Dating back to 1940, there have been 37 Nittany Lions selected in the first round of the NFL draft. None of them have been defensive backs. But corner Amani Oruwariye might end that drought in April.
Oruwariye — a 6-foot-1, 203-pound ballhawk — is a projected early-round selection in the 2019 NFL draft. Steve Palazzolo, Pro Football Focus’ senior analyst, listed the fifth-year senior as the No. 4 corner and No. 27 overall prospect in the site’s post-Week 8 rankings. In PFF’s latest mock draft, Palazzolo sent Oruwariye to the Houston Texans at No.