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Draft month, finally, has arrived.
Continuing our series that began this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don't trade out, it'll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.
Today's focus will be on Penn State offensive guard Vega Ioane.
▶ 11 appearances in 2025
▶ Four pressures allowed (four hurries)
▶ 614 offensive snaps (311 pass blocking, 303 run blocking)
▶ One special teams snap (field goal block)
Told by his parents to focus on his academics while at Graham-Kapowsin High School in Washington, Ioane went behind their backs and signed himself up for football. By his sophomore year, Ioane was a starter, and he went on to help the Eagles win a Class 4A state championship with an undefeated record as a senior in 2021. Ioane, rated by the 247Sports Composite as a three-star recruit and the No. 574 overall player in the Class of 2022, was initially committed to Washington but flipped to Penn State after former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake was fired.
Ioane redshirted at Penn State in 2022 before making 13 appearances, including five starts, in his second season. He became a full-time starter in 2024 and never looked back, becoming one of the nation's best interior blockers, especially in pass protection. The last time Ioane allowed a sack was against Maryland in November 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. He closed his collegiate career with 31 consecutive games without a sack attributed to him. Ioane allowed 23 pressures over that stretch, with only two of those being quarterback hits.
The Nittany Lions fell well short of expectations in 2025, but Ioane helped Penn State to the national semifinal in 2024. He played well in the postseason, allowing a combined four pressures over his three appearances in the College Football Playoff. Most of Ioane's time in college came at left guard (1,879 snaps), though he does have limited experience at right guard (314), center (17), left tackle (eight) and right tackle (seven). At the combine and later at Penn State's Pro Day, Ioane took some reps at center to show his versatility.
Pass protection was Ioane's bread and butter at Penn State. Sure, interior linemen are more insulated than offensive tackles. But you don't limit opponents to four pressures on the season by accident. Of the 338 FBS guards and centers who pass blocked for at least 300 snaps last season, only five surrendered fewer pressures than Ioane. He was elite, leaning on his strength and technique to thwart incoming pass rushers. If he was able to get his hands on a defensive lineman, more often than not, the rep was over.
That's not to say Ioane (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) was perfect. He doesn't have the best lateral movement, which is perhaps why he didn't participate in the 3-cone drill or the 20-yard shuttle at the combine, or at Penn State's Pro Day. On the rare occasions Ioane did lose, it was usually because a defender beat him to the side. Indiana's Mikail Kamara, an edge defender expected to come off the board in the draft's middle rounds, recorded a pressure against Penn State in 2025 after using a spin move to get around Ioane.
Similar things can be said about Ioane's work as a run blocker. When he locked up with a defensive lineman, he didn't often cede ground. Would you like to see him be a better people-mover, rather than simply holding his position? Maybe. But he was able to push defenders around. Hiccups as a run blocker appeared when quick-twitch foes used their speed to beat him to the spot.
Ioane, who can move well in a straight line and was an adept puller in college, will have to continue working on his side-to-side mobility. But he was extremely reliable at Penn State, and there's little reason to believe he won't be a consistent, steady presence on the offensive line at the next level. After selecting Tate Ratledge last year (and after a strong rookie season from the Georgia product), the Lions could solidify their situation at guard for the foreseeable future by drafting Ioane to play on the left side.
If Ioane does end up in Detroit, it makes Penei Sewell's potential move to left tackle all the more beneficial. Sewell has helped elevate the play of those around him since entering the league in 2021, and you'd have to believe Ioane would benefit from working next to him, as well. With Ioane, the Lions would have four interior pieces they'd likely feel confident putting in the starting lineup, in Ioane, Ratledge, Christian Mahogany and Cade Mays.
▶Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk
▶Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano
▶Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy
▶ Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor
▶ Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor
[email protected]
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Vega Ioane could provide Detroit Lions with long-term answer at LG
Continue reading...
Continuing our series that began this month and will run until the 2026 NFL Draft begins April 23, The Detroit News will spotlight one prospect a day who could be a first-round fit for the Detroit Lions, who own the 17th overall pick. Assuming the Lions don't trade out, it'll be their highest selection since running back Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 12 in 2023.
