Penn State’s newest defensive end among Mel Kiper’s top… linebackers for 2022 NFL draft
The 2021 NFL draft saw the Baltimore Ravens draft Penn State defensive end Odafe Oweh with a late first-round draft pick. The Ravens immediately moved to utilize Oweh at the linebacker position in their defensive scheme. It seems one of Penn State’s newest additions could be following a similar path to the NFL.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper recently released his top 25 prospects for the 2022 NFL draft. In addition, Kiper also broke down his top 10 rankings for individual positions. Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson made the top 10 at the receiver position and offensive tackle Rasheed Walker was among Kiper’s top 10 offensive tackles. One more Nittany Lion made a top 10 position ranking for Kiper. That was Temple transfer Arnold Ebiketie.
Ebikietie came to Penn State from Temple to continue thriving at the defensive end position, and thus plug a hole on the Penn State defensive line for the upcoming season. But Kiper is scouting Ebiketie as an outside linebacker, similar to Oweh.
Ebiketie is Kiper’s eighth-best outside linebacker for the 2022 NFL draft, and the position change would seem to make some sense. Ebiketie may have a frame more suited for an outside linebacker position at the next level, although there doesn’t seem to be any concern about his stature for what Penn State needs out of him at defensive end.
Penn State has produced a pretty solid line of defensive linemen over the years, and Ebiketie looks to be able to continue that tradition in the coming year.
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