Feb. 7, 2008
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - A trio of Penn State football student-athletes instrumental in helping the Nittany Lions win 29 games, including three bowls, the past three seasons have been invited to participate in the National Football League's Scouting Combine.
Two-time All-America linebacker Dan Connor (Wallingford), All-Big Ten cornerback Justin King (Pittsburgh) and record-setting quarterback Anthony Morelli (Pittsburgh) are scheduled to participate in the Combine. The Feb. 20-26 event will be held at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
The 2007 Bednarik Award winner as the nation's top defensive player, Connor made a game-high nine tackles and grabbed an interception to earn the Under Armour Award for the North squad in the Senior Bowl. Morelli played in the East-West Shrine Game.
The NFL Network (Ch. 275, Comcast Cable in the Centre Region) will have coverage of the Combine daily from Feb. 20-26.
The NFL Draft is April 26-27.
Ten former Nittany Lions playing in the National Football League were on 2007 playoff teams, with defensive tackle Jay Alford and tackle Kareem McKenzie earning Super Bowl rings with the New York Giants. Former Penn State All-American Kyle Brady started at tight end for the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII.
There were 30 former Lions active on 2007 NFL rosters, placing Penn State is a tie for No. 10 nationally (with Auburn) among schools in producing current NFL players. More than 300 Nittany Lions have signed NFL contracts since Joe Paterno became head coach in 1966. The Hall of Fame coach has seen 232 of his players drafted by NFL squads.
Thirty-one Nittany Lions have been NFL first round draft choices since 1966, including tackle Levi Brown (Arizona), who was the No. 5 overall pick in 2007. A school record four Nittany Lions were selected in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft and 11 Penn Staters have been drafted the past two years, including a pair of first round selections in Brown and defensive end Tamba Hali (Kansas City).
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