2. TRENT MCDUFFIE | Washington 5106 | 193 lbs. | JR. Westminster, Calif. (St. John Bosco) 9/13/2000 (age 21.63) #22 BACKGROUND: Trent McDuffie, who is the second-youngest of five children, was born and raised in Orange County, Calif. He started playing flag football at age 6 before starting tackle football the next year, playing mostly running back through Pop Warner and youth leagues. McDuffie started his prep career at Mater Dei High as a freshman before transferring to Servite High, a private Catholic school, for his sophomore and junior seasons. He moved to cornerback (a position he had never played before) in high school and registered 50 tackles, 12 passes defended, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a junior, adding four touchdown catches as a receiver and running back and one punt return touchdown on special teams. McDuffie transferred to his third school in four years when he moved to St. John Bosco High, another private Catholic school, for his senior season. He led the program to a 13-1 record and 2018 conference title with their only loss coming to Mater Dei in the championship game. McDuffie earned Second Team All-State honors with 37 tackles and three interceptions as a senior. He also lettered in track, setting personal bests of 10.82 in the 100 meters and 23’8 in the long jump and competed in the 4x100 relay team at state in 2018. A four-star recruit out of high school, he was the No. 12 cornerback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 19 recruit in the state of California. He received scholarships from most of the top programs around the country, including Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Notre Dame and Oregon. But McDuffie picked Washington over Stanford and USC because of the program’s track record of producing defensive backs. He wears No. 22 because that was the jersey number of his older brother (Tyler), who died when Trent was in eighth grade. His mother (Michelle) was a sprinter at UC Irvine. McDuffie decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Above-average athleticism and anticipation ... explosive in his click and close because of his balanced pedal and footwork at the top of routes ... quick and patient with his transitions and doesn’t panic, which allows him to stay attached to receivers ... covers with the confidence and mental process of an NFL veteran ... has a quick processor to handle double-play calls and make appropriate checks based on formation and situation ... fundamentally focused, and the Huskies scheme has him well-prepared for NFL life ... creates leverage in the run game with his pursuit angles and ability to shake blockers ... low, controlled tackler with plus competitive toughness ... energetic motor and makes tackles from the opposite side of where he started ... averaged 8.2 yards per punt return (9/74/0) ... highly coachable and mature with a process-oriented mindset. WEAKNESSES: Doesn’t have elite size or length and is near maxed out physically ... receivers can shield him from the catch point ... his lack of inches will show on comebacks or jump balls ... unimpressive ball production, including only two interceptions (none in 2021) ... gives up inside position too easily to route runners and needs to develop his jam technique (played a lot of press-bail) ... missed one game as a senior because of an injured left ankle (September 2021). SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Washington, McDuffie was an outside cornerback in former head coach Jimmy Lake’s defensive scheme. After earning a starting job as a true freshman, he quickly established himself as one of the top cover corners in the country, even though that wasn’t reflected in the stat sheet because offenses would often throw away from him. McDuffie is fluid in both man and zone coverages and rarely appears stressed athletically because of his feel for timing and spacing. While he is a top athlete, his mental skills might be even more impressive with eyes that are dialed in and the processing to sort through everything and communicate like an extra coach on the field. Overall, McDuffie might not hit ideal size thresholds for some, but he is an easy sell in draft rooms because he has outstanding athleticism, intelligence and is well-schooled in various techniques. He has a high ceiling and a high floor and should start as an NFL rookie. GRADE: 1st Round (No. 12 overall)
3. DEREK STINGLEY JR. | LSU 6002 | 190 lbs. | JR. Baton Rouge, La. (Dunham) 6/20/1999 (age 20.86) #7 BACKGROUND: Derek Stingley Jr., who is one of four children, was born and raised in Baton Rouge and started doing cornerback drills with his father at age 3. He played flag football at 5 and youth football throughout middle school. At 13, Stingley enrolled at The Dunham School, a private school in Baton Rouge, and saw varsity action in eighth grade at wide receiver and cornerback (recorded two interceptions). As a junior, he gave up only one reception for 11 yards and finished with 64 tackles and 11 interceptions to earn Class 2A All-State honors. As a senior, Stingley didn’t allow a reception and posted four interceptions (one returned for a touchdown), adding 24 receptions for 678 yards and 12 total touchdowns as a running back and wide receiver. He became the first player in school history to win Louisiana Mr. Football Award and was named a U.S. Army All-American and the 2018 Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year. Stingley finished his prep career with 27 interceptions and zero touchdown catches while returning 14 punts for touchdowns on special teams. The Dunham School retired his No. 24 jersey. Stingley also lettered in track with personal bests of 10.89 in the 100 