Penn State football defender sets timeline for NFL Draft decision

The Penn State football defense will look very different in 2024. The loss of Manny Diaz and multiple players to the NFL will be challenging to overcome. One player who still has not announced his decision to leave Penn State to pursue the NFL Draft or to return for the 2024 season is defensive tackle Dvon Ellies. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic Ellies technically has an additional year to play at Penn State but is he ready for the NFL? We will have to wait until after the Peach Bowl to find out.

Penn State football defender sets timeline for NFL Draft decision

Dvon Ellies joined the Penn State football team as part of the 2019 recruiting class. Ellies was a four-star prospect and ranked as the No. 3 player in Maryland. He chose Penn State over Ohio State and USC. Ellies has had a very successful career with the Nittany Lions and has a big decision to make. He has accounted for over 20 tackles this season where his strength is stopping the run.

During his Peach Bowl media availability, Ellies spoke about his future with the Nittany Lions. It’s a smart decision considering some of the bowl performances Penn State defenders have had on this stage. Think about Micah Parsons in the 2019 Cotton Bowl where he exploded onto the scene. Ellies described his NFL Draft decision as a “big life decision” which it is considering he could improve his draft status by staying if he isn’t satisfied with the predraft grade.

Penn State defensive tackle Dvon Ellies said he’ll wait til after the Peach Bowl to decide if he’ll stay at Penn State for a sixth year or declare for the NFL Draft.

He said it’s a “big life decision” that will impact him not just next year but also 30 years down the road

— Sam Woloson (@sam_woloson) December 28, 2023

Should Ellies follow his teammates?

We have seen Chop Robinson, Curtis Jacobs, Daequan Hardy, and Adisa Isaac declare for the 2024 NFL Draft so far this month. Should Ellies follow their lead? He is in a different position based on his age and the nature of his role in football. Defensive tackles are not typically leading the team in sacks or tackles so Ellies will need to trust that he has enough to offer to make it to the NFL.

I truly believe that based on how he and the team perform in the Peach Bowl will determine his final decision. But if he returns to Penn State that would be massive considering how much the Nittany Lions are already losing on the defensive line.

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