FRISCO, Texas — Pennsylvania has been Drew Shelton’s home for the majority of his life. The Downingtown native, who starred at Downingtown West and was Penn State’s starting left tackle the last two seasons, is adjusting to life down South.
Shelton, 22, recently relocated to the Dallas area as he prepares for the next phase of his life with the impending NFL Scouting Combine next month and April’s NFL draft looming.
“It’s been a big transition down here,” Shelton told The Inquirer in a Frisco hotel lobby. “I haven’t lived away from home in a really long time, been in Pennsylvania pretty much all my life. I’m being down here and learning how to be on my own.”
It has been quite the journey for Shelton, who was a tight end in high school until he made a position switch to offensive tackle, helping further his playing career. Shelton sat behind 2024 first-round pick Olu Fashanu, although he briefly filled in for an injured Fashanu for five games in 2022 as a freshman.
The 6-foot-5, 296-pound Shelton started all 16 games for Penn State’s College Football Playoff appearance in the 2024 season and started all 12 regular-season games in 2025 for the Nittany Lions, whose season didn’t go as expected. But Shelton still thinks of his college experience fondly.
“Coming from Downingtown and growing into the offensive lineman that I needed to be at Penn State, and continuing to grow to be the offensive tackle I need to be in the NFL, it’s been fun. It’s been a challenge,” Shelton said. “You’re never going to be the player that you want to be overnight. It’s just you’ve got to consistently put in the work. And that’s really hard to tell an 18-year-old kid that you’re not going to be the starting left tackle at Penn State on Day 1. I guess it’s hard to come to terms with, but once you really understand and have the patience, that’s a big part of who you are and what you’re going to be.”
Drew Shelton will be joined by Penn State teammates Olaivavega Ioane and Nolan Rucci at the OL Masterminds workouts in Texas.
The next phase of Shelton’s life is in Texas because it’s where he is training for the combine, his pro day, and workouts with NFL teams. Shelton is working with Duke Manyweather, the cofounder of OL Masterminds, alongside Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson. Manyweather trains current and soon-to-be NFL offensive linemen at Sports Academy in Frisco.
And he won’t be alone. Former teammates Olaivavega Ioane, Penn State’s left guard, and Nolan Rucci, the Nittany Lions’ right tackle, are among the 15 draft-eligible offensive linemen working with the offensive line guru.
Manyweather’s “got some of the top offensive linemen in the league and in the draft,” said Shelton, who had meetings with NFL scouts and executives while they were in town for the East-West Shrine Bowl. “He puts a lot of work into us, builds us up, breaks us all the way down to stance to the fundamentals and all that kind of stuff, and builds us right back up.”
Shelton, who accepted his invite for the Senior Bowl in December, will not participate in the All-Star game to focus on his training and pre-draft process. Throughout his journey, Shelton has remained connected to former teammate Will Howard, whom he played with at Downingtown West and has been one of his closest friends for a long time.
Howard led Ohio State to a national championship and was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shelton is hoping to follow in his footsteps, becoming the second Downingtown West alum to reach the NFL in as many years.
“Seeing someone that you know, and someone that you’ve played with … reach his goals, and obviously continuing to strive to for the next set of goals, that’s been cool,” Shelton said. “And for me personally, like, that’s a dream come true. Every kid dreams of being a professional athlete, and just to be have that be a reality here soon is pretty cool.”
The college football season will conclude in Miami with the College Football Playoff national championship game on Monday night between Indiana and Miami, two teams with several NFL draft prospects to keep a close eye on.
The top names in this game include Indiana quarterback and potential top overall pick Fernando Mendoza, Miami edge rusher Rueben Bain, a projected top-10 pick, and Miami right tackle Francis Mauigoa, who could be one of the first offensive linemen drafted.
All three players might be out of the Eagles’ draft range at No. 23 overall, but both rosters are littered with NFL talent. Here are seven prospects the Eagles could target come April:
Of the prospects remaining in the playoff, it’s possible that no player has done more for his stock than Smith, who hasn’t allowed a pressure or a sack across 48 pass blocking snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. The Indiana left tackle, a three-year starter, consistently gets his hands inside the frame of a pass rusher, latches on, and doesn’t let go.
Will continue to bang the drum for #Indiana LT Carter Smith. Gets those hands inside the frame, latches on and doesn't let go. Hasn't allowed a pressure across 48 pass blocking snaps in the playoffs. pic.twitter.com/ntBjFym2DW
Smith‘s running-game blocking has shown flashes of improvement, too. He has the upper-body strength and strain to move defensive linemen off their spot and is a decent enough athlete to kick out players in space.
Smith has a tendency to lunge against quicker players, and his ability to handle relentless power will be tested in his matchup with Bain. But the offensive tackle has starter-level qualities and could be a long-term option at tackle for the Eagles.
Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (left) helped lead the Hurricanes to an upset win at Texas A&M in the first round.
Akheem Mesidor, edge rusher, Miami
Older prospects at premium positions aren’t typically valued in the first round, but there may be no edge rusher prospect as deserving to hear his name called in Round 1 as Mesidor, who is having his best season in his sixth year of college football. With strong hand usage and a quick first step, the Miami edge rusher is relentless coming off the edge and can create havoc from multiple spots along the defensive line.
Mesidor has 19 pressures during Miami’s playoff run alone, according to Pro Football Focus, along with 3½ sacks. He can improve in setting a better edge as a run defender and likely won’t be a player you drop in coverage in the NFL, but Mesidor has game-wrecking ability and can bring instant production to an Eagles pass rushing corps that has uncertainty beyond Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt.
D’Angelo Ponds, DB, Indiana
Ponds made the pick heard around the world when he intercepted Oregon’s Dante Moore on the first offensive play of the game in the CFP semifinal. He’s often the smallest player on the field (5-foot-9, 175 pounds) but plays much bigger, and has done so multiple times during Indiana’s undefeated season.
He has a fearless mindset at cornerback, challenging wide receivers at the line of scrimmage and being disruptive at the catch point. He gives up plenty of size and teams with bigger receivers try to take advantage of it, but he’s sticky in man coverage and has ideal instincts in zone to break on the football.
