web1_TTL042717BridalExpo3.jpg

Brides get a taste of their wedding day at Ultimate Girls’ Soiree

web1_Wyoming-Area-High-School.jpg

West Pittston mayor awards Wyoming Area students

The number, perhaps, didn&#8217;t surprise people inside Penn State.But with pro scouts and pundits? Chris Godwin raised plenty of eyebrows.Well-regarded as a dependable wide receiver who steps up in big games, Godwin was nonetheless not viewed as a top prospect for this week&#8217;s NFL draft when he initially declared back in January.Then came the combine.A 4.42-second showing in the 40-yard dash moved him up on draft boards across the country.&#8220;That gave me a lot of confidence,&#8221; Godwin said last month after Penn State&#8217;s pro day. &#8220;That was validation that I could really play with the best guys in the country, and my numbers really stood up to all of theirs.&#8221;Godwin is the only sure-fire draft pick from a small Nittany Lions&#8217; class, most likely hearing his name called on Friday during the second or third round.Defensive end Garrett Sickels &#8212; the only other Penn State player who had been invited to the combine in February &#8212; is also expected to be drafted on Saturday, possibly in the final three rounds.Chris GodwinWide receiver6-foot-1, 209 poundsNFL.com grade: 5.73(Could become early starter)Outlook: Projections have Godwin going anywhere from the second round to the top of the fourth round. In the latest Pro Football Focus mock draft, Godwin was a third-round selection of the Baltimore Ravens.The team will be getting a hard-worker who showed he could excel against top college corners, catching touchdowns against Ohio State&#8217;s Gareon Conley, Iowa&#8217;s Desmond King and USC&#8217;s Adoree Jackson as a junior.&#8220;I understand it&#8217;s going to be different. It&#8217;s going to be a different experience,&#8221; Godwin said. &#8220;I&#8217;m going to be a professional now, and you have so much more time to dedicate to being a professional.&#8221;Garrett SickelsDefensive end6-foot-3, 261 poundsNFL.com grade: 5.10(Back end of the roster)Outlook: Unlike Godwin, Sickels struggled at the combine after leaving college a year early.&#8220;Just wasn&#8217;t myself,&#8221; Sickels said after his pro day. &#8220;Didn&#8217;t perform the way I wanted to.&#8221;But his showing at that pro day in Happy Valley helped boost his stock a bit again.&#8220;I feel a lot better about today,&#8221; Sickels said. &#8220;The combine was a good experience, but I didn&#8217;t hit the numbers I wanted to. Today, I was able to capitalize on this and hit all the numbers I needed to.&#8221;Penn State&#8217;s top pass rusher in 2016, he may find himself being taken as a 3-4 outside linebacker rather than an end in a 4-3 scheme.Pro Football Focus projected him going in the fifth round to the New York Jets, where he would be reunited with good friend Christian Hackenberg.Brandon BellOutside linebacker6-foot-1, 233 poundsNFL.com grade: 4.96(Likely free agent signing)Outlook: Injuries slowed down Bell enough throughout his career that, combined with a smaller frame, he may not be drafted.But there was no other Penn State defender over the past four seasons who made as many plays as Bell, who continually forced fumbles, came up with loose balls and produced timely sacks.The adversity faced in playing for post-sanctions Penn State could help him fight for an NFL roster spot.&#8220;Kinda deserved (a chance) with all the things we&#8217;ve been through here and that I&#8217;ve been through personally as far as on the football field,&#8221; Bell said. &#8220;Just gotta go out there and do what I&#8217;m capable of doing.&#8221;Malik GoldenSafety6-foot, 205 poundsNFL.com grade: 4.93(Likely free agent signing)Outlook: Easy to forget that Golden actually arrived as a wide receiver while redshirting before moving to defense.&#8220;I had four position coaches in five years,&#8221; said Golden, who worked with receivers coach Stan Hixon and safeties coach Anthony Midget on Bill O&#8217;Brien&#8217;s staff before playing for Bob Shoop and Tim Banks the past three years on James Franklin&#8217;s staff.&#8220;I kind of took a little bit of everything, especially with Tim Banks, I talked to him a lot. Me and him developed a great relationship.&#8221;Rounding it outOther Penn State seniors who will be looking to sign with a team in the next week include OL Brian Gaia, OL Wendy Laurent, DE Evan Schwan, CB Jordan Smith, LB Nyeem Wartman-White and LS Tyler Yazujian.Wartman-White will be particularly interesting to watch. The Valley View grad had draft aspirations early in his career before serious knee injuries sidelined him each of the last two seasons.He said was able to participate in portions of pro day last month at &#8220;50 to 75 percent&#8221; speed while he continued his rehab.&#8220;The fact that I even completed the drills, I&#8217;m happy with it,&#8221; Wartman-White said after his pro day.&#8220;Strength and conditioning. I have to get my leg stronger. (At pro day), I showed I was actively moving, but I didn&#8217;t show I&#8217;m strong enough and ready for a training camp, an NFL season.&#8220;Moving forward I just need to strengthen my leg and get conditioning up, and I think I&#8217;ll be fine.&#8221;<ins>For other sports stories, <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/category/sports" target="_blank">click here</a>.</ins><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_godwin-combine.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Penn State&#8217;s Chris Godwin turned plenty of heads back in February with his showing at the NFL combine. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_godwin-combine.jpg</photo0><caption0>Penn State&#8217;s Chris Godwin turned plenty of heads back in February with his showing at the NFL combine. </caption0><photoCredit0>David J. Phillip | AP file photo </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Derek Levarsedlevarse@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</shirttailMeta></div>

Penn State wideout Chris Godwin ready for NFL draft spotlight