Vega Ioane is Penn State’s only sure-fire first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren knew they’d go within the first 20 selections a year ago, but Ioane has spearheaded Penn State’s brand across draft boards even during the Nittany Lions’ disastrous 2025 campaign.

Ioane is doing this all while still having a year of eligibility remaining. He could stick around with the likes of Cooper Cousins, Ryan Clanton, and Matt Campbell, but he’s been ready for the next step for a while now. With the conclusion of Penn State football’s Pro Day, Ioane’s dreams are getting more and more tangible as the days roll on.

“It’s a feeling that I know I put a lot of work into it, knowing that it’s all come together and all connecting things like that,” Ioane said. “Knowing that I put my best foot forward to put myself in a position like that, but definitely feels good.”

Ioane trained in Dallas for the last few months before making the trek to Indianapolis for the Combine, where he met with Nick Dawkins, Nolan Rucci, and Drew Shelton. He trained with his teammates while showing off for NFL scouts, but is now calling Happy Valley home until draft day.

The one team Ioane said he had a confirmed visit with in the near future is the Baltimore Ravens, but he said he hasn’t been in the loop on where he’s going. He’s focused solely on training and meeting with teams when they want to meet.

Ioane said a big thing he’s been training for is the possibility of playing center in the league, which Phil Trautwein always said he thought he’d do if given the opportunity. While it’s becoming less and less likely as Ioane presents himself as one of the only pure guards in the class, he’s still learned a lot about the position from Dawkins.

Still, Ioane presented himself at the combine in a very limited capacity. He didn’t partake in any measurements and only had a short individual session with some typical lineman drills. Ioane was focused on reinforcing what he put on tape at the Combine and riding out his high draft stock. Ioane knows he sticks out as an imposing physical presence, and he hopes to translate that to the next level soon.

“It was definitely a learning process. Like I said, my four years here, definitely learning a lot of things, adding to my tool box,” Ioane said. “But having a coach like [Phil] Trautwein, he taught me a lot as a player. Everything on the field happened from what I did off the field.”

While Ioane is off to the NFL, he still has a couple more weeks to say goodbye to Penn State and close his college chapter out. However, his departure will look incredibly different from his arrival four years ago.

“It’s a whole different place, but I know that Penn State’s put into good hands with Matt Campbell and the entire staff,” Ioane said. “Everything going on right now may be a change, but it’s gonna be good for the entire team.”