Indiana CB D'Angelo Ponds is fearless.
I love his his trigger, aggressiveness, fluidity to stick to guys in coverage, and his instincts in Zone. pic.twitter.com/JXUVI2CL3b
He’s a reliable tackler despite his size, having missed just two tackles all season, according to PFF. He won’t be a fit for every NFL team because of his size, but his play-making ability will help him find a long-term role on a defense.
Keionte Scott, nickel/safety, Miami
When Scott was out of Miami’s lineup for two games down the season’s stretch, the defense missed his propensity to cause chaos. When he returned in the first round of the CFP against Texas A&M, Scott disrupted screens and was an effective blitzer on third downs.
Then against Ohio State in the quarterfinal matchup, he jumped a screen and took it 72 yards for a pick-six.
#Miami nickel Keionte Scott may have strengthened his draft stock the most out of any prospect during bowl season. Erases screen plays, makes plays on the football and a playmaker in space. Has a knack for making game-changing plays during this CFP run. pic.twitter.com/eNGSexb8TV
Although he has allowed 68.5% of passes thrown his way to be completed, he hasn’t surrendered a touchdown. Because he plays with his hair on fire, he takes chances and has missed 15 tackles (21.4% missed tackle rate) according to PFF. But his physicality allows him to play multiple roles in a secondary, which would be valuable for the Eagles’ depth.
Riley Nowakowski, TE, Indiana
A quick look at Nowakowski‘s stats won’t show gaudy numbers (30 catches, 370 yards) but his impact as a blocker is invaluable to Indiana’s offense. The tight end and fullback, who spent his first five seasons of college at Wisconsin, is an outstanding run blocker and has shown the ability to block edge defenders one-on-one, insert block linebackers and safeties filling against the run, and block secondary players in space.
#Indiana TE Riley Nowakowski is so valuable for their running game with his ability to block edge defenders one-on-one and insert block to kick out linebackers or safeties filling in the run game. Teams looking for a blocking tight end who is a reliable checkdown option will get… pic.twitter.com/g4zqW74MlH
The 6-1, 249-pound prospect won’t make many people miss in the open field but is a reliable option on checkdowns and over the middle of the field. He had zero drops and caught 3 of 6 contested catch attempts this season, according to PFF.
While he won’t be a top receiving option and stands to be more consistent handling blitzers in pass protection, Nowakowski could be the kind of valuable blocking tight end the Eagles desperately needed in 2025. He also has the flexibility to align at fullback on under-center formations.
Anez Cooper, OG, Miami
Cooper has started at right guard for Miami for the last three years and provides a physical presence as a run blocker. The 6-6, 345-pound lineman thrives blocking in close quarters and has powerful hands and grip strength, and has made highlight-reel blocks in space when he can square up second- and third-level players.
If #Miami RG Anez Cooper gets a chance to square up player in open space, look out. Thrives in tight quarters, cleans up the pocket, and grip strength that's tough to disengage from. Will be fun to watch him against Indiana's D-line on Monday night. pic.twitter.com/5VxQlRdx5N
Moving laterally and redirecting on passing downs are not Cooper’s strengths, and he struggles staying square when passing off defensive line stunts. But his run-blocking demeanor will be coveted by teams with gap-scheme running offenses. He has allowed just one sack and 12 pressures in 483 pass blocking snaps, according to PFF, and could provide depth for an Eagles offensive line in need of more players who thrive as downhill blockers.
Pat Coogan (right) was a critical piece of Heisman Trophy Winner Francisco Mendoza’s success this season.
Pat Coogan, center, Indiana
Coogan has garnered praise throughout the playoff, beginning with his Rose Bowl MVP award in Indiana’s CFP quarterfinal win over Alabama, and his film backs it up. The center, who has a rugged play style, does not have the athleticism the Eagles have coveted at the position, but he is a savvy blocker who takes great angles in the running game and anticipates defensive line stunts in pass protection.
The fifth-year player began his career at Notre Dame, showcasing his versatility by making starts at both guard and center. His lack of foot quickness causes him to overextend against quicker players and he doesn’t always mirror pass rushers well in one-on-one scenarios. Coogan thrives, though, working on double teams up to linebackers and would be a depth option at both guard and center, which would be valuable for the Eagles, who struggled with injuries on their interior line.
Went back and watched the film, #Indiana Center Pat Coogan had a fantastic performance vs. Oregon. Pulling in space, working well on double-teams up to LBs, overtaking players in pass pro and picking up blitzing linebackers, blocking even when his helmet is knocked off. https://t.co/FEXHiTE1rIpic.twitter.com/cbcBdmVywn
As the NFL draft process gets underway over the next few weeks with the All-Star games circuit, one of the Eagles’ position coaches will get a unique opportunity to be a head coach for a week.
Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt will lead the National team at the Reese’s Senior Bowl, which begins practice in Mobile, Ala., on Jan. 27. The event brings in the top draft-eligible players to compete in three practices, culminating in the Senior Bowl game on Jan. 31 at 2:30 p.m. at the University of South Alabama’s Hancock Whitney Staduim.
The 47-year-old Hurtt has spent the last two seasons coaching the D-line for the Eagles. Hurtt began his career at the collegiate level for 11 years before making the jump to the NFL with the Bears in 2014 and spent seven years with the Seahawks in various roles, including as the defensive coordinator and defensive line coach.
He oversaw a group that saw defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo have career years in 2025, and also assisted in Jalen Carter’s breakout during the 2024 season.
It is possible more Eagles assistant coaches will join Hurtt to help him coach at the Senior Bowl. The All-Star game typically gives assistant coaches the opportunity to manage staff, format practices, and assume gameday decisions typically reserved for head coaches. Joel Thomas, a member of former Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore’s staff in New Orleans, will be the head coach of the American team.
“We are thrilled to welcome Clint Hurtt and Joel Thomas as our head coaches for the 2026 Panini Senior Bowl,” said Senior Bowl director Drew Fabianich in a statement. “Both coaches are highly respected throughout the league and bring tremendous leadership, football knowledge, and teaching ability. Their impact on our players and coaching staffs throughout the week will be invaluable as these prospects prepare for the next step in their careers.”
