Penn State Center Juice Scruggs Declares for 2023 NFL Draft, Will Play in Rose Bowl

Penn State football center Juice Scruggs announced Friday night that he’s declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft after five seasons in Happy Valley. Scruggs will still play in the Nittany Lions’ Rose Bowl matchup against Utah.

He had one season of eligibility remaining due to the extra year granted by the NCAA across all sports in 2020 because of COVID-19.

“Penn State, thank you for accepting me as a young 18-year old kid with open arms,” Scruggs wrote. “We have stuck 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.”

“With that being said, I will be declaring for the 2023 NFL Draft,” he continued. “I will also finish what we started and play in the Rose Bow. We Are!”

After appearing in just one game over his first two seasons at Penn State, Scruggs played in seven games in 2020 and started 13 contests on the offensive line the following season in 2021. He took over as the team’s starting center in 2022 and was named a team captain, serving as an anchor for Phil Trautwein’s unit.

Scruggs is the second Nittany Lion to declare for the draft while also planning to play in the Rose Bowl. Defensive end Nick Tarburton announced last week that he’ll try his luck in the NFL after Penn State’s trip to Pasadena. Additionally, Joey Porter Jr. and Parker Washington both declared for the 2023 NFL Draft but won’t play in the Rose Bowl — though Washington will miss the game due to his season-ending injury, while Porter opted out.