UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Seven Penn State football players – OL Ryan Bates, DT Kevin Givens, OL Connor McGovern, QB Trace McSorley, DE Shareef Miller, DB Amani Oruwariye and RB Miles Sanders – will participate in the 2019 NFL Combine in Indianapolis. The Nittany Lions have had 15 NFL Combine participants in the last two years with eight athletes in 2018 and seven this year.
The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine is set for Feb. 26-March 4 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The NFL Network and NFL.com will have coverage of the Scouting Combine. The 2019 NFL Draft is set for April 25-27 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The Combine on-field workout schedule: running backs, offensive line, kickers and special teams Friday, March 1; quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends Saturday, March 2; defensive linemen and linebackers Sunday, March 3 and defensive backs Monday, March 4.
Ryan Bates, OL, 6-4, 302, Warrington, Pa./Archbishop Wood
- Was a three-year starter for the Nittany Lions.
- Was a two-time All-Big Ten third team honoree, claiming accolades in 2017 and 2018.
- Voted a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today in 2016.
- Named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team by ESPN.com and BTN.com.
- Was a two-time Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week choice in his career.
- Graduated in December with his degree in labor and employment relations.
- Helped the Nittany Lions break the program record for total offense (6,056), points (526; tied with 1994 team), passing yards (3,650) and passing touchdowns (29) in 2016.
- Penn State finished fifth in FBS in passing yards per completion (16.15), 14th in team passing efficiency (156.6), 36th in passing offense (260.7) and 49th in total offense (432.6) in 2016.
- Penn State offense finished seventh in scoring offense (41.1), 14th in team passing efficiency (153.59), 19th in total offense (460.3) and 23rd in passing offense (290.2) in 2017.
- Saquon Barkley was honored as the Paul Hornung Award winner for the most versatile player in college football, became Penn State's 100th first-team All-American and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
- Penn State ranks 16th in red zone offense (.923), 29th in rushing offense (208.6) and 29th in scoring offense (34.6) in 2018.
- Trace McSorley became Penn State's all-time passing leader, finishing his career with 9,899 yards and 77 touchdowns.
Kevin Givens, DT, 6-1, 285, Altoona, Pa./Altoona Area
- Finished the season with 33 tackles, including 10.5 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks, in 2018.
- Had one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries.
- Earned the Jim O'Hora Award in 2018 for the defensive player with exemplary conduct, loyalty, interest, attitude and improvement during spring practice.
- Saw time at both defensive tackle and defensive end as a sophomore.
- Finished with 23 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2017.
- Named Campus Insiders Freshman All-America second team, as well as BTN.com and ESPN.com All-Big Ten Freshman Team honors.
- Was third in the Big Ten and tied for 30th nationally with two fumble recoveries in 2016.
- Had 26 tackles, 7.0 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman.
Connor McGovern, OL, 6-5, 323, Larksville, Pa./Lake-Lehman
- Started 34 games in his career and has been a fixture on the offensive line since his true freshman season.
Earned third-team All-Big Ten honors in 2018 and was named the team's Dick Maginnis Memorial Award winner for the top offensive lineman. - Became the just the third offensive lineman in Big Ten history to claim a weekly award after earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week accolades in November 2016.
- Named honorable-mention All-Big Ten Freshman Team by BTN.com.
- Helped the Nittany Lions break the program record for total offense (6,056), points (526; tied with 1994 team), passing yards (3,650) and passing touchdowns (29) in 2016.
- Penn State finished fifth in FBS in passing yards per completion (16.15), 14th in team passing efficiency (156.6), 36th in passing offense (260.7) and 49th in total offense (432.6) in 2016.
- Penn State offense finished seventh in scoring offense (41.1), 14th in team passing efficiency (153.59), 19th in total offense (460.3) and 23rd in passing offense (290.2) in 2017.
- Saquon Barkley was honored as the Paul Hornung Award winner for the most versatile player in college football, became Penn State's 100th first-team All-American and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting.
- Penn State ranks 16th in red zone offense (.923), 29th in rushing offense (208.6) and 29th in scoring offense (34.6) in 2018.
- Trace McSorley became Penn State's all-time passing leader, finishing his career with 9,899 yards and 77 touchdowns.
Trace McSorley, QB, 6-0, 203, Ashburn, Va./Briar Woods
- All-Big Ten second team selection by the coaches and media.
- Earned third-straight all-conference second team honor.
- Is the first Penn State quarterback to earn All-Big Ten honors in three consecutive seasons.
- Associated Press All-Big Ten second team honoree.
- Was a CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
- Named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete, the 18th in program history, and was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy.
- Finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.
- Selected as a Finalist for the Pop Warner National College Football Award.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Big Ten team.
- Named Rose Bowl Player of the Week and Senior Bowl Senior of the Week after the Ohio State (9/29) game.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Ohio State (9/29) game.
- Selected to the Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Kent State (9/15) game.
- One of 10 Penn Staters to enter 2018 having already earned a degree, graduating with his degree in accounting in May 2018.
- Ranks No. 1 in the Big Ten and No. 31 in the FBS with 13.05 yards per completion.
- Was No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 34 in FBS with 12 rushing touchdowns in 2018.
- Sat No. 2 in the Big Ten and No. 25 in FBS in points responsible for (180).
- Ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten and No. 30 in FBS in points responsible for per game (13.8).
- Ranked No. 5 in the Big Ten and No. 40 in the country with 256.0 total yards per game.
- Finished his career as the Penn State career record holder for passing yards (9,899), completions (720), 300-yard passing games (10), 200-yard passing games (28), rushing yards by a quarterback (1,697), rushing touchdowns by a quarterback (30), passing touchdowns (77), total offense yards (11,596), touchdowns responsible for (107) and wins as a starting quarterback (31).