The Senior Bowl will also feature two Philly-area prospects in Penn State tackle Drew Shelton, a Downingtown West alumnus, and South Carolina running back Rasul Faison, a Pottstown native.
The last time the Eagles picked in the early 20s range of the NFL draft was two years ago, when the team broke a 22-year streak of not selecting a defensive back in the first round. The player they selected was Toledo defensive back Quinyon Mitchell, who was recently named a first-team NFL All-Pro.
After a disappointing end to their Super Bowl title defense, the Eagles head into the offseason with uncertainty at a few positions, but most of their core is intact.
Could they add younger pieces to an offensive line that struggled? Add some youth to a tight end room that might be without Dallas Goedert next year? Or will the Eagles add to the secondary?
With the Eagles locked into the No. 23 pick in the 2026 NFL draft, barring a trade, here are six players they could target:
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
Entering the 2025 college football season, Proctor, Alabama’s starting left tackle, had high grades from the NFL, but his uneven performances across 2025 have left his projection uncertain. Still, his athleticism at 6-foot-7, 366 pounds is hard to ignore, especially if teams project him as an interior player.
Proctor has powerful striking power upon contact and is an aggressive run blocker who can create displacement in one-on-one and double-team blocks. He has flashed the ability to stop defenders in their tracks when he gets his hands on them in pass protection.
Elite game tape from #Alabama LT Kadyn Proctor against Tennessee. Dominant as a run blocker and has some quality finishes as a pass protector against a really good pass rush.
The offensive tackle’s blocking technique is inconsistent, he plays with too high of a pad level at times, and he can too easily give up his outside shoulder on passing downs. Pairing Proctor with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland could help the Alabama product become a more consistent player who could fit at either guard or tackle with his skill set along the Eagles’ O-line.
Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon
One of the more popular names you will hear for the Eagles during draft season is Sadiq, who is an incredible athlete at the tight end position who relishes doing the dirty work as a blocker in the run game.
At 6-3, 245 pounds, Sadiq is unlikely to play as an attached tight end and will be coveted more for his receiving prowess. The Oregon standout, who finished the season with a team-high eight receiving scores, thrives working the seam and finding soft spots in zone coverage. His value in the red zone is noteworthy, with his ability to win vertically against secondary players and athleticism to catch passes in congested areas. According to Pro Football Focus, Sadiq caught 5 of 9 contested catch attempts.
#Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq's value as a blocker, working the seams, and red zone value are all super valuable to the Oregon offense and are skill sets that should translate at the NFL level. Incredible athlete that consistently showcases the ability to catch the ball among chaos. pic.twitter.com/DGN6UzQrYX
The tight end prospect needs to clean up his drops (six in 2025), become a more complete route runner, and is more of an insert and cutoff blocker rather than a player who will be asked to block defensive linemen one-on-one. But Sadiq would be a dynamic addition to the Eagles, who haven’t drafted a tight end in Round 1 since they took Keith Jackson at No. 13 overall in 1988.
Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah
Sticking with the theme of offensive linemen, Lomu, a redshirt sophomore, is a skilled pass protector with quick, nimble feet, recovery ability, and a player who can refit his hands when they’re knocked off by pass rushers. At 6-6, 308 pounds, Lomu has the athleticism to move in pass protection and live out on an island against speed and power rushers.
#Utah LT Caleb Lomu hit Texas Tech edge David Bailey with a quick snatch trap. Thought he looked solid, had a few losses but held his own against TTU's talented pass rush duo. pic.twitter.com/R3Rc4mutKf
Per PFF, Lomu has allowed just eight quarterback pressures and zero sacks across 383 pass blocking snaps. The Utah tackle’s play strength needs to improve, evidenced by his inconsistency maintaining run blocks and generating movement at the line of scrimmage.
Lomu, though, could be the future for the Eagles at tackle, especially with Lane Johnson’s injury troubles this year. The prospect doesn’t have guard flexibility, but gives the Eagles a contingency plan for the 35-year-old Johnson’s inevitable retirement, whenever that occurs.
Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia
One name that is starting to get buzz within the draft community is Freeling, the Georgia left tackle who finished the season playing at a high level in the team’s biggest game, a playoff loss to Ole Miss. The 6-7, 315-pound lineman moves well blocking in space, does a nice job framing up his blocks in the run game, and rarely gets beat in pass protection.
#UGA LT Monroe Freeling moves incredibly well in space, does a nice job framing up his blocks in the run game, and rarely gets beat in pass protection. Has only allowed 9 pressures and 2 sacks in 423 pass blocking snaps.
Freeling is fairly inexperienced relative to the other players on the list, having made just 17 starts in college, and has a tendency to lunge forward on blocks at times, but he would be a high-upside player who has a chance to be Johnson’s heir in a few years.
Olaivavega Ioane, OG, Penn State
There aren’t many interior offensive linemen worthy of a first-round pick, but Penn State left guard Ioane, a two-year starter, would be an ideal fit if the Eagles are looking to upgrade their interior.
Ioane consistently creates running lanes with his physicality and torque at 6-4, 336 pounds, and has knock-back power in pass protection to keep interior pass rushers at bay.
#PSU LG Vega Ioane was a big reason behind their big day running the football against Michigan State on Saturday. Consistently creating running lanes with his physicality and torque, and showed off the ability to decleat players in space as well pic.twitter.com/UZj47gxPyx
Despite the Nittany Lions’ disappointing season, Ioane was a bright spot, allowing just four pressures and zero sacks across 311 pass blocking snaps, according to PFF. He’s not an elite athlete, but has some movement ability in space. With the struggles in the interior from Eagles guards Landon Dickerson and Tyler Steen, Ioane could be an upgrade.
Avieon Terrell, DB, Clemson
If the Eagles decide to pair another early-round corner opposite Mitchell and keep Cooper DeJean in the slot, Terrell, the younger brother of Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, would be an ideal prospect to bring in. The Clemson defensive back didn’t have quite the same amount of ball production as his first two seasons, but was sticky in man coverage situations and forced five fumbles in 2025.
