2022 NFL Draft: 5 Players to watch in Iowa vs Penn State game
By Evan Bruner
The Penn State Nittany Lions travel to Kinnick Stadium this weekend against the Iowa Hawkeyes in a top-five clash. What 2022 NFL Draft prospects are in focus?
The race for the college football playoff is as open as ever, and with perennial contenders like Clemson and Ohio State dropping down polls, there are several new teams making a push for their first playoff appearance. Two of the most notable risers this season have been the Iowa Hawkeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions, who found themselves ranked in the top 4 of the latest AP poll.
Penn State and Iowa have emerged as Big Ten favorites
With Ohio State losing to Oregon early in the season, the Buckeyes are right now left on the outside looking in, and although there is still plenty of time for them to get back in the mix, the Big Ten has proven to have several capable contenders.
After a 4-5 season, there were a lot of unknowns to what the Nittany Lions would be in 2021. The team had many queues contributors returning, but there were questions about how the team would respond to one of their worst seasons in recent memory. It didn’t take long to silence the doubters, as Penn State has looked like one of the best teams in college football and has created a clear path to the playoff.
On the other side, The 2021 Hawkeyes are your classic Kirk Ferentz team. A tough, gritty team with great offensive line play and elite defense. The Hawkeyes have been one of the hottest teams in college football, winning their last 10 games dating back to last year, with both of them coming by double digits. The Hawkeyes are led by one of the best defenses in the country that has been a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks.
This game will feature great players all around the field. Here are five 2022 draft prospects to watch.