Athletics

Six Lions ink NFL rookie free agent deals

Eleven Penn State players from 2019 team earn NFL opportunities

Credit: Penn State Athletics. All Rights Reserved.

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State football program saw six alums sign undrafted free agent contracts after having five players selected in the 2019 NFL Draft. The Nittany Lions have 11 players from the 2019 team with NFL opportunities.

The undrafted free agent signees include tight end Nick Bowers (Las Vegas Raiders), wide receiver Dan Chisena (Minnesota Vikings), punter Blake Gillikin  (New Orleans Saints), offensive lineman Steven Gonzalez (Arizona Cardinals), linebacker Jan Johnson (Houston Texans) and safety Garrett Taylor (Buffalo Bills).

Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos (2nd round, 38th overall to the Carolina Panthers), wide receiver KJ Hamler (2nd round, 46th overall to the Denver Broncos), cornerback John Reid (4th round, 141st overall to the Houston Texans), linebacker Cam Brown (6th round, 183rd overall to the New York Giants) and defensive lineman Robert Windsor (6th round, 193rd overall to the Indianapolis Colts) were each selected in this year’s 2020 NFL Draft.

A total of 361 Nittany Lions have been selected all-time in the NFL Draft, which ranks tied for seventh among Division I institutions. Penn State has had 44 draft picks since 2010. A total of 26 Nittany Lions have been drafted since head coach James Franklin’s arrival to the program, including 17 in the last three years.

This marks the third-straight year that Penn State has had at least five draft picks. The last time the Nittany Lions had three consecutive years of five or more picks was 1991-93.

Last Updated May 13, 2020