#Clemson DB Avieon Terrell does a nice job midpointing the out and corner routes to the field side and nearly comes away with the interception. Sticky in man coverage, route recognition and instincts are impressive in zone coverage looks. https://t.co/cJQ4uZzQNypic.twitter.com/iO9txXvgQO
Terrell is a smaller defensive back (5-11, 180 pounds) who struggles when matched up against bigger wideouts and tight ends. But he’s competitive at the catch point, has good zone-coverage instincts to close on routes developing in front of him, and has some nickel versatility to his game.
Some are calling Penn State the Nittany Cyclones. Take one look at the Nittany Lions’ transfer portal additions and it is easy to see why.
Since the portal opened on Jan. 2, Penn State reportedly has added 35 players, and 22 of them are from Iowa State, following their former head coach Matt Campbell to Happy Valley.
That list includes Iowa State’s top passer (Rocco Becht), top rusher (Carson Hansen), three of its top receiving targets (Chase Sowell, Benjamin Brahmer, and Brett Eskildsen), two of the three top tacklers (Marcus Neal and Caleb Bacon), and two of the three top interception leaders (Neal and Jamison Patton).
In addition, Penn State brought in Becht’s backup, Alex Manske, to be the potential future quarterback after 2026. Brahmer’s backups at tight end, Greg Burkle and Cooper Alexander, are also joining the Nittany Lions.
However, 50 players from Penn State’s roster in 2025 had entered the portal as of Monday night, meaning Campbell and his staff have their work cut out for them to continue to build up the roster for next season and beyond. Among those key departures include Chaz Coleman, Zuriah Fisher, Ethan Grunkemeyer, Amare Campbell, Dejuan Lane, King Mack, A.J. Harris, and Luke Reynolds.
But the staff has also retained 33 players from last season’s roster, including starters Anthony Donkoh, Tony Rojas, Audavion Collins, Ryan Barker, and Zion Tracy, along with several other key contributors like Max Granville, Andrew Rappleyea, Cooper Cousins, and prized freshmen Koby Howard and Daryus Dixson.
Outside of Becht and some key starters who transferred in from Iowa State, Penn State added potential key contributors in UCLA defensive tackles Keanu Williams and Siale Taupaki, both of whom worked closely with new defensive line coach Ikaika Malloe, and Ohio State running back James Peoples, who scored three touchdowns this season.
Ohio State’s James Peoples hurdles UCLA Bruins defensive back Cole Martin on his way to scoring a touchdown on Nov. 15.
The Nittany Lions also made additions along the offensive line, which is losing four of its five starters from last year. Brock Riker, a redshirt freshman who started at center for Texas State last season, is transferring to Penn State, and allowed just six pressures over 800 snaps in 2025, according to Pro Football Focus. Along with Riker, Iowa State transfer offensive lineman Trevor Buhr brings in starting experience at left guard, while several offensive linemen from the Cyclones’ roster, including Will Tompkins, Vaea Ikakoula, and Kuol Kuol II, figure to be part of the future.
After pulling in the largest high school recruiting class in school history in December, Temple isn’t done adding to its roster for next season and beyond, utilizing the transfer portal to pick up some key players.
The school had added 20 players through the portal as of Monday, with 11 of them coming from Power Four schools. Two of the additions were quarterbacks who could compete for the starting quarterback position next season.
Among the transfers is running back Samuel Brown V, who played at La Salle College High School and spent four seasons at Rutgers. Brown burst on the scene as freshman for the Scarlet Knights, posting a 101-yard rushing game before suffering a season-ending injury seven games into the campaign. He was buried on the depth chart behind Kyle Monangai and Antwon Raymond the next three seasons and totaled 828 yards and eight touchdowns in 28 games.
Samuel Brown scores a receiving touchdown against Howard on Aug 29, 2024.
A few other players from the area or New Jersey are also transferring to Temple. Illinois safety Saboor Karriem (West Orange, N.J.), Albany defensive lineman Deshon Dodson (Neumann Goretti), and Central Florida defensive back Jaeden Gould (Somerset, N.J.) join Brown as players with ties to the region.
Temple also is bringing in former Penn State quarterback Jaxon Smolik and Washington State signal caller Ajani Sheppard, neither of whom has starting experience.
Sheppard began his career at Rutgers, where he intersected with Evan Simon, and played 37 snaps, attempted two passes, and had four rushes for 34 yards in two seasons. He did not see the field at Washington State in 2025.
Smolik was buried on Penn State’s depth chart behind Drew Allar and Beau Pribula in 2023, was out for the season with an injury in 2024, and appeared in just three games in 2025 after losing the backup role to Grunkemeyer in the preseason. He has never attempted a pass in a college game and rushed four times in a loss to Iowa earlier this season before leaving that game with a wrist injury.
Jaxon Smolik scrambles during the first quarter against Iowa on Oct 18.
The duo joins a quarterback corps full of young, inexperienced players, including rising sophomore Camren Boykin along with incoming recruits Lamar Best, Brody Norman, and Brady Palmer. Boykin did not appear in a game in 2025, and the program lost Simon, Gevani McCoy, and Anthony Chiccitt to graduation while Tyler Douglas and Patrick Keller entered the portal. Smolik and Sheppard will likely have the chance to compete for the starting role during the spring and potentially summer camp, as McCoy and Simon did last year.
K.C. Keeler and the Owls pulled in four players from Penn State (Smolik, Kaleb Artis, Kolin Dinkins, and Joey Schlaffer) and three from Rutgers (Brown, John Stone, and Zach Aamland).
Of the positions the Owls restocked the most, the line, secondary, and wide receiver seem to be a heavy focus. All three offensive linemen (Stone, Aamland, Louisville’s Ransom McDermott) and safeties (Karriem, Gould, Dinkins) came from Power Four schools, while just one of the four defensive linemen and wide receiver transfers was a Power Four addition.
