A first-team All-American guard out of Penn State who Baltimore's GM called his favorite player in the entire 2026 draft.
Vega Ioane arrives in Baltimore as the highest-drafted interior offensive lineman in franchise history, taken 14th overall in the 2026 NFL draft. The Penn State product allowed zero sacks as a college left guard in 2025 and now moves to the right side of Baltimore's line as a rookie starter candidate.
Path to the league
Ioane grew up in American Samoa and did not start playing football until enrolling at Graham-Kapowsin High School in Washington state, where he quickly became a varsity starter and helped his team to a 15-0 season and state championship as a senior. He originally committed to Washington before flipping to Penn State, where he played guard from 2022 through 2025. The Ravens selected him 14th overall in the first round of the 2026 NFL draft.
Career highlights
Ioane progressed steadily at Penn State, earning honorable mention All-Big Ten in 2023, second-team All-Big Ten in 2024 as a full-time starter, and first-team All-American and first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2025. He was considered the top pure guard prospect in the 2026 draft class, with scouts drawing comparisons to perennial Pro Bowler Quenton Nelson.
2025 season recap
In his final college season, Ioane was dominant at left guard for Penn State, allowing zero sacks while earning first-team All-American recognition. That performance made him one of the safest picks in the 2026 draft, and Baltimore used the 14th overall selection on him before shifting him to right guard for his rookie NFL season.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Olaivavega Ioane
- Baltimore Beatdown: Why the Ravens drafted Penn State guard Olaivavega Ioane
- ESPN: Olaivavega Ioane
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Guard
- Group
- offense
- College
- Penn State
- Hometown
- Graham, WA, USA
- Age
- 22
- Status
- active
