Wilfried Pene is applying for the 2025 NFL Draft.
The French defensive tackle finished his university studies with a successful season with the Virginia Tech Hoskies. He has until February 7 to maintain or withdraw his candidacy.
After 4 university seasons where he played 47 games, he will begin a long process with the chance to perhaps be drafted. In 2024, in 13 games played as a starter, Pene recorded 33 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 1 pass defensed. This is his best season of his university career statistically.
He notably recorded a final sack during his last college game against Minnesota during the Mayo Bowl.
Wilfried Pene to succeed Richard Tardits
In the United States for many years, Wilfried Pene first played in Connecticut in high school, before committing to Virginia Tech at the university level.
The defensive tackle from Tours is already 23 years old, and will have to convince several NFL teams to select him. His potential is therefore limited, but perhaps an NFL team will recruit him without drafting him. Thus, the team fulfills the obligations to constitute the training teams (practice squad).
We therefore hope to see him succeed Richard Tardits, the only Frenchman to be drafted, and to be the next player drafted from French soil.
His interview by TouchdownActu can be found here