meters and 45’10 in the shot put. A five-star recruit out of high school, Stingley was the No. 1 cornerback in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 3 recruit nationally (behind only Nolan Smith and Kayvon Thibodeaux). He received a scholarship offer from Les Miles when Stingley was only a freshman and he committed to the Tigers before his sophomore year. He decommitted and reopened his recruitment after LSU made a coaching change and strongly considered Florida and Texas. Before his senior year, Stingley committed to Ed Orgeron and LSU, graduating high school early and enrolling in January 2019. His father (Derek Sr.) was a defensive back at Purdue (1989), Kishwaukee Community College (1990) and Triton College (1991-92) before he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 26th round of the 1993 MLB Draft (No. 720 overall). Derek Sr. spent three years in the minor leagues before returning to football and spent the next 24 seasons in semi-pro and arena football leagues, 10 seasons as a player (1995-2004) and 14 seasons (2005-18) as a coach (currently an assistant coach at The Dunham School). His grandfather (Darryl) played wide receiver at Purdue and was a first-round pick (No. 19) in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots. In August 1978, Darryl became a quadriplegic when he broke two vertebrae and damaged his spinal cord after a head-on collision with Raiders safety Jack Tatum in a preseason NFL game. Derek Stingley Jr. elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Good-sized athlete with length to jam or work off contact ... sticky coverage thanks to his silky hip-flip and route transitions ... balanced feet allow for sudden stops and quick response time ... showed better cover technique as a freshman than some players currently in the NFL ... recovery athleticism and redirect skills are outstanding ... has the long speed to close the gap after receivers gain a step ... clean footwork in his drive skills to arrive with the ball in front of him ... impressive ball instincts with the body control and focus to disrupt without going through receivers (four pass-interference penalties in 25 starts) ... patient in press and comfortable in different coverages (played for three defensive coordinators in his three collegiate seasons) ... has NFL bloodlines (grandfather) and grew up around professional football with his father spending 24 seasons in semi-pro and arena leagues ... was LSU’s main punt returner in 2019 and 2020, averaging 11.3 yards per return (17/163/0) ... earned the No. 7 jersey as a junior, which is reserved for the LSU player who shows the best talent and leadership ... introverted by nature but has carried himself with a professional work ethic and attitude dating to high school ... had one of the best freshman seasons in SEC history and finished his career with 26 career passes defended in 25 starts. WEAKNESSES: Better in man-coverage than zone ... more smooth than explosive in his sink and drive ... tends to lose his balance when attempting to ride route runners ... occasionally late turning his head to find the football ... questionable toughness vs. the run ... will slide off tackle attempts and needs to be a more forceful finisher ... can do a better job rerouting receivers from press-man ... fumbled twice as a punt returner ... durability will be questioned after missing time the last two seasons due to injuries, including the final two games as a sophomore with a leg injury (December 2020) and the final nine games as a junior after surgery (the first surgery of his life) to repair a torn Lisfranc ligament in his left foot (October 2021) ... scouts say he doesn’t have an “alpha” personality. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at LSU, Stingley played both left and right cornerback for defensive coordinator Daronte Jones, his third coordinator in three seasons. Despite injuries hindering him during the last two seasons, he led the SEC in passes defended and interceptions in LSU’s national championship 2019 season, earning Consensus All-America honors as the first true freshman to start on the Tigers’ defense in 34 years. Stingley, who played primarily outside with some slot snaps worked in, is patient in press with the effortless hip fluidity to turn and run vertically or mirror underneath. Although NFL scouts have questioned his toughness in press coverage and as a tackler, he has outstanding on-ball production thanks to his timing and awareness in coverage (allowed only 41.1% completions during his three seasons at LSU). Overall, Stingley needs to stay on the field (missed more games the last two years than he played because of injuries), but he is a top-tier athlete with the man-coverage skills and ball instincts to stay attached on an island. He projects as a Pro Bowl-level NFL starter if he stays healthy. GRADE: 1st Round (No. 14 overall)
