Four Penn State players are all but locks to be drafted into the NFL over the next three days.

 

The mindset right now for them is patience.

 

Christian Hackenberg’s draft stock has risen since the end of the year, and the QB could sneak into the first round.

 

The Nittany Lions’ three other top prospects are all on the defensive line.

 

For Austin Johnson, Anthony Zettel and Carl Nassib, experiencing the build up to the draft together has been all about learning.

 

“This was always my goal,” Nassib says of playing in the NFL, “but to have your goals realized and just to be in this position is really awesome. I’m so lucky and so blessed to have all the support that I do.”

 

“Really have a lot of fun with it, the process,” Zettel says. “If you’re up tight and you are stressed about the process it’ll get to you.” 

 

“All the older guys that were here before me on the defensive line kind of talked to me to bring me through the whole kind of agenda, through the process helped me,” Johnson says. “I think it was pretty good.”

 

Two other players that could sneak into the later rounds are defensive back Jordan Lucas and tight end Kyle Carter.