After four years in Happy Valley, Brenton Strange is off to the NFL to join fellow “Aces” Mike Gesicki and Pat Freiermuth in the big leagues.

The third-team All-Big Ten tight end was selected by the Jaguars with the No. 61 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft on Friday. Strange is the Nittany Lions’ first tight end drafted since his predecessor, Freiermuth, was drafted No. 55 overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 2021 draft.

With the No. 61 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select…Brenton Strange! pic.twitter.com/yDNfkrhGoT

— Onward State (@OnwardState) April 29, 2023

Strange came to Penn State from Parkersburg High School in West Virginia. He committed to James Franklin and the Nittany Lions in 2018 as a four-star prospect and the No. 13-ranked tight end in his class.

After only hauling in one reception during his freshman campaign, Strange’s production increased in the 2020 season. He caught 17 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns in a season when the Nittany Lions dropped their first five games before finishing with a 4-5 record.

With the 2021 season and the departure of Freiermuth, Strange became a staple for Sean Clifford and Mike Yurcich’s offense. In his third season as a Nittany Lion, Strange reeled in 20 receptions for 225 yards as he found the endzone three times.

Strange saved his best season for his last, putting up his strongest performances in 2022. Clifford’s highly reliable tight end caught 32 passes for 362 yards and five touchdowns, all career bests. He proved to be the most reliable pass catcher for the Nittany Lions this past season and helped lead his team through its Rose Bowl-winning season.

Brenton Strange just went full-on freight train pic.twitter.com/0KCo8siXwK

— Onward State (@OnwardState) September 2, 2022

In his last season, Strange was named to the All-Big Ten third team by coaches and received an All-Big Ten honorable mention from the media.

Strange joins a tight end in Jacksonville that features Evan Engram and Luke Farrell, among others.