9. MARCUS JONES | Houston 5080 | 174 lbs. | rSR. Enterprise, Ala. (Enterprise) 10/22/1998 (age 23.52) #8 BACKGROUND: Marcus Jones, who has one brother, was born in Baton Rouge and moved around throughout his childhood while his father (Marc) served in the Army. At age 4, he started playing football while living in Dayton, Ohio. His family moved to Enterprise when he was 14 and he was a three-sport letterman at Enterprise High. Jones was a three-way player in football, making an impact as a receiver, returner and cornerback. As a junior, he finished with 50 tackles, 11 passes defended, three interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and a forced fumble. Jones earned First Team All-State honors as a senior and led Enterprise to an 11-2 record. He finished the 2016 season with 27 tackles and five interceptions on defense and a team-best 31 catches for 536 yards and 10 touchdowns on offense. Jones added three punt returns for touchdowns and one kickoff return for a touchdown. He was also an All-District basketball player before focusing solely on football after his junior season. In track, he set a school record of 22.35 in the 200-meters and personal bests of 11.01 in the 100 meters, 22’4.35 in the long jump and 144’11 in the javelin. A three-star recruit out of high school, Jones was the No. 204 cornerback in the 2017 recruiting class and the No. 66 recruit in the state of Alabama. He originally committed to Purdue, his lone offer from a Power 5 program, but decommitted midway through his senior year. Because of proximity, Jones committed to Troy over Purdue and Tulae. After two seasons at Troy, he entered the transfer portal and transferred to Houston, sitting out the 2019 season. Jones is also an aspiring rapper/composer (goes by the name “Elliott J”) and released his first studio album “Complications” in September 2021. He hopes to continue his music career while in the NFL. Jones skipped Houston’s 2021 bowl game and accepted his invitation to the 2022 Senior Bowl but was unable to play because of his shoulder injuries. STRENGTHS: Plays with play speed and muscle twitch ... seamlessly flips his hips to attach himself to receivers without sacrificing speed ... flashes a burst when undercutting routes ... has a wide receiver background with outstanding on-ball production, including 10 career interceptions ... always ball searching and skillfully plays through the hands of receivers ... leverages his side of the field as a run defender, not allowing runners to attack the perimeter ... physical play style and competes like a much bigger player ... ball carriers go backward when he strikes ... elite return skills with nine career special teams touchdowns (six kickoff returns, three punt returns), which is tied for the NCAA record ... averaged 28.8 yards per kickoff return (72/2,075/6) and 13.5 yards per punt return (65/875/3) during his career ... had a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown with 17 seconds left to give Houston a win against SMU (October 2021), which was just the second go-ahead return touchdown in the final 30 seconds of an FBS game in the last 15 years ... named the 2021 Paul Hornung Award winner as the most versatile player in college football. WEAKNESSES: Undersized with below-average height, length and build ... his lack of size shows downfield vs. springy, tall receivers who make plays over him ... only average deep speed and can be outpaced vertically ... needs to improve his timing when getting his head turned to locate the ball ... will get grabby while trying to recover (called for three pass-interference penalties in 2021) ... has outstanding return experience but didn’t play much on coverage teams ... might be restricted to slot duties in the NFL ... will turn 24 as an NFL rookie ... durability could be a factor because of his size ... played through labrum/shoulder injuries over the last three seasons and required surgery on his right shoulder (December 2021) and left shoulder (February 2022), which sidelined him for the NFL Draft process. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Houston, Jones was an inside and outside cornerback in defensive coordinator Doug Belk’s man-zone scheme. After two seasons at Troy, he transferred to Houston where he was among the FBS leaders in interceptions, punt return touchdowns and kick return touchdowns in 2021, becoming the first consensus All-American in Houston history since Ed Oliver (2018) and second since Andre Ware (1989). One of the most versatile players in college football, Jones scored a touchdown four ways in college (reception, interception, kick return, punt return) and tied the NCAA record with nine career kickoff/punt return touchdowns. He has the lower-body twitch to mirror, match and make easy transitions in coverage, finishing with noticeable closing burst. Overall, Jones is small on paper but big on tape with sticky cover athleticism, physical compete skills, and excellent on-ball production. He is a tailor-made slot cornerback in the NFL with playmaking ability as a return man. GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 70 overall)
1. KYLE HAMILTON | Notre Dame | 6041 | 220 lbs. | JR. | Atlanta, Ga. (Marist) | 3/16/2001 (age 21.12) BACKGROUND: Kyle Hamilton, who is the youngest of two boys, was born on the Greek island of Crete and spent time in Russia as an infant while his father played basketball overseas. His parents divorced when he was 3, and he grew up in the Atlanta area, where he started playing football at age 6. He grew up in a basketball family and starred on the AAU circuit throughout middle school, but was also a talented quarterback on the football field. In seventh grade, Hamilton enrolled at Marist School, a private Catholic school in the Atlanta suburb of Brookhaven (lived with his mother, Jackie, in Johns Creek). He played quarterback in eighth and ninth grade, but a broken right wrist as a freshman pushed him to defense. He was a three-year starting safety on varsity while also playing wide receiver on offense. As a senior, Hamilton led Marist to an 11-3 record and the state playoff semifinals, posting 38 catches for 804 yards and seven touchdowns on offense and 72 tackles and four interceptions on defense (also had two blocked kicks on special teams). He earned First Team All-Region honors and was a U.S. Army All-American. Hamilton also lettered in basketball in high school and was known for his defense. A four-star recruit out of high school, Hamilton was the No. 5 safety in the 2019 recruiting