The portal additions included players from the Football Championship Subdivision (Lafayette DL Jaylon Joseph, Stony Brook WR Jayce Freeman, Albany’s Dodson) and Division II (Midwestern State WR Demonte Greene, Tiffin DL Kevin Hornbeak).
A fascinating chess match should unfold on Sunday when one of the best defensive units in the NFL matches up with one of the league’s brightest offensive minds. Kyle Shanahan’s San Francisco 49ers squad, including stars Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle, will face off against Zack Baun, Quinyon Mitchell, and the rest of a stout Eagles defense.
This will be the best offense the Eagles have faced since the Chicago Bears on Black Friday. Quarterback Brock Purdy, Kittle, and several other key pieces have missed time at various portions of the season, but they will arrive at Lincoln Financial Field with an offense that challenges defenses pre- and post-snap.
From defending McCaffrey’s versatile skill set to exploiting a clear weakness on San Francisco’s defense, here are the keys for the Eagles in Sunday’s NFC wild-card showdown:
Christian McCaffrey will try to make a positive impact on Sunday after losing a key fumble against the Seahawks.
McCaffrey’s dual-threat ability
According to Fantasy Points, McCaffrey had the NFL’s most touches (413) and touches per game (24.3) this season. He had 311 carries, ranking second in the league.
The San Francisco offense depends on him in many ways, and his usage is a reflection of it. Starting in the running game, McCaffrey primarily carries the ball from under-center alignments, with 905 of his 1,202 rushing yards coming from those formations. Of the 27 runs for McCaffrey that have gone for 10-plus yards, 21 have come from under center.
One of the #49ers staples in the running game is the outside zone scheme, but they have been running power with Kyle Juszczyk leading the way for Christian McCaffrey, and with dash motion too at times. pic.twitter.com/NsS1rv0lYb
Under Shanahan, the Niners execute an outside zone scheme, but they mix in gap scheme runs to allow McCaffrey to get downhill as a runner.
The numbers back it up, too. According to Next Gen Stats, McCaffrey has a 50% success rate on runs between the tackles as opposed to a 32.6% success rate outside the tackles. Still, McCaffrey has found daylight outside the tackles, especially on San Francisco’s outside toss play with fullback Kyle Juszczyk leading.
Most of Christian McCaffrey's carries this season has been under-center (226 of 311 carries, 905 of his 1,202 rushing yards) and the #49ers have success down the stretch on their outside toss play as an extension of their OZ scheme (with FB Kyle Juszczyk leading the way). pic.twitter.com/bJ41x8XudN
Even when McCaffrey is not rushing, the Niners and Shanahan are scheming up ways for him to get the football. San Francisco has a dynamic screen passing game, and at the center of it is McCaffrey. The running back often receives screen passes off play-action or on angle screen actions, when the running back fakes going out for a route and comes back toward the middle of the field with blockers in front.
Running screen passes not only slows down a pass rush, it plays to the strengths of McCaffrey, who is dynamic in making defenders miss in the open field. In the regular season, he led all running backs in receptions (102) and receiving yards (924), and ranked third in the NFL in yards after the catch (721).
The #49ers try to get the ball to Christian McCaffrey in several ways in the passing, including screens to get him in space and allow him to take advantage of aggressive front sevens. Play-action screens are a staple of the offense, and so are RB angle screens. pic.twitter.com/isDUW49GDa
McCaffrey aligns all over the formation for San Francisco, from the backfield to the slot and even as an off-ball tight end. Because he’s a dynamic route runner out of the backfield, McCaffrey can present mismatches wherever he’s aligned on the field.
According to Pro Football Focus, McCaffrey has played 86 snaps in the slot, 19 out wide, nine as an in-line tight end, one at fullback, and the remaining 817 in the backfield. While he rarely runs vertical routes, his movement around the formation can cause confusion and has led to big gains in the passing game.
#49ers RB Christian McCaffrey aligns in multiple spots, from slot receiver to a wing alignment and even fast motion him off-center to create confusion for linebackers and slot corners. Defenses have to be aware of where he's aligned presnap. Mainly runs outs, flats, and choice… pic.twitter.com/LVlBZuNDdE
The second-most dangerous player on the Niners offense is Kittle, who missed six games but finished with the second-highest catch rate (82.6%) and ranked third in expected points added (+43.5) among qualified NFL tight ends, according to Next Gen Stats.
Like McCaffrey, Kittle is moved all over the formation, with most of his snaps coming from in-line alignments (397). He also spent a considerable amount of snaps as a slot receiver (115), out wide (26), and in the backfield (16), according to PFF.
Purdy, who played in only nine games this season, has found comfort in the passing game throwing to Kittle over the middle of the field and down the seam. Kittle has caught 14 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns on 20 targets between 10 and 19 yards, including 5 of 7 contested catch targets, according to PFF.
Brock Purdy has a lot of confidence targeting #49ers TE George Kittle down the seam and vertically down the field and for good reason. Kittle is a mismatch nightmare for most secondary players and LBs. If the #Eagles defend him one-on-one, it could be long day whoever is matched… pic.twitter.com/qnsuu3gW37
Kittle is a matchup nightmare for whoever is defending him. The Niners make a concerted effort to set him up for one-on-one opportunities with smaller secondary players when the 6-foot-4 tight end is aligned in the slot, or out wide with pre-snap motion.
Of Kittle’s 57 catches this season, 20 came from the slot or out wide, and he’s athletic enough to create separation on in- and out-breaking routes facing one-on-one coverage.
20 of George Kittle's 57 receptions this year have come from slot or wide out alignments and the #49ers do a good job of getting him one-on-one against smaller defensive backs on out breaking and in breaking routes, presenting a big target for Brock Purdy. pic.twitter.com/DxjgMU0Q5T
Most of the Niners’ passing game operates in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Purdy has accumulated 1,734 of his 2,167 passing yards on passes between zero and 19 air yards, according to Next Gen Stats.
One of their staple passing game concepts to exploit zone coverage is a Sail concept, which has an outside receiver running a vertical route and the slot receiver running a corner route than can convert to an out route. The passing concept is especially effective facing Cover 2 and Cover 3, as it puts the cornerback on that side of the concept in a bind to either run with the deeper route or try to undercut the outbreaking route.
