawaii on May 2. The Nittany Lions will rely heavily on senior player Chris Nugent, who earned men’s volleyball All-America Honors this week.