class (No. 60 recruit overall) and the No. 9 recruit in the state of Georgia. He started receiving scholarship offers as a sophomore and collected three dozen offers. Despite a late push from nearby Georgia, Hamilton committed to Notre Dame, partly because of its academics (scored 30 on his ACT). With his lanky frame, he considered quitting football as a freshman after Tulane offered him a basketball scholarship. His father (Derrek) was a third-round draft pick by the New Jersey Nets in the 1988 NBA Draft out of Southern Miss. Derrek would later train several NBA and NFL players in the Atlanta area. His mother (Jackie) was born in South Korea. Kyle’s older brother (Tyler) played basketball collegiately at Penn (2015- 19) and William & Mary (2019-20) and now works in marketing for Athletes First agency. Kyle is related to Antonio Lang, who won two NCAA basketball titles at Duke (1990-94) and is now an assistant coach with the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Hamilton, along with his three roommates, hosted the “Inside The Garage” podcast, which was picked up by Colin Cowherd’s podcast network. Hamilton elected to skip his final season of eligibility and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. He also opted out of Notre Dame’s 2021 bowl game. STRENGTHS: Lithe, loose athlete with tremendous length ... elite range from depth thanks to his long-striding speed ... displays an explosive trigger to key and chase down plays ... high football IQ and anticipates well ... quickly reads top-down and sorts through route combinations ... excellent balance as a tackler, and his finishing skills improved each season because of his ability to stay centered and controlled ... boasts a larger tackling radius than your average safety ... three-level blitzer with tactical attack angles ... ferocious hitter to dislodge the football at contact ... has that “my ball” mentality ... doesn’t let interception opportunities go to waste, averaging 10.0 yards per return with one pick-six (8/80/1) ... has the body type to easily carry 230 pounds ... highly versatile and comfortable playing middle-deep, split safety or in robber coverage ... team captain as a junior ... humble by nature and very mature for his age (NFL scout: “Everyone who knows him says he’s extremely ambitious but grounded ... the ego doesn’t match the talent with this kid.”) ... consistent accolades and production on his college résumé, including making plays on punt coverage as a gunner. WEAKNESSES: Needs to do a better job returning his eyes to the quarterback once he turns his back in coverage ... needs to improve his contact and body positioning in man coverage vs. tight ends and backs ... can be overly conservative at times as he works through all the moving parts in the backfield ... would like to see him take more chances ... doesn’t have the power to go through blockers as a blitzer and didn’t register a sack in college ... can be better setting the edge and more explosive getting off blocks ... tends to get grabby in coverage and needs to clean up the penalties (nine in his career), including four in 2021 (defensive pass interference, roughing the passer, unsportsmanlike conduct and personal foul) ... missed one game as a sophomore with a sprained left ankle (September 2020) and had postseason surgery (February 2021); missed the second half of the 2021 season due to a fat pad impingement in his right knee (October 2021). SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Notre Dame, Hamilton played field safety in former defensive coordinator (now head coach) Marcus Freeman’s scheme. He earned All-American status each of his three seasons in South Bend, leading the team in interceptions twice, including as a junior despite missing the second half of the season. Hamilton is a long, super-sized safety who has the explosive range, smarts and toughness to be deployed anywhere on the football field. He anticipates well vs. both the pass and the run and shows the ball skills and tackling balance to be a consistent finisher. Overall, Hamilton frustrates quarterbacks with all the ways he impacts the game and will need an NFL defensive scheme that understands how to maximize his versatile talent. A mash-up of Isaiah Simmons and Justin Simmons, he has the potential to be a diverse matchup weapon in the NFL due to his rare combination of physical traits and natural football instincts. GRADE: 1st Round (No. 6 overall)
1. KENNETH WALKER III | Michigan State | 5092 | 211 lbs. | JR. Arlington, Tenn. (Arlington) 10/20/2000 (age 21.52) BACKGROUND: Kenneth “Kenny” Walker III, who is one of seven children, was born and raised in Memphis and started playing sports at age 4. He played baseball, basketball and wrestled throughout his youth, but football was always his favorite activity, playing in pee-wee and middle school. Walker attended Arlington High (just outside of Memphis) and became the starting running back on varsity as a sophomore, posting 877 rushing yards and 11 total touchdowns. He had 175 carries for 1,205 yards and 17 touchdowns as a junior, adding 22 catches for 411 yards and six touchdowns. As a senior captain, Walker missed three games but still posted 1,403 rushing yads and 27 rushing touchdowns, leading Arlington to the 2018 6A state playoffs and earning All-State and All-Region honors. He finished his prep career with 493 carries for 3,485 yards (7.1 average) and 41 touchdowns, adding 64 catches for 1,058 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. A three-star recruit out of high school, Walker was the No. 143 running back in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 57 recruit in the state of Tennessee. He collected numerous FCS