A lot of the #49ers passing game are hi-lo concepts, and one of their best ways to attack zone coverage is Sail concepts. Both Brock Purdy and Mac Jones have layered throws to the corner route. Involves switch releases, tight ends at times, and is a big part of their intermediate… pic.twitter.com/QR2olFQwiC
Between the numbers, the Niners offense is known to run a lot of deep, in-breaking routes and the Dagger passing concept, which has a clear-out vertical route occupying the deep safeties and the deep dig route coming in behind it. It is where Purdy is the most aggressive in pushing the ball downfield to hit big gains to receivers Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Kendrick Bourne. According to PFF, Purdy has 83 of 107 passes for 788 yards and four touchdowns on passes between the numbers from behind or at the line of scrimmage to 20 yards downfield.
The passing concept is especially effective against one-high safety structures on defense and against zone coverage, often vacating space between the linebackers and safeties. The teams that have defended the play effectively this season have linebackers who have the range to take away the deep in-breaking route window, and the Eagles have Baun, who is capable of doing so.
Dagger concepts and hitting dig routes over the MOF is a big part of the #49ers passing game and exploiting one-high defensive structures and zone defenses. Both Mac Jones and Brock Purdy found success in doing so this year. pic.twitter.com/c1oxDSxslv
While Purdy has played at a high level to close the regular season, he has thrown an interception in six of his nine starts this year, including three against Carolina in November. He has been pressured 34.9% of the time, the fourth-highest rate among qualified quarterbacks this season, according to Next Gen Stats, but has been sacked only 11 times across 312 drop backs because of his mobility to escape the pocket.
Where he struggles, though, is locating the football consistently targeting the middle of the field. Half of his 10 interceptions this season have been due to either throwing the football too high or behind his receivers. With pressure in his face, too, Purdy is susceptible to airmailing a pass.
At least half of Brock Purdy's 10 interceptions this season for the #49ers have come on passes thrown late and/or high across the middle of the field, and defenders getting their eyes to the backside dig route. pic.twitter.com/dTWyeHNILO
San Francisco’s defense ranks third in snaps out of a light box (45%, six or fewer players in the box) in the NFL, with only the Eagles and Patriots playing a higher percentage of snaps with a light box. That, coupled with the injuries piling up at linebacker, could mean a big day for Saquon Barkley and the Eagles running game.
The defense has also been prone to giving up big plays in the passing game. The Niners, according to Next Gen Stats, gave up the seventh-highest total yards per game on throws that traveled 20 or more air yards (49.9) and tied the Bears for the second-highest total of touchdowns allowed on such throws.
Expect Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense to take their shots downfield, especially if the Niners load up to stop the running game.
Ikaika Malloe, who was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at UCLA the last two seasons, will join the program as the defensive line coach, replacing Deion Barnes, who departed for South Carolina.
The Nittany Lions also added Cincinnati defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt, who will coach linebackers on Matt Campbell’s staff. Dan Connor, who served as the linebackers coach in 2025, was retained and will be the assistant linebackers coach.
The hires nearly fill out Campbell’s on-field staff, with the running backs coach spot still vacant after Stan Drayton departed for South Carolina along with Barnes.
Malloe, 51, will reunite with Lynn after the pair coached together at UCLA in 2023. Before spending four years at UCLA, Malloe had stops at Washington (two stints), Western Illinois, UTEP, Yale, Portland State, and Utah State. He has served as a defensive line coach for the majority of his coaching career and played at Washington as a safety and linebacker.
Malloe has coached first-rounders like Vita Vea and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka at Washington and Laiatu Latu at UCLA.
Penn State coach Matt Campbell, above, worked with new defensive coordinator Tyson Veidt when both were at Toledo and Iowa State.
Veidt will reunite with Campbell after spending the last two seasons at Cincinnati. Before that, Veidt worked under Campbell at Toledo and Iowa State. He spent the 2014 and 2015 seasons at Toledo as the linebackers coach and followed Campbell to Iowa State for eight seasons as the assistant head coach and linebackers coach.
According to CBS Sports, Penn State is working to hire Northwestern defensive line coach Christian Smith to work alongside Malloe on the defensive line, though his hiring has yet to be announced.
The transfer portal officially opened on Friday, and Penn State already has its next quarterback.
According to several reports, former Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht is joining coach Matt Campbell at Penn State. Becht entered the transfer portal a few weeks after Campbell departed Ames, Iowa, for the Penn State job on Dec. 5.
The link between Becht and Penn State was obvious, considering Campbell and his staff’s familiarity with the quarterback. In 2025, Becht passed for 2,584 yards and 16 touchdowns in his third year starting under Campbell at Iowa State. Becht, a native of Wesley Chapel, Fla., was a three-star recruit in high school, according to 247Sports.
Across three years starting for the Cyclones, Becht totaled 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts. In addition to reuniting with Campbell, Becht will be rejoining Jake Waters, his quarterbacks coach at Iowa State who holds the same position at Penn State, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
Becht joins several other former Iowa State players to follow Campbell to Penn State. The list includes tight end Benjamin Brahmer, offensive lineman Will Tompkins, safety Marcus Neal Jr., wide receiver Brett Eskildsen, backup quarterback Alex Manske, and running back Carson Hansen. Eskildsen was Iowa State’s leading receiver last year, while Hansen was the team’s leading rusher.
The move became more likely after Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer entered the portal on Thursday. Grunkemeyer started the final seven games for the Nittany Lions after Drew Allar was lost to a season-ending injury. He had his best performance in the Pinstripe Bowl game win, throwing for 260 yards and two touchdowns. Grunkemeyer finished the season completing 69.1% of his passes, with eight touchdowns and 1,339 yards.
Campbell and Becht led Iowa State to its most successful two-year stint in program history with 19 wins in 2024 and 2025. Last year was the first time the program eclipsed double-digit victories.
Iowa State coach Matt Campbell celebrates with is team after a touchdown by quarterback Rocco Becht (3) against Arizona.
