Edge rushers are, by nature, game wreckers whose sole job is to affect each snap. Colleges build defenses around themselves, and recruiting pass rushers is vital to the unit’s overall success.
Over time, some schools have excelled at the process. While many think of certain universities when it comes to edge rushers, Penn State may not immediately come to mind. However, one Nittany Lions alumnus recently chimed in regarding a telling statistic.
Penn State Topped Ohio State in First-Round Edge Rushers
Traditionally, many associated elite edge rushers with a handful of perennial powerhouses. A recent metric could change that perception. Abdul Carter, entering his second season with the New York Giants, took to social media to praise his alma mater. Quote-tweeting a PFSN stat, Carter simply wrote, “Edge U.”
With nine first-round edge rushers, the Nittany Lions topped Ohio State, USC, and North Carolina. Their rise coincided with a heavier emphasis on the passing game. With the introduction of various spread offenses, defenses needed specialized athletes to disrupt the pocket.
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Former Texas Tech, Washington State, and Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach is credited with innovating modern football through a heavy reliance on the Air Raid system. To stop those offenses, programs invested in athletic help on the boundary. Over decades spanning the coaching eras of Joe Paterno, Bill O’Brien, and James Franklin, the school consistently produced NFL talent.
For years, Penn State was considered “Linebacker U.” by players, fans, and the media. Names like Shane Conlan and LaVar Arrington were first-round picks who parlayed their draft status into multiple Pro Bowls. At the same time, the sheer number of Nittany Lions linebackers to make an NFL impact eclipses the first-round players.
For instance, in 1980, the Oakland Raiders selected Matt Millen in the second round. Despite only making one Pro Bowl, Millen won Super Bowls with four different teams.
Carter is the latest elite talent from State College to hear his name in the first round, selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. He joins a list that includes six-time Pro Bowler Tamba Hali and four-time All-Pro Micah Parsons. Carter recorded four sacks during his rookie campaign.
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Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins selected Chop Robinson in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Robinson has tallied 10 sacks over his first two professional seasons. Additionally, Odafe Oweh recently inked a four-year, $100 million contract with the Washington Commanders after a productive stint that included a 7.5-sack season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
This season, Penn State edge rusher Dani Dennis-Sutton is viewed as a high-upside prospect, occupying the No. 28 spot in the PFSN CFB EDGE Impact Rankings. As the program transitions to new head coach Matt Campbell, fans are eager to see if Penn State can continue its dominance in producing highly draftable edge rushers.