scholarship offers from programs like Illinois State, Indiana State and Mercer. But Walker wanted to play “big time” college ball and originally committed to Kent State before visiting and earning an offer from Wake Forest (his only Power 5 offer). After two seasons at Wake Forest as a backup (zero starts), Walker entered the transfer portal and committed to Michigan State for the 2021 season. After earning All-America honors and the Doak Walker Award as college football’s top running, he elected to skip his final season of eligibility and the 2021 bowl game to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Rocked-up build, and grew up in the weight room ... explosive lateral agility to juke defenders or shift between lanes ... able to plant and go in a blink to sharply redirect his path and leave pursuit off-balance ... has the long speed to out-pace pursuit ... shows a natural feel for spacing and how to make defenders miss (Walker: “After I get the hand-off, I just let my instincts take over.”) ... presses the line before bursting through the hole or making sharp 90-degree turns and accelerating outside ... NFL-level vision and gather skills to hit holes at their infancy ... physical runner to stay on his feet at contact and escape tackle attempts ... effective in the screen game (zero drops on 16 targets in 2021) ... dependable ball security, with only two career fumbles (only one in 2021 as a full-time starter) ... driven individual and gives 100% effort on and off the field ... workhorse for the Spartans in 2021 ... outstanding production in his one season at Michigan State, finishing second in the FBS in rushing yards (1,636) ... led the FBS in yards after contact (1,168) and finished second in runs 10-plus yards (46) in 2021. WEAKNESSES: Runs high and tight and needs to improve his pad level ... his long strides hinder his fluidity and ability to work tight spaces ... low batting average as a pass blocker, and his technique needs rebuilt from the ground up ... guilty of half-hearted cuts or shoulder chips ... only 19 career catches and untested as a route runner ... inconsistent finishing skills when targeted away from his body ... stayed durable in college, but prior to his senior year of high school, blood clots were found in his lungs, and he was originally told that his football days were done; he took blood thinners (one shot twice a day for three months) and was finally cleared, missing only three games as a senior in 2018. SUMMARY: A one-year starter at Michigan State, Walker was the featured weapon in offensive coordinator Jay Johnson’s multiple run scheme. After two seasons at Wake Forest, he transferred to East Lansing and had a prolific 2021 campaign with 136.3 rushing yards per game and 18 rushing touchdowns, finishing sixth in the voting for the Heisman Trophy (highest finish by a MSU player since 1988). With his vision and contact balance, Walker generates impressive burst off his plant foot to dart away from trouble and break tackles (led the FBS with 89 forced missed tackles in 2021). Once he clears the first wave, he can hit an extra gear to reach the corner or fend off chasing defenders. Overall, Walker must improve as a pass catcher and pass protector, but his instinctive ability to press the line, set up his cuts and create yardage will translate to the pro game, similar to former Pro Bowler Garrison Hearst. He projects as an immediate NFL starter. GRADE: 1st-2nd Round (No. 35 overall)
2. BREECE HALL | Iowa State 5112 | 217 lbs. | JR. Wichita, Kan. (Northwest) 5/31/2001 (age 20.91) #28 BACKGROUND: Breece Hall, who has an older sister, grew up in Omaha with his mother (LaRhonda McDaniel) before the family moved to Wichita in 2010. He focused on basketball and football growing up and played both at Northwest High School. After spending most of his sophomore year on the JV team, Hall had a breakout junior season with 2,082 rushing yards (10.3 yards per carry) and 32 touchdowns, adding 12 catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns. As a senior, he earned First Team All-State and All-Metro honors for the second consecutive year, helping the program to a 12-1 record and runner-up finish in Class 5A. Hall finished his senior season with 2,127 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns and 20 catches for 588 yards and eight touchdowns in 2018. He finished his prep career with 4,516 rushing yards. Hall also lettered in basketball at Northwest. A four-star recruit out of high school, Hall was the No. 22 running back in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 2 recruit in the state of Kansas (QB Graham Mertz was No. 1). With little varsity action until his junior year, he went widely overlooked as a recruit until Iowa State found his tape and offered him midway through his junior year. The secret was out as offers from Kansas State, Michigan, Ole Miss and others soon followed. But Hall embraced the culture fit and relationship with the Cyclones’ coaching staff, choosing Iowa State over Nebraska (and enrolled early). His stepfather (Jeff Smith) was a running back at Nebraska and was drafted in the 10th round of the 1985 NFL Draft, playing four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Hall wears No. 28 because of Smith). His cousin (Roger Craig) played 11 seasons in the NFL (1983-93) and won three Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers. His cousin (Hunter Sallis) was a five-star guard in the 2021 basketball recruiting class and signed with Gonzaga. Hall elected to skip his final season and the 2021 bowl game to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Well-distributed body mass built to handle the load ... skilled at forcing missed tackles with