May 1, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; - Five more members of Penn State's 2008 Big Ten Championship team have signed with National Football League teams, bringing to 13 the number of Nittany Lions to be drafted or signed during the past week.
Tackle Gerald Cadogan (Portsmouth, Ohio) and safety Anthony Scirrotto (West Deptford, N.J.) signed with the Carolina Panthers, wide receiver Jordan Norwood (State College) signed with the Cleveland Browns, linebacker Tyrell Sales (Butler) signed with the Indianapolis Colts and cornerback Lydell Sargeant (Pittsburgh) signed with the Buffalo Bills.
Thirteen 2008 Nittany Lions have been drafted or signed, with other signings to be announced. Five Nittany Lions were selected in the NFL Draft. The signings will be announced as NFL teams make their announcements.
Cadogan and Scirrotto join linebacker Dan Connor, Penn State's career tackles leader, on the Panthers' roster. Sargeant will be will be reunited with former Nittany Lion teammates Aaron Maybin and Paul Posluszny, as well as Bryan Scott, on the Bills' roster. Buffalo selected Maybin No. 11 overall in this year's draft. Norwood and Sales are the lone Nittany Lions on the Browns and Colts' rosters, respectively.
Jordan Norwood |
Davis, Gaines, Norwood and Rubin all graduated in 2008, while Sargeant and Scirrotto, who are fourth-year seniors, continue to work toward earning their degrees.
A starter in all 26 games the past two seasons and 31 career contests, Cadogan was selected first team All-Big Ten by the media and coaches in 2008. He played an instrumental role in Penn State ranking in the Top 20 nationally in rushing (17th, 205.9 ypg), total (14th, 448.9 ypg) and scoring offense (11th, 38.9 ppg). Cadogan graduated with degrees in psychology and rehabilitation services and earned his second selection as a first team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American®, one of a program-record four Nittany Lions so honored in 2008. Cadogan became just the sixth Nittany Lion to earn first team accolades twice, joining the likes of Jeff Hartings (1994, '95) and Paul Posluszny (2005, `06). He was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree. Cadogan was the recipient of the State College Quarterback Club's Ridge Riley Award, presented to a senior for "sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship."
The sure-handed Norwood led Penn State and was seventh in the Big Ten in receiving yards per game (57.9 ypg) in 2008. Despite missing two games with a hamstring strain, he caught 41 passes for 637 yards (15.5) and ranked second on the team with six touchdown receptions. Norwood ranks fourth at Penn State in career receptions (158), third in receiving yards (2,015), and 11th in career touchdown receptions (13). The former State College Area High School standout delivered at trio of 100-yard receiving games in 2008 to give him four in his career. A 2008 honorable mention All-Big Ten selection, Norwood grabbed a nine-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter of the Rose Bowl clash with USC. With 13 career bowl receptions, he tied Jimmy Cefalo for second place in Penn State bowl history. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection, Norwood was co-recipient of the Robert Mitinger Award, presented by the State College Quarterback Club.
Tyrell Sales |
Sales helped the Nittany Lions lead the Big Ten in rushing and total defensive and rank in the Top 10 nationally in three of the four primary defensive categories, including No. 8 in scoring (14.4 ppg) and in total defense (280.1 ypg). An honorable mention all-conference selection, Sales played in every game in 2008, with 11 starts, giving him 26 career starts. He was second on the squad in solo tackles (43) and third in total tackles (68) last year. The former Butler High School standout made 2.5 tackles for losses, grabbed an interception and forced a fumble last season. He also played a critical role in one of the biggest plays of the season, batting a fumble in the Ohio State game that was recovered by Navorro Bowman and leading to the Nittany Lions' fourth quarter game-winning touchdown.
Sargeant was instrumental in the success of the secondary and in the record turnout among Penn State student voters in the 2008 U.S. Presidential election. In addition to leading the team and tying for second in the Big Ten with four interceptions, Sargeant was a catalyst in Penn State Vote, a non-partisan organization that encouraged students on campus to vote last November. Active in the State College-area campaign for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Sargeant had the opportunity to meet the President-elect and present him with a Penn State football jersey in front of a crowd of more than 20,000 on the Penn State campus in March 2008. Sargeant started 22 games at cornerback the past two seasons after beginning his career at wide receiver. A second team All-Big Ten selection, he made 33 tackles (23 solo) and led the team with four interceptions and nine pass break-ups. He was tied for fifth in the conference with 13 passes defended and also had a fumble recovery.
Lydell Sargeant |
Co-captain Scirrotto effectively quarterbacked the Nittany Lions' secondary throughout his senior season. A starter at safety in 38 of the 39 games over the past three seasons, the hard-hitting Scirrotto helped Penn State permit just 10 touchdown passes all season, second-fewest in the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions finished third in the Big Ten and 19th in the nation in pass efficiency defense. Scirrotto was named first team All-Big Ten for the second time in 2008. He made 61 tackles (36 solo), fourth highest on the squad. He also tied for second on the team with two interceptions and five pass break-ups and had one fumble recovery. In his final home game, Scirrotto grabbed his 12th career interception, moving him in a tie for fifth place on Penn State's career list. An all-state football and baseball standout at West Deptford High School, Scirrotto also was selected the 2008 Division I Player of the Year by the Touchdown Club of Southern New Jersey.
Five Penn Staters were selected in the 2009 NFL Draft. Defensive end Aaron Maybin was the No. 11 overall selection, going to the Buffalo Bills, and the first Big Ten Conference player to be drafted this year. In the third round, the Detroit Lions selected All-American Derrick Williams and Deon Butler, the Nittany Lions' career receptions leader, was picked by the Seattle Seahawks. The New England Patriots selected All-America guard Rich Ohrnberger in the fourth round. In the seventh round, the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers selected All-America center A.Q. Shipley, who hails from nearby Moon Township.
Nittany Lions from the 2008 season previously signing NFL contracts were: cornerback Tony Davis (Arizona), defensive end Josh Gaines (Philadelphia) and safety Mark Rubin (St. Louis).
With the selection of the five players this year, 239 Nittany Lions have been drafted under Hall of Fame Coach Joe Paterno and more than 300 of his players have signed NFL contracts.