Today's focus will be on Penn State offensive guard Vega Ioane.
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By the numbers
▶ 11 appearances in 2025
▶ Four pressures allowed (four hurries)
▶ 614 offensive snaps (311 pass blocking, 303 run blocking)
▶ One special teams snap (field goal block)
Career overview
Told by his parents to focus on his academics while at Graham-Kapowsin High School in Washington, Ioane went behind their backs and signed himself up for football. By his sophomore year, Ioane was a starter, and he went on to help the Eagles win a Class 4A state championship with an undefeated record as a senior in 2021. Ioane, rated by the 247Sports Composite as a three-star recruit and the No. 574 overall player in the Class of 2022, was initially committed to Washington but flipped to Penn State after former Huskies coach Jimmy Lake was fired.
Ioane redshirted at Penn State in 2022 before making 13 appearances, including five starts, in his second season. He became a full-time starter in 2024 and never looked back, becoming one of the nation's best interior blockers, especially in pass protection. The last time Ioane allowed a sack was against Maryland in November 2023, according to Pro Football Focus. He closed his collegiate career with 31 consecutive games without a sack attributed to him. Ioane allowed 23 pressures over that stretch, with only two of those being quarterback hits.
The Nittany Lions fell well short of expectations in 2025, but Ioane helped Penn State to the national semifinal in 2024. He played well in the postseason, allowing a combined four pressures over his three appearances in the College Football Playoff. Most of Ioane's time in college came at left guard (1,879 snaps), though he does have limited experience at right guard (314), center (17), left tackle (eight) and right tackle (seven). At the combine and later at Penn State's Pro Day, Ioane took some reps at center to show his versatility.
Analysis
Pass protection was Ioane's bread and butter at Penn State. Sure, interior linemen are more insulated than offensive tackles. But you don't limit opponents to four pressures on the season by accident. Of the 338 FBS guards and centers who pass blocked for at least 300 snaps last season, only five surrendered fewer pressures than Ioane. He was elite, leaning on his strength and technique to thwart incoming pass rushers. If he was able to get his hands on a defensive lineman, more often than not, the rep was over.
That's not to say Ioane (6-foot-4, 320 pounds) was perfect. He doesn't have the best lateral movement, which is perhaps why he didn't participate in the 3-cone drill or the 20-yard shuttle at the combine, or at Penn State's Pro Day. On the rare occasions Ioane did lose, it was usually because a defender beat him to the side. Indiana's Mikail Kamara, an edge defender expected to come off the board in the draft's middle rounds, recorded a pressure against Penn State in 2025 after using a spin move to get around Ioane.
Similar things can be said about Ioane's work as a run blocker. When he locked up with a defensive lineman, he didn't often cede ground. Would you like to see him be a better people-mover, rather than simply holding his position? Maybe. But he was able to push defenders around. Hiccups as a run blocker appeared when quick-twitch foes used their speed to beat him to the spot.
Ioane, who can move well in a straight line and was an adept puller in college, will have to continue working on his side-to-side mobility. But he was extremely reliable at Penn State, and there's little reason to believe he won't be a consistent, steady presence on the offensive line at the next level. After selecting Tate Ratledge last year (and after a strong rookie season from the Georgia product), the Lions could solidify their situation at guard for the foreseeable future by drafting Ioane to play on the left side.
If Ioane does end up in Detroit, it makes Penei Sewell's potential move to left tackle all the more beneficial. Sewell has helped elevate the play of those around him since entering the league in 2021, and you'd have to believe Ioane would benefit from working next to him, as well. With Ioane, the Lions would have four interior pieces they'd likely feel confident putting in the starting lineup, in Ioane, Ratledge, Christian Mahogany and Cade Mays.
Previous profiles
▶Auburn defensive lineman Keldric Faulk
▶Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano
▶Tennessee cornerback Jermod McCoy
▶ Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor
▶ Miami edge defender Akheem Mesidor
[email protected]
@rich_silva18
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Vega Ioane could provide Detroit Lions with long-term answer at LG
Continue reading...