Iowa State’s passing game with Becht at the helm ranked 50th nationally in 2023 (245 yards per game), 39th in 2024 (255.7), and 73rd in 2025 as the quarterback battled through a partial labrum tear in his non-throwing shoulder. According to ESPN, Becht underwent labrum surgery on Dec. 11.
Becht joins Penn State’s quarterback corps alongside Jack Lambert and new addition Manske. Along with Grunkemeyer, Jaxon Smolik and Bekkem Kritza also entered the portal.
Becht’s father, Anthony, played in the NFL for 12 years and is a Drexel Hill native and Monsignor Bonner High graduate. He played tight end and was a first-round pick by the Jets in 2000, and also played for the Buccaneers, Rams, Chiefs, and Cardinals. Anthony is now the head coach of the Orlando Storm of the United Football League.
On the eve of the only transfer portal for the year opening in college football, Penn State quarterback Ethan Grunkemeyer, who started the final seven games of the season, announced his intention to enter.
The decision isn’t shocking, and Grunkemeyer, a redshirt freshman, could return to the Nittany Lions. But with new coach Matt Campbell coming in with his own staff and likely running a new offense, it is becoming increasingly likely that next year’s starting quarterback is not on Penn State’s roster.
Drew Allaris making the jump to the NFL, and Bekkem Kritza and Jaxon Smolik also entered the portal, leaving Jack Lambert as the quarterbacks remaining on the roster.
That means that Campbell and his new staff in Happy Valley will need to go portal hunting for quarterback — and several other positions, as the roster is expected to have significant turnover.
Here are the options Penn State could consider at quarterback, from a player familiar to the staff to others who have had success elsewhere:
Reuniting with Becht?
The most obvious answer to Penn State’s quarterback conundrum is to bring in Campbell’s starting quarterback at Iowa State, Rocco Becht, who is in the transfer portal. Becht seems like a natural fit in Happy Valley, considering his experience, familiarity with staff, and the high-profile nature of the games Penn State will play.
Could new Penn State coach Matt Campbell bring in Rocco Becht, his starting quarterback at Iowa State?
Becht threw for 9,274 yards and 64 touchdowns in 39 starts for Campbell. A starting quarterback following his coach to another school is not unprecedented, and Becht also would reunite with Jake Waters, his quarterbacks coach at Iowa State who holds the same position at Penn State, and offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser.
Having a proven quarterback for Campbell in Year 1 at Penn State with a favorable Big Ten schedule draw would be ideal. But nothing is certain in the portal, and there will be several suitors that need a quarterback.
Bring back Pribula?
Last year, before Penn State’s College Football Playoff first-round matchup with SMU, backup quarterback Beau Pribula entered the transfer portal and landed at Missouri. And after one season with the Tigers, in which he threw 1,941 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 starts, he’s back in the portal. Could he come back to Happy Valley?
Pribula played well in relief after Allar was injured during the Wisconsin game in 2024, and his rushing ability was heavily utilized in Andy Kotelnicki’s offense. Kotelnicki won’t be on the staff next season, but the familiarity with the program could intrigue Campbell and his staff if they don’t bring in Becht.
He would be a one-year player, like Becht, barring injury. He would need to take care of the football better than he did this year (nine interceptions, five fumbles), but bringing him back seems like an option. Of course, former Penn State coach James Franklin and Virginia Tech could get involved, and his staff has plenty of familiarity with Pribula, too.
High risk, high reward
There are several other starters from Power Four schools who entered the portal and have a big pool of teams interested in their services. Quarterbacks like Brendan Sorsby (Cincinnati), Dylan Raiola (Nebraska), and DJ Lagway (Florida) are among the top quarterbacks who will be highly coveted in the portal.
Penn State likely won’t land the top of the portal market for quarterbacks, considering the uncertainty on the roster and a new staff coming in. There are other quarterbacks who may not garner the same interest as the top names and come with some risks.
Aidan Chiles completed 63.1% of his passes and 10 touchdowns to three interceptions this past season at Michigan State.
Former Michigan State quarterback Aidan Chiles entered the portal after the program’s coaching change. After an up and down 2024 season, Chiles was much more efficient in 2025 in nine starts, completing 63.1% of his passes and throwing for 10 touchdowns to three interceptions. He has big-time talent and two more seasons of eligibility, but has an 8-13 record as a starter over the last two seasons.
Jaden Craig, the former Harvard starting quarterback for two years, is looking to make the jump from the FCS to the FBS. With the Crimson, he threw for career highs in touchdowns (25) and yards (2,869), but the level of competition in the Ivy League is much different from the Big Ten. Could he handle facing Big Ten defenses?
Penn State also has two quarterbacks (Peyton Falzone and Kase Evans) signed in the 2026 recruiting class. Campbell has his work cut out for him over the next two weeks to build out his roster for the 2026 season and beyond. Getting a quarterback locked in should be atop the staff’s list.
The College Football Playoff continues with four more games this week, beginning with a New Year’s Eve matchup between Ohio State and Miami at the Cotton Bowl. The Buckeyes-Hurricanes showdown is the game in this round that will likely yield the most combined NFL draft prospects.
On New Year’s Day, Alabama plays Indiana in the Rose Bowl, Ole Miss takes on Georgia in the Sugar Bowl, and Oregon and Texas Tech face off in the Orange Bowl.
With plenty of draft hopefuls playing on big stages, here are the prospects the Eagles should be keeping an eye on from the top four seeds — Indiana, Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech — who are set to make their 2025 CFP debuts.
The Georgia-to-Eagles pipeline could get another addition with the Bulldogs’ left tackle Freeling, who is an outstanding athlete at 6-foot-7, 315 pounds. The tackle, who is only a junior, is light on his feet in pass protection, moves well in space to block smaller and faster players, and is hard to get around in pass protection. According to Pro Football Focus, Freeling has allowed just nine pressures and two sacks in 423 pass blocking snaps this season.