his lateral agility and vision ... able to slam on the brakes and smoothly redirect his cuts ... his blocking scheme patience usually pays off for him, allowing the point of entry to develop ... impressive play strength through congestion ... drops his pads and finishes with contact balance, not making it easy on tacklers ... smooth body control as a pass catcher to adjust and pull in erratic throws ... gutsy in pass protection with the poise and power to get better ... low fumble rate, putting the ball on the ground once every 200 offensive touches in college ... already carries himself like a pro and competes with an overachieving mindset (head coach Matt Campbell: “He has always been ready for the moment.”) ... finished his career with 11 school records, including scoring (338), total touchdowns (56) and rushing touchdowns (50). WEAKNESSES: His impressive stopwatch speed doesn’t always show on tape ... average suddenness and doesn’t have multiple gears under the hood ... inconsistent pressing the line of scrimmage ... he is more of a screen target than proven route runner, and needs further development with his route tempo/depth ... he will cut or chest up blockers in pass protection and needs to develop his hand use ... his competitive urgency is much more impressive as a runner than blocker. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Iowa State, Hall was entrenched as the starter since his freshman year in offensive coordinator Tom Manning’s zone scheme. Overlooked as a high school recruit, Hall quickly established himself as one of college football’s top ball carriers (finished top-10 in the Heisman voting as a sophomore and junior), setting an FBS record with a rushing touchdown in 24 consecutive games. Hall, who is Iowa State’s all-time leading scorer, has a strong understanding of his strengths as a player and is a disciplined athlete by nature. He posted outstanding testing numbers, but there are times on tape you wish he showed more of an escape gear. Overall, Hall has room to improve as a blocker and pass catcher and he doesn’t consistently play up to his testing numbers, but he runs with outstanding patience, vision and athletic footwork to be a starting-caliber back in the NFL. He projects best in a zone-based scheme (inside or outside). GRADE: 2nd Round (No. 41 overall)
3. ISAIAH SPILLER | Texas A&M 6003 | 217 lbs. | JR. Spring, Texas (Klein Collins) 8/9/2001 (age 20.72) #28 BACKGROUND: Isaiah Spiller, who is the oldest of three children, grew up in College Station while his father finished his degree at Texas A&M. He started playing youth football at age 8 and later attended Klein Collins High in Spring, a northern suburb of Houston. After rushing for 545 yards as a sophomore, Spiller posted 198 carries for 1,285 yards and 23 touchdowns as a junior, adding 15 catches for 313 yards and four touchdowns receiving. He had his best season as a senior with 1,493 rushing yards and 20 touchdowns, earning First Team All-Region and District MVP honors for the second consecutive season. Spiller finished his prep career with 3,587 scrimmage yards and 53 total touchdowns. He also lettered in track and was part of the 4x100 and 4x200 relays and set career bests of 11.25 in the 100 meters and 22.32 in the 200 meters. A four-star recruit out of high school, Spiller was the No. 9 running back in the 2019 recruiting class and the No. 23 recruit in the state of Texas (top running back in the state). He collected offers from Michigan, Penn State and others before committing to Oklahoma (his childhood idol was Adrian Peterson). However, he de- committed and flipped to Texas A&M after Jimbo Fisher was hired as head coach. His father (Fred) was a tight end at Texas A&M (1999-2001) before a herniated disc forced him to medically retire around the same time Isaiah was born. Spiller elected to skip his final season and the 2021 bowl game to enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Instinctive runner with patient, controlled feet to shake defenders ... creates his own yardage with his vision and decision-making ... sticks his foot in the ground and gets north-south with timing ... aggressive, determined finisher through holes and into contact ... solidly-built and stays square to absorb hits ... above- average pass-catcher, especially on angle and wheel routes ... catches outside his frame and regularly makes difficult grabs (zero drops in 2021) ... willing blocker with the play strength to get the job done ... described as “smart” and “coachable” by the A&M coaching staff ... durable and didn’t miss a game over the past three seasons ... consistently productive, finishing his career ranked seventh in school history in rushing yards (2,993) and 19th in scrimmage yards (3,578). WEAKNESSES: Taller runner who needs to run with better pad level and forward lean ... plays quick and controlled, but his open-field moves aren’t dynamic ... missing a fifth-gear to be true home-run threat ... his pass protection tends to be hit-or-miss ... he is an eager blocker but needs to improve his patience and angles ... ball security isn’t a glaring concern with only one fumble in 2021, but fumbled six times in his career ... accounted for only 42.8% of the team’s carries in 2021 and the rotation helped keep him fresh ... minimal special teams experience. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Texas A&M, Spiller broke into the starting lineup as a freshman and has been reliable as the featured back in head coach Jimbo Fisher’s zone-based scheme. Leading the Aggies in rushing three consecutive years, he posted similar production each season with his yards per carry average going from 5.4 to 5.5 to 5.6. Spiller is a good-sized back with the controlled feet, processing speed and tempo to pick through the defense, forcing missed tackles with his instincts and contact balance. He is an average athlete and his pass protection must continue to improve, but his ability as a pass catcher alone should keep him playing on Sundays for a long time. Overall, Spiller needs to be more consistent with his pad level and blocking, but he has outstanding footwork, patience and vision and ties it all together to maximize each carry. He has all the tools to develop into a three-down NFL starter. GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