- Threw at least one touchdown pass in 34-straight games, from the 2016 TaxSlayer Bowl until Indiana in 2018, a Penn State record, which was previously held by Kerry Collins at 14-straight games from 1993-94. His streak is the fifth-longest in FBS Autonomy Five history.
- McSorley threw for 2,530 yards and rushed for 798 yards this season, joining Michael Robinson (2005; 2,350 passing, 806 rushing) as the only PSU quarterbacks with 2,000 passing and 700 rushing yards in the same season.
- McSorley was one of five players in FBS this season to have 2,000 passing yards and 700 rushing yards, joining Oklahoma's Kyler Murray, Virginia's Bryce Perkins, Ohio University's Nathan Rourke and Syracuse's Eric Dungy.
- Established a Nittany Lion record with 461 total yards against Ohio State (9/29/18), including 286 passing and 175 rushing.
- Is one of two Penn State quarterbacks with more than 1,000 rushing yards, joining Michael Robinson (1,637; 2002-05)
- Had 22 career games with both a rushing and passing touchdown (seven in 2016, nine in 2017, five in 2018).
- Became the first Penn State player and 11th in Big Ten history to eclipse the 10,000-yard mark in total offense.
Shareef Miller, DE, 6-5, 260, Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington
- Third-team All-Big Ten selection by the coaches and media.
- Earns second career all-conference nod after an appearance on the media's third team and coaches' honorable mention squad last season.
- Second on the team with 14.0 tackles for loss and third in sacks with 7.0.
- Had four QB hurries and one forced fumble.
- Recorded three tackles and a tackle for loss against Appalachian State (9/1).
- Made two tackles for loss, including a solo sack, at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Recorded a career-best three tackles for loss and tied a career high with two sacks against Kent State (9/15).
- Matched a career best with five tackles, including three solo stops, versus Ohio State (9/29).
- Recorded two solo tackles, both for loss, and registered a sack and a QB hurry against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recorded three solo tackles, matched a career high with two sacks and recovered a fumble and returned it 7 yards against Wisconsin (11/10).
- Made a career-best seven tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss, including a solo sack at Rutgers (11/17).
Amani Oruwariye, CB, 6-1, 203, Tampa, Fla./Gaither
- First-team all-conference selection by the coaches and media.
- Earns second All-Big Ten honor of his career with an appearance on the coaches' and media's second team in 2017.
- Is the first Nittany Lion cornerback to earn All-Big Ten first team accolades since Justin King claimed honors in 2007.
- Associated Press All-Big Ten first team honoree.
- Ranked No. 30 in FBS and No. 5 in the Big Ten in passes defended with 1.2 per game.
- Led the team and was tied for No. 8 in the Big Ten in interceptions (3).
- Named a semifinalist for the Jim Thorpe Award.
- Named to the Pro Football Focus Midseason All-Big Ten team.
- Selected to Pro Football Focus National and Big Ten Teams of the Week following the Pittsburgh (9/8) game.
- One of 10 Penn Staters to enter 2018 having already earned a degree having graduated with his degree in telecommunications in December 2017.
- Sealed the game with an interception in overtime, his sixth career pick, his third-straight season opener with a pick against App State (9/1). Also recorded seven tackles and forced the first fumble of his career.
- Picked off a pass in the first quarter, marking the second time in his career he made interceptions in back-to-back games, at Pittsburgh (9/8).
- Collected four tackles and broke up four passes against Michigan State (10/13).
- Recorded a career-best nine tackles at Indiana (10/20).
Miles Sanders, RB, 5-11, 207, Pittsburgh, Pa./Woodland Hills
- Second-team all-conference running back.
- Became the 45th player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.
- Ranks 25th all-time with 1,649 rushing yards.
- Earned the program's 26th individual 1,000-yard rushing season (2018).
- Has the 17th-most rushing yards in a PSU single-season.
- Became the 28th player in program history to rush for 200 yards against Illinois (9/21).
- Is one of six players in program history (nine occasions) to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns in a game.
- Named Big Ten Offensive Player of the Week after Illinois (9/21) game.
- Tabbed the Rose Bowl Game Big Ten Player of the Week following the Illinois (9/21) game.
- Selected to Pro Football Focus Big Ten Team of the Week following the Pittsburgh (9/8) game.
- Has five career 100-yard rushing games, all in 2018.
- Had 19 rushes for 91 yards, with 62 yards coming in the fourth quarter and overtime, and two touchdowns, including the go-ahead 4-yard score in overtime against Appalachian State (9/1).
- Rushed for 118 yards on 16 carries at Pittsburgh (9/8). Had three runs of 20 or more yards, including a 41-yard run in the first quarter.
- Rushed for a career-best 200 yards with three touchdowns at Illinois (9/21).
- Rushed for 162 yards on 17 carries with a 48-yard touchdown run against Michigan State (10/13). Also added a 78-yard run, the longest of his career.
- Caught six passes for 54 yards, establishing career highs, at Indiana (10/20).
- Earned his fourth 100-yard game of the season with 159 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries versus Wisconsin (11/10).
- Toted the ball 14 times for 128 yards, with no negative yardage plays, against Maryland (11/24).
For information on joining the Nittany Lion Club and reserving new season tickets for the 2019 Penn State Football season presented by PSECU, as well as club seating in Beaver Stadium, fans can visit www.PSUnrivaled.com, call 1-800-NITTANY weekdays from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. or visit the Bryce Jordan Center ticket office weekdays from 9 a.m-4:30 p.m.
More than 2,350 new season tickets have already been sold for the 2019 campaign.