Matt Stankiewitch News

Nine former Penn State football student-athletes participated in National Football League rookie mini-camps this month, four of whom were in camps that concluded Sunday.

Bill O'Brien couldn't have been happier when Bill Belichick dipped into his talent pool at Penn State, and signed a pair of undrafted players in center Matt Stankiewitch and cornerback Stephon Morris .

In the 16 months since Bill O'Brien took over as Penn State's head football coach there's been no lack of star power on campus.

Everybody in the sports world who watched Penn State head football coach Bill O'Brien's comments on national TV after last season's victory over Wisconsin knows exactly what he said: "They're a bunch of flowers." No, seriously, he said "f**kers", but he later denied it, stating that he really said "fighters". The controversy lingers on, but both ... (more)

13 Syracuse Sept. 7 Eastern Michigan Sept. 14 UCF Sept. 21 Kent State Oct. 5 at Indiana Oct.

After the harshest sanctions in the history of the NCAA were levied against his program last summer, Bill O'Brien started to foresee the obstacles he and his assistants would have to dodge in the recruiting realm.

Former Penn State defensive tackle Jordan Hill, a Steel-High grad, is now a member of the Seattle Seahawks, who selected him in the third round of the NFL draft last Friday.

Matt Stankiewitch knew the average number of centers that are selected in each NFL Draft fluctuates around six or seven.

The New England Patriots have been extremely busy filling things out by signing a variety of undrafted free agents, and they picked up two Penn State Nittany Lions players in center Matt Stankiewitch and cornerback Stephon Morris.

Although they had to wait until after the NFL Draft's conclusion on Saturday, a handful of Penn State football players with professional aspirations weren't shut out completely.

The Patriots have begun signing undrafted free agents. The confirmed are Missouri wide receiver T.J. Moe , Akron running back Quentin Hines , Penn State center Matt Stankiewitch and Nevada tight end Zach Sudfield .

The former Penn State linebacker was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the NFL Draft with the 120th overall pick.

In the end, Hill, from Steelton, Pa., didn't end up in any of those cities where he interviewed for a potential NFL job.

But on the eve of the NFL Draft, Hill is content, calm, ready for whatever the weekend may hold for him, his family and his future.

The "green room" is actually really boring when you think about it. Strip away the lights and history of New York City's Radio City Music Hall, the three-piece suits tailored to fit giants and the primetime TV slot, and ESPN is, essentially, televising a waiting room.

Last season Penn State's three starter candidates were learning Bill O'Brien's offense in small doses.

Familiar faces were visible at the Lasch Building all winter. Strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald said as many as 12 former Penn State players did some of their offseason training on campus.