4. TYLER ALLGEIER | BYU 5106 | 224 lbs. | rJR. Fontana, Calif. (Kaiser) 4/15/2000 (age 22.04) #25 BACKGROUND: Tyler Allgeier (Al-jeer), who has a younger sister, grew up in Fontana (50 miles east of Los Angles) with his mother (Ester) in the same house where she was raised (along with his grandparents and uncle). He started playing organized sports at age 3 and signed up for tackle football at age 7. His first love was soccer, but he decided to focus on football when he enrolled at Kaiser High. A two-way player, Allgeier was a three-year varsity starter at both running back and linebacker, rushing for 981 yards as a sophomore backup in 2015. As a junior, he became the starter and rushed for 1,635 yards (7.0 average) and 17 touchdowns with 29 receptions and 48 total tackles. Allgeier had his best season as a senior with a school-record 2,470 rushing yards (10.7 average) and 29 touchdowns to earn All-State honors. He added 37 tackles, 3.0 sacks and an interception on defense in 2017. Allgeier finished his prep career as the school’s all-time leading rusher with 5,086 rushing yards and 56 rushing touchdowns. He also ran track and had personal bests of 11.14 in the 100 meters, 23.04 in the 200 meters, 42’5 in the shot put and 5’8 in the high jump. A two-star recruit out of high school, Allgeier was the No. 228 running back in the 2018 recruiting class and the No. 372 recruit in the state of California. Despite his productive high school career, he went largely overlooked as a recruit with only Division II Southern Nazarene (Okla.) offering a partial scholarship. BYU offered him a preferred walk-on spot, and he fell in love with the program. Allgeier worked at Walmart as a freshman to help pay his tuition, which was nearly double compared to what most students pay since he is Catholic and not a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After two seasons in the program, he was put on full scholarship in January 2020. Allgeier elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2022 NFL Draft. STRENGTHS: Big-boned frame with a solid build ... runs with athletic steps/moves, and his eyes and feet are tied together with strings ... quick to read his blocks, press the hole and make timely cuts ... patient but decisive runner with minimal wasted motion (and won’t run up the back of his blockers) ... has the contact balance and heavy pads to squeeze through slivers of daylight between the tackles ... picks up steam once he gets going with better-than-expected second-level speed ... 33.8% of his carries in 2021 resulted in a first down or touchdown ... reliable screen/check-down option with excellent focus and body control as a pass catcher ... effective lead blocker on quarterback runs and stayed alert in pass protection to locate and put his shoulder in the blitzer’s belly ... humble by nature and earned his success by out- working everyone with his “nothing is given” attitude ... didn’t complain when the coaches moved him to linebacker for most of the 2019 season (26 tackles) ... durable and handled a full workload in 2021 while avoiding injury ... highly productive 2021 season and finished tied for No. 1 nationally in rushing touchdowns (23) and was one of only four players to reach 1,600 rushing yards to set a BYU single-season record ... needed only two seasons to rank top-five in school history in several career categories, including rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. WEAKNESSES: Not a burst runner, with only average perimeter speed ... his ordinary wiggle is a result of his tight hips and inconsistent pad level ... his broken tackles are usually because of force rather than avoiding defenders ... runs physical but would benefit from exploding into contact more ... can get caught leaning in pass protection, giving rushers a chance to make a move ... fumbled six times in college, including four times in 2021 ... found himself contained against the top two run- defending teams on the 2021 schedule, averaging just 3.2 yards per carry (42/135/1) vs. Baylor and Utah ... only one season (2019) of special teams experience. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at BYU, Allgeier grew into a bell-cow role in first-year offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick’s balanced attack. Over the past two seasons (24 games), he averaged 113.8 rushing yards and 1.5 rushing touchdowns per game (best in the nation over that span) and finished his career with a 6.4 yards-per-carry average (BYU record). A decisive ball carrier, Allgeier shows a lot of the ancillary traits necessary to be productive at the next level and competes with the attitude and determination of a former walk-on (see his chase-down forced fumble on 2021 Arizona State tape). Although he isn’t overly elusive, he runs through arm tackles with his body strength and contact balance (70.9% of his yardage in 2021 came after initial contact). Overall, Allgeier isn’t an explosive runner, but he runs with an instinctive feel and quick feet for a bigger ball carrier and shows the passing game potential to be an every-down NFL back. He reminds me of Arizona Cardinals RB James Conner. GRADE: 3rd-4th Round