#UGA LT Monroe Freeling moves incredibly well in space, does a nice job framing up his blocks in the run game, and rarely gets beat in pass protection. Has only allowed 9 pressures and 2 sacks in 423 pass blocking snaps.
Freeling was banged up midway through the season and his play balance isn’t consistent from down to down, but the left tackle has a desirable skill set to contend with some of the best athletes at the NFL level, especially in pass protection. Should he declare, he will be in high demand for teams that need an offensive tackle — whether it’s next season or a few years from now.
Kenyatta Jackson, edge rusher, Ohio State
Part of a fearsome Ohio State defense, Jackson is having a breakout season in his fourth year in the program. At 6-6, 265 pounds, Jackson has a noticeable arm length advantage and uses it to challenge opponents. He plays multiple roles along the defensive line, lining up primarily at 4i (inside shoulder of tackles) and can wreak havoc as both a pass rusher and run defender.
#OSU EDGE Kenyatta Jackson is the prospect I'm looking forward to seeing most in the CFP quaterfinals. Outstanding utilization of his length, closing speed off the edge, impact as a run defender, and driving offensive linemen back. Should be a fun watch against Miami's O-line. pic.twitter.com/6UGca0qWfV
Jackson is at his best, though, from a standing alignment as a pass rusher, allowing him to get a running start and to create physical separation from offensive tackles. He projects as a Day 2 pick if he declares this year and would be a welcome addition to a talented Eagles edge rusher room.
Texas Tech defensive end Romello Height celebrates a defensive stop against BYU in the Big 12 Championship.
Romello Height, edge rusher, Texas Tech
At his fourth school in six years (Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech), Height is having the best season of his career with nine sacks and 10½ tackles for losses in 13 games. A high-effort, high-motor pass rusher, Height uses his length and ankle flexion to win on the outside shoulder of offensive tackles, and has a nice toolbox of pass-rush moves that includes a spin, an inside swim move, and a cross-chop.
Height has a 23% pass-rush win rate, according to PFF, but struggles as a run defender holding his gap against offensive linemen. He’ll likely command a designated pass rushing role early in his NFL career. Despite being an older prospect, there’s a chance Height can go within the first two rounds, and he would be a nice addition to an Eagles pass rush that is already much stronger since trading for Jaelan Phillips.
Mathews, who plays both outside corner and nickel for Ohio State, is just a junior who could return to school, but his versatility and ball skills make him an early-round candidate should he enter the draft. At 5-11, 190 pounds, Mathews excels in off man coverage and zone coverage looks, closing on the football with quickness while playing through the hands of receivers.
#OSU DB Jermaine Mathews Jr. has inside-out versatility, undercuts timing routes, and is an excellent blitzer from the secondary. The junior has 2 INTs and 3 PBUs this season and does a nice job playing through receiver's hands. pic.twitter.com/I2wkreHzzd
According to PFF, Matthews has 398 snaps at outside corner vs. 159 at nickel. He struggled with penalties down the stretch and is susceptible to getting beaten deep without safety help, but he projects as a nickel who can eliminate timing routes over the middle of the field and into the boundary. His physicality in the running game could improve, too.
Omar Cooper, WR, Indiana
Quarterback Fernando Mendoza is the potential top pick in the 2026 draft and one of his weapons is Cooper, who has the speed to run by a secondary and is hard to bring down in the open field. Primarily operating from the slot, Cooper has strong hands at the catch point and terrific body control, evidenced by his clutch game-winning touchdown against Penn State in November.
You’d think it’d get old to keep posting about Indiana WR Omar Cooper Jr. (@TheOmarCooper), but it doesn’t—this dude is just that good!
His ability to win in contested catch situations — he has made 6 of 12 catches while tightly defended, according to PFF — and vertical speed make him an ideal second or third receiver option in the NFL. For the Eagles, he could be a much-needed field stretcher who has the ability to create big gains with the ball in his hands and win in one-on-one situations.
Terrance Carter Jr. TE, Texas Tech
Tight end will eventually become a need for the Eagles, perhaps as soon as this offseason with Dallas Goedert set to become a free agent in the spring. Outside of Round 1, there will be a few players who interest the Eagles, and among them is Carter, the Louisiana-Lafayette transfer who is dynamic after the catch.
Of his 552 receiving yards this season, 334 have come after the catch, according to PFF, and Carter is a matchup nightmare for linebackers and safeties. Though he’s not quite the same caliber of athlete as Georgia’s tight end duo of Lawson Luckie and Oscar Delp, or Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq, Carter can still separate from secondary and second-level players.
#TexasTech TE Terrance Carter Jr. is at his best making players miss in the open field and creating big gains with the football in his hands. The Louisiana Lafayette transfer has had 344 of his 552 receiving yards come after the catch and is a matchup nightmare for LBs. pic.twitter.com/6CPvRjrusX
The tight end prospect, who could return to school, must clean up his drops — he has five in 2025 — and doesn’t add much as a blocker, but is a big-time receiving threat.
Davison Igbinosun, DB, Ohio State
There may not be a more improved player in Ohio State’s secondary this season than Igbinosun, the physical outside corner who makes life difficult for opposing receivers. Igbinosun, listed at 6-2, 193 pounds, likes to disrupt the timing of wide receivers in man coverage, and has the length and speed to defend vertical passes downfield.
#OSU DB Davison Igbinosun is a physical corner who disrupts the timing of WRs at the line of scrimmage and the catch point. Can turn and run downfield on vertical throws and has the closing speed to get underneath routes attacking the MOF and the boundary. pic.twitter.com/ybTs8zFnop
According to PFF, Igbinosun hasn’t allowed a touchdown across 331 coverage snaps and just 42.9% of his targets in coverage have been caught. He is feisty, competes at the catch point, and has excellent ball production this season (six pass breakups, two interceptions). Penalties continue to be a negative for him (21 over the last two years), but they have become far less of an issue in 2025.
Though Adoree’ Jackson has held up much better down the stretch of this season manning the cornerback spot alongside Quinyon Mitchell for the Eagles, Igbinosun would be an upgrade from a ball production standpoint, though the team would have to be comfortable with his tendency to get too physical in man coverage situations.
