UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.; April 28, 2012 - Penn State guard Johnnie Troutman (Brown Mills, N.J.), defensive end Jack Crawford (Longport, N.J.) and Nate Stupar (State College) were selected Saturday during the final day of the 2012 National Football League Draft.
The San Diego Chargers selected Troutman with the No. 149 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Nine picks later, Crawford was chosen by the Oakland Raiders, the Chargers' AFC West rival. Stupar will join Crawford, as the Raiders selected the linebacker in the seventh round.
Troutman, Crawford and Stupar join All-America defensive tackle Devon Still, selected by Cincinnati in the second round, as Nittany Lion football student-athletes picked in the 2012 NFL Draft. The quartet gives Penn State 30 NFL draftees since 2006, including 14 in the first three rounds.
A total of 329 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, including 36 in the first round. Penn State had at least four players selected for the 39th time in NFL Draft history.
Crawford and Stupar join 2010 All-American Stefen Wisniewski on the Raiders roster. Wisniewski was a second round selection in 2011 and started all 16 games at center last season.
There are 34 former Nittany Lions on NFL rosters, not including 2012 draftees and free agents, placing Penn State in the top 15 nationally among schools in producing current NFL players.
Troutman started every game at left guard in 2011 and made 32 career starts. The 2011 Brooks-Irvine Football Club New Jersey Division I College Player of the Year, he was invited to the 2012 Senior Bowl and 2012 NFL Combine. Troutman was instrumental in the Nittany Lions leading the Big Ten in fewest sacks allowed (14) in 2011. He played a vital role in helping clear paths for tailback Silas Redd (1,241 yards), giving Penn State a 1,000-yard rusher for the seventh consecutive season. Redd's rushing total ranks No. 10 in Penn State season records book.
Troutman and the offensive line lifted Penn State to an improvement of 41 rushing yards per game in Big Ten games (178.1 ypg) compared to the initial four non-conference tilts (137.0 ypg). The former Pemberton High School standout was selected an honorable-mention All-Big Ten and shared the Richard Maginnis Memorial Award, presented to the team's outstanding offensive lineman.
Born in London, England, Crawford began playing football during his junior year at St. Augustine Prep in 2006.
Crawford recorded 40 tackles and a team-high 6.5 sacks (minus-39) during the 2011 season, serving as a leader on a defense that ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring, total, pass and pass efficiency defense. A 2011 second-team All-Big Ten selection, his efforts landed him invitations to both the 2012 Senior Bowl and 2012 NFL Combine.
A starter in 34 career games, including every contest last season, Crawford recorded 7.5 TFL and one fumble recovery last season. He was tied for sixth in the Big Ten with 6.5 sacks and was tied for third on the team with six pass break-ups. Crawford recorded 14.0 sacks and 26.5 TFL during his career and three fumble recoveries.
Nate Stupar |
Stupar is the seventh LinebackerU. product since 2007 to be selected in the NFL Draft. The former State College Area High School standout started the final nine games of the 2011 season and made 80 tackles to rank third on the team. He also recorded 5.5 tackles for loss, two sacks, two fumble recoveries and grabbed two interceptions, both coming in the win over Purdue. Stupar recorded 205 career tackles, 14.5 TFL, five sacks and four interceptions.
A 2012 NFL Scouting Combine participant, Stupar was selected one of the final 30 candidates for the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. He graduated in May, 2011 with a 3.64 cumulative grade point average and was a four-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
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