Four Penn State players selected on final day of NFL Draft

The final day of the NFL Draft featured one of the most critical groups of players in Penn State history.

Led by a rush of defensive picks, the Nittany Lions produced one of their most prolific draft results in years. 

Saturday featured these Lions finding NFL homes:

• The Washington Redskins picked Penn State safety Troy Apke with the ninth selection in the fourth round, and the 109th overall choice. Apke shocked some analysts with his blistering 40-yard time at the NFL combine, clocking in at 4.34 seconds. He was fourth on the team in tackles last season (55) and added an interception.

• There was a short reprieve from all the Penn State defenders being selected when the Denver Broncos picked record-setting receiver DaeSean Hamilton. Denver took him with the 113rd selection in the fourth round.

• In the fifth round it was time for another Penn State safety to learn his future team as the Pittsburgh Steelers picked up Marcus Allen with the 148th selection. Allen teamed up with Grant Haley for the memorable blocked field goal and touchdown return in Penn State's upset win against Ohio State in 2016. 

• In the sixth round the Arizona Cardinals selected lanky cornerback Christian Campbell with the 182nd overall pick. 

Penn State had six total players drafted, the most draft picks for the program since 2010. 

Day 3 featured the final four rounds of the draft, capping the big week in Dallas with the seventh and final round. The four Penn State players selected on the last day of the draft represented a group of players that helped lead the Lions from the dark days of NCAA sanctions and their initial struggles on the field to back-to-back 11-win seasons and a Big Ten title.

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Arguably no one in the draft helped themselves more since last fall than Hamilton, who shined in Penn State's Fiesta Bowl victory. He impressed scouts in postseason all-star games and created a buzz at the NFL Combine with his testing and razor-sharp route running. He followed that with a strong sprinting performance at Penn State's Pro Day on March 20.

No one in school-history has caught more than his 214 passes.

Penn State had a total of six players selected in this year's NFL Draft, with No. 2 overall pick Saquon Barkley going to the Giants and tight end Mike Gesicki going to the Dolphins in the second round. 

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Defensive back Grant Haley and linebacker Jason Cabinda were in the draft bubble and ultimately didn't get picked in the draft. Other Lions who were on the draft bubble but didn't get picked include defensive tackle Curtis Cothran and Parker Cothren and receiver Saeed Blacknall.

They all figure to be undrafted free agents.

Cabinda and Blacknall tweeted in the moments after the draft that they would both sign with the Oakland Raiders. Penn State football tweeted that Haley would sign with the Giants. 

Read more about Haley and Cabinda here ...

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