Iowa vs. Penn State … College Preview 9/26

One of the better matchups of this weekend in college football will go down at Beaver Stadium in the middle of Pennsylvania as Penn State hosts Iowa.

With Penn State LB Sean Lee (right) and Iowa OT Bryan Buluaga likely out of this game because of injury, two of the stars on these teams that could move on to the NFL will be missing. But both teams have a handful of players who will make a place for themselves at the next level.

Because of that, there will be a lot of attention on this game tape as NFL teams go through the evaluation process. On top of that, it figures to be a heck of a game. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz is 6-2 all-time against Joe Paterno and last year the Hawkeyes knocked off a good Nittany Lions team.

The crowd will be loud and wild. It will be as good as college football gets.

Game time is 7 p.m. on ABC.  Here are the top prospects:

IOWA

OT Bryan Bulaga (#79) – 6-5, 312 pounds, JR: Bulaga will not be on the field this week as the big tackle has now missed the last three games because of an undisclosed illness. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz says the illness is not debilitating or life threatening, but he’s not been cleared medically to play as of yet. Some Iowa fans have posted on message boards that he’s suffering an infection from a tattoo, but Ferentz dismissed that. “It’s just something that’s got to pass,” Ferentz said. A good athlete who played defense and tight end in high school, he’s worked all over the line in his time with the Hawkeyes, playing at LG as a true freshman in ’07 and then moving to left tackle in ’08 where he started all 13 games. Has been timed in the 40-yard dash under 4.8 seconds. Pending the illness situation, Bulaga is viewed as a first-round talent along the offensive line.

OLB A.J. Edds (#49) – 6-4, 244 pounds, SR: Edds is similar in speed and size to Chad Greenway, a former Iowa LB who now toils with the Vikings. He plays the strong side LB spot and has been productive there. A former TE, he’s very good in pass coverage, while holding his own against run blockers. Smart, with good character and has the work ethic in the weight room. Edds sat out spring ball this year after shoulder surgery. In 38 games with the Hawkeyes, he’s taken part in 165 total tackles, has two interceptions and a safety. Going into h is senior year was projected as a third-round pick.

ILB Pat Angerer (#43) – 6-0, 235 pounds, SR-Redshirt: His career in Iowa City has been hampered by injury and illness, including a bout with mono. He’s also nursed hamstring, groin and shoulder injuries. But last year, Angerer led Iowa in tackles with 107, along with five interceptions. Smallish in size, he is very good in coverage and unafraid of contact as his tackle total from last year shows. Angerer is considered one of the leaders on this Iowa team. Where he fits in the pros will be the question; in the right situation, he’ll be productive. Scouts see him as a late third, early fourth-rounder.

OT Kyle Calloway (#60) – 6-6, 315 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Calloway’s season began on a down note as he was suspended for the season opener after he was arrested for driving a moped while intoxicated. Iowa has churned out a lot of NFL blockers over the years and while he’s not considered in the elite category, his size and good feet make him an attractive prospect. That suspension is the only game he’s missed in the last three seasons. He’s a fourth-round projection going into his senior season.

PENN STATE

ILB Sean Lee (#45) – 6-2, 236 pounds, SR-Redshirt: Penn State has always produced linebackers and Lee is another in the long line of those guys. He missed the ’08 season after suffering an ACL injury during spring practice. He’ll have to show over the entire season that he’s back and able to play as he has in the past. Not huge, not real fast, but a productive player, who tops the charts on intelligence and toughness. Suffered a left knee injury last week against Temple and had to leave the game, although he’s expected to play against Iowa. There’s a place for him in the NFL, but where he’s drafted will depend on the ’09 season. Figures to be a top 100 player, but he could move into the top 50 with a strong season. Lee is seen right now as a second-round pick. Late week reports from State College have Lee as doubtful for the Iowa game.

RB Evan Royster (#22) – 6-1, 213 pounds, JR-Redshirt: He can run and he can catch and he’s got the moves to be a big-time back. His start in ’09 has been hampered by a revamped offensive line; he’s run for 236 yards on 45 carries with three TDs, and caught four passes for 67 yards and a touchdown. Last week against Tempe he ran for 134 yards on 19 carries. Last year, he had big games against Illinois (139 yards), Purdue (141) and Michigan (174). He’s been timed in the 4.4 range in the 40-yard dash. Another good year should give him a high second-round grade. A sensational season could move him into the late first round.

OLB Navorro Bowman (#11) – 6-1, 232 pounds, JR-Redshirt: A groin injury in the season opener against Akron has kept Bowman under wraps this season. Last year, he was first team All-Big Ten and led the Nittany Lions in tackles with 106 total takedowns, four sacks and an interception. Has good speed and quickness and can be explosive off the edge. Without the injury, he was considered an early second-round player. How soon he gets back and what he can accomplish once he does will decide if the time is right for him to come out in the 2010 NFL Draft. Late reports from State College say Bowman will play.

DT Jared Odrick (#91) – 6-4, 298 pounds, SR: A good athlete for someone his size, he really broke through last season, when he earned first-team All-Big Ten honors with 41 tackles and 4.5 sacks. Odrick started as a sophomore, but had trouble producing and then suffered hand and ankle injuries. Because of his size and good speed he’s viewed as a potential defensive end. There have been questions about his work ethic and he was cited for disorderly conduct earlier this year due to a brawl in downtown State College. Seen as a second-round choice, a big senior season could elevate him into the late first. So far he’s been in 12 total tackles and two sacks in three games.

C Stefen Wisniewski (#61) – 6-3, 298 pounds, JR: A familiar football name for the Nittany Lions, his father Leo was a defensive lineman for Paterno and his uncle Steve was a guard who went on to play for many years with the Raiders. Last year as a sophomore, he earned second team All-Big Ten honors. As a freshman, he got on the field at right guard and was a starter by the end of the year. Wisniewski moved to center this year to replace Steelers draft choice A.Q. Shipley. Smart, strong and good on his feet, he’s played 24 games and would probably benefit from another year in State College. He’s a late second, early third-rounder for the scouts right now.