Shaka

Toney

Toney was just reinstated from his season-long gambling suspension by the NFL. The former seventh-round pick saw most of his playing time on special teams over the first two years of his career before being suspended for the entirety of the 2023 season. He should have some interest as a free agent.

Moore was one of several players suspended last season for violating the league’s gambling policy. He was released by the Lions shortly after the suspension was handed down and had signed a two-year, $4.5 million contract a month before. Moore has played primarily on special teams and has just 345 defensive snaps to his name over the first four years of his career. In addition to Moore, the league also reinstated WR Quintez Cephus, DL Demetrius Taylor, EDGE Shaka Toney, and LB Rashod Berry.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Toney was caught betting on NFL games, prompting an indefinite suspension that requires a minimum one-year suspension. Toney is a former seventh-round pick from the 2021 NFL Draft and has played primarily on special teams.

Toney (6'2/242) redshirted as a freshman before earning Big Ten All-Freshman Team accolades in 2017. Though he didn’t start a single game as a sophomore, he put himself on the map with a 4.0-sack performance against Indiana in 2018. He started every game of his last two years on campus, posting 71 tackles, 15.5 TFL and 11.5 sacks while being named Second Team All-Big Ten in 2019 and First Team All-Big Ten in 2020. Toney is an athletic, twitchy speed rusher with a quick first step and the necessary physical traits to challenge around the edge, as his 9.48 RAS will attest. He could carve out a niche role for himself as a passing-down specialist similar to Trent Cole.

Tony (6'3/252) posted an elite 4.51 40-yard dash, but didn’t just stop there. He also posted a staggering 39" vertical jump, 128-inch broad jump, 4.28 shuttle and 6.95 three-cone. All of those marks would have ranked at the very top of 2020 NFL Scouting Combine defensive linemen. His 24 bench reps were solid for the position, ranking 18th among 2020 combine invitees. As a redshirt junior, The Nittany Lion EDGE was one of the Big Ten’s best pass rushers, earning second team all-conference (coaches) honors. Toney projects to hear his name called on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given him a fifth-round grade.

Toney (6'3/252), who was named to the Nagurski Award watch list before the season began, has appeared in all six of the Nittany Lions’ games this season. In those appearances the redshirt senior has accounted for 18 total tackles (5.5 for loss), 4.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup. As a redshirt junior Toney was one of the Big Ten’s best edge rushers, earning second team all-conference (coaches) honors. Toney projects to hear his name called on Day 3 of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Pro Football Network draft analyst Tony Pauline has given him a fifth-round grade.

Toney (6'3/233) didn’t get the same attention as Yetur Gross-Matos did last year, and that’s likely because Gross-Matos finished the year with 9.5 sacks compared to Toney’s 6.5. As Connelly notes, however, the two had the same amount of pressures; as Toney was able to get to the quarterback 36 times in 2019. “Now PSU’s top DE, Toney could easily have a breakout season, especially with QBs preoccupied with Micah Parsons,” Connelly writes. While he doesn’t have elite size, Toney’s ability to get to the quarterback will assuredly have him on draft radars to begin -- and likely end -- the 2020 campaign.

Toney (6'3/233) was on his back and grabbing at his left knee after a play, but he was able to walk off under his own power after being down for a few moments. His status for next Saturday’s road trip to Michigan State will likely be determined during the week.

Toney (6'3/233) was a three-star recruit for the 2016 cycle, redshirted a year ago and then came on to register 17 tackles (6.0 for loss), 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles for the current campaign. Just what he did to land in HC James Franklin’s doghouse is not currently known.