TOP 100 DRAFT BOARD 1. AIDAN HUTCHINSON EDGE1 Michigan 2. IKEM EKWONU OT1 NC State 3. EVAN NEAL OT2 Alabama 4. TRAVON WALKER EDGE2 Georgia 5. AHMAD GARDNER CB1 Cincinnati 6. KYLE HAMILTON SAF1 Notre Dame 7. CHARLES CROSS OT3 Mississippi State 8. KAYVON THIBODEAUX EDGE3 Oregon 9. DEVIN LLOYD LB1 Utah 10. GARRETT WILSON WR1 Ohio State 11. JERMAINE JOHNSON EDGE4 Florida State 12. TRENT MCDUFFIE CB2 Washington 13. JAMESON WILLIAMS WR2 Alabama 14. DEREK STINGLEY JR. CB3 LSU 15. DRAKE LONDON WR3 USC 16. TREVOR PENNING OT4 Northern Iowa 17. CHRIS OLAVE WR4 Ohio State 18. GEORGE KARLAFTIS EDGE5 Purdue 19. TYLER LINDERBAUM OC1 Iowa 20. DAX HILL SAF2 Michigan 21. TREYLON BURKS WR5 Arkansas 22. ZION JOHNSON OG1 Boston College 23. DEVONTE WYATT DT1 Georgia 24. JORDAN DAVIS DT2 Georgia 25. JAHAN DOTSON WR6 Penn State 26. ANDREW BOOTH JR. CB4 Clemson 27. KENYON GREEN OG2 Texas A&M 28. ARNOLD EBIKETIE EDGE6 Penn State 29. NAKOBE DEAN LB2 Georgia 30. KENNY PICKETT QB1 Pittsburgh 31. QUAY WALKER LB3 Georgia 32. MALIK WILLIS QB2 Liberty 33. LEWIS CINE SAF3 Georgia 34. TRAVIS JONES DT3 Connecticut 35. KENNETH WALKER III RB1 Michigan State 36. BERNHARD RAIMANN OT5 Central Michigan 37. LOGAN HALL EDGE7 Houston 38. JALEN PITRE SAF4 Baylor 39. SKYY MOORE WR7 Western Michigan 40. DESMOND RIDDER QB3 Cincinnati 41. BREECE HALL RB2 Iowa State 42. JAQUAN BRISKER SAF5 Penn State 43. DAVID OJABO EDGE8 Michigan 44. CHAD MUMA LB4 Wyoming 45. KAIIR ELAM CB5 Florida 46. CHRISTIAN HARRIS LB5 Alabama 47. GEORGE PICKENS WR8 Georgia 48. BOYE MAFE EDGE9 Minnesota 49. CAM JURGENS OC2 Nebraska 50. TYLER SMITH OT6 Tulsa 51. KYLER GORDON CB6 Washington 52. DARIAN KINNARD OG3 Kentucky 53. PERRION WINFREY DT4 Oklahoma 54. JAMAREE SALYER OG4 Georgia 55. ROGER MCCREARY CB7 Auburn 56. MATT CORRAL QB4 Ole Miss 57. CAM TAYLOR-BRITT CB8 Nebraska 58. LEO CHENAL LB6 Wisconsin 59. JALEN TOLBERT WR9 South Alabama 60. SAM HOWELL QB5 North Carolina 61. CHRISTIAN WATSON WR10 North Dakota State 62. TREY MCBRIDE TE1 Colorado State 63. DRAKE JACKSON EDGE10 USC 64. TROY ANDERSEN LB7 Montana State 65. NIK BONITTO EDGE11 Oklahoma 66. DANIEL FAALELE OT7 Minnesota 67. DEMARVIN LEAL DT5 Texas A&M 68. PHIDARIAN MATHIS DT6 Alabama 69. KINGSLEY ENAGBARE EDGE12 South Carolina 70. MARCUS JONES CB9 Houston 71. JOHN METCHIE III WR11 Alabama 72. DYLAN PARHAM OC3 Memphis 73. COLE STRANGE OC4 Chattanooga 74. CHANNING TINDALL LB8 Georgia 75. LUKE FORTNER OC5 Kentucky 76. LUKE GOEDEKE OG5 Central Michigan 77. BRYAN COOK SAF6 Cincinnati 78. DOMINQUE ROBINSON EDGE13 Miami (Ohio) 79. ABRAHAM LUCAS OT8 Washington State 80. GREG DULCICH TE2 UCLA 81. TARIQ WOOLEN CB10 UTSA 82. DEANGELO MALONE EDGE14 Western Kentucky 83. JOSH PASCHAL EDGE15 Kentucky 84. NICK CROSS SAF7 Maryland 85. JEREMY RUCKERT TE3 Ohio State 86. BRIAN ASAMOAH LB9 Oklahoma 87. COBY BRYANT CB11 Cincinnati 88. CAMERON THOMAS EDGE16 San Diego State 89. ALEC PIERCE WR12 Cincinnati 90. MARQUIS HAYES OG6 Oklahoma 91. SAM WILLIAMS EDGE17 Ole Miss 92. CADE OTTON TE4 Washington 93. JOSHUA WILLIAMS CB12 Fayetteville State 94. SEAN RHYAN OG7 UCLA 95. DAVID BELL WR18 Purdue 96. DAMARRI MATHIS CB13 Pittsburgh 97. ALEX WRIGHT EDGE18 UAB 98. JELANI WOODS TE5 Virginia 99. NICHOLAS PETIT-FRERE OT9 Ohio State 100. MYJAI SANDERS EDGE19 Cincinnati
I don’t see us drafting Hamilton because ironically enough the last few years the Texans have preached versatility. But in Lovies defense I don’t see Hamilton being used to his full talents and I don’t see Lovie moving Hamilton around as a defensive chess piece in his defense. I believe sauce will be the pick at 3 either him or Ickey
I'd be happy with either Ickey or Sauce at 3. Ickey starting at LG may be the kind of nasty dude that will help Tunsil want to put forth a little more effort in his run blocking. He could then replace Tunsil in a few years or move to RT. Sauce has a lot of talent as a CB1, but doesn't appear to be the kind of tackler that Lovie likes at CB. Will be interesting if we decide to go that route. I'm also not opposed to moving down, but staying in the Top 10.
I think we are bit unlucky that this is a poor qb draft. It would be great to move down and pick up some serious draft capital, just don’t see the demand to move up being sufficient to get a good return. I would either draft the best available OT or Sauce. The 13th pick may be more tradeable, but if we stick with it and Stingley or Hamilton is available that would be the pick for me.
Yeah, all of the Top Teams wish there were some true #1 QBs available, but hey every year is different. With that said, I do think there are some players that teams may be interested in trading up for, that could factor in both #3 and #13. If we stay at #3 we need someone that can be a cornerstone for our rebuild. I don't want someone that has issues, but someone that is going to come in and be a difference maker. Both Ickey and Neal look to fit that criteria. Sauce is potentially that kind of player as well. There is a chance 1-2 of the QBs get hotter and teams look to move up. This would be ideal for us, whether we,re involved in a trade or someone falls to one of our picks.
We all feel the sadness by the untimely death of Dwayne Haskins. He was so young with many years ahead of him. How will this tragedy affect the upcoming draft for Pittsburg and the draft for the Texans?
Wasn't he their 3rd string QB after Turbisky and Rudolph? And, he played no games last year. While it is certainly a tragedy that he was killed, I don't think he was in the Steelers QB mix this upcoming season.
If Stingley drops, conventional wisdom is he won't get past the Vikings at 12 (they'd pair him with Peterson as a built-in LSU mentor).
