ALTOONA, Pa. -- The glue that held Penn State's offensive line together this season could have come back to college for one more year, but he has decided to enter the NFL draft instead.
Center Juice Scruggs made that announcement late Friday night, but also added he will play for the Nittany Lions in next week's Rose Bowl against Utah. He was voted a team captain this season.
🌹🌹🌹#HessStrong pic.twitter.com/gXdVEvElkd
— Supa (@JuiceScruggs) December 24, 2022
"Penn State, thank you for accepting me as a young 18-year-old kid with open arms," Scruggs wrote. "We have stuck together as a family through the ups and downs, and I am forever grateful to be a Nittany Lion. Penn State has given me an amazing education which I am beyond blessed to have."
Scruggs' decision was not unexpected, as he was projected to forgo his final year of eligibility. He's been at Penn State since 2018, but could have played one more season because of the 2020 COVID waiver.
At this stage, Scruggs (6-3, 310) is a borderline draft pick, as he could go in a late round but likely will be an undrafted free agent. He could help himself with a good showing in the Rose Bowl against Utah's strong defense, and at Penn State's pro day.
Scruggs will be tough to replace next season, as he was really the heart and soul of the offensive line, drawing rave reviews from James Franklin and quarterback Sean Clifford.
“I’m a huge Juice Scruggs fan," Franklin said last month.
“You talk about a guy that literally practices every day, bumps and bruises, plays in every game, bumps and bruises," the coach added. "Not only is playing at a high level but is durable, is consistent. “He’s the quarterback of the (line), quarterback of the protections and run game, getting us all on the same page. He makes us go, has got a huge smile on the face all the time.”
Scruggs overcame a scary broken back injury from a car accident in 2019 and still went on to enjoy a productive career for the Lions. He missed the 2019 season, returned to play in seven games in 2020, then started all 13 games in 2021 before returning as a starter this year.
“I always had in my head I’m gonna be back on the field,” Scruggs said during the 2020 season. “That was always my mindset. It never crossed my mind that football was over for me.
“Of course I had doubt,” he added. “Any time you have an injury like that, you’re gonna have doubt, doubt’s gonna come across your head. But at the same time, I just kept pushing. I knew in my head I just kept faith. I knew that hard times won’t last forever, I was gonna get over it.”
