According to The Huddle Report, Brendan Donahue is ranked as the most accurate NFL mock drafter over the past five years and in this column he brings his extensive college football predictive insight to you weekly.
As someone who does mock drafts every year, I always have my eye on draft-eligible players and how their performance on the field could positively or negatively impact their draft stock in the upcoming draft. So we will be tracking players on a weekly basis throughout the season to see who is rising or falling on draft boards.
What college players are rising on the draft board for 2022?
Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
Listed at 6’3”, 225 lbs, Burks is another unique physical talent like Drake London, who we highlighted last week. Against a formidable defense in Texas A&M, Burks had six catches for 167 yards that included an 85-yard touchdown catch that highlighted his speed to go along with his size. Burks had more than half of the total receiving yards for the team and could have had more if not for some inconsistent quarterback play. Burks may not have the same on-field production as some of the other first-round wide receivers in next year’s draft but he is expected to wow at the combine and will be in the discussion for the first wide receiver taken.
Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
Lloyd almost entered the draft last year but decided to come back this season and so far it looks like a wise decision as Lloyd has been one of the most impressive linebackers in the country this year. Through the first four games, Lloyd is the second-rated linebacker in the country out of 528 with a grade of 88.9 per PFF. Lloyd showed off his three-down ability on Saturday with eight tackles, a sack, and an interception in a 24-13 win versus Washington State.
Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio St.
After an impressive two seasons at right tackle for Ohio State where he didn’t allow a sack, Petit-Frere was given the left tackle spot this year ahead of another top-100 prospect in Thayer Munford. Munford was kicked inside to guard so Petit-Frere could take over at left tackle and even after the move, Petit-Frere still has yet to allow a sack in his college career on 490 pass block attempts. The top-rated offensive tackle coming out of high school in 2018, Petit-Frere will be a sought-after commodity in the upcoming draft, especially with his versatility to play both tackle spots.
What college players are falling on the draft board for 2022?
Jalen Wydermyer, TE, Texas A&M
Wydermyer so far has not had the junior year most scouts had expected from the top tight end prospect in the country. On the season Wydermyer only has 13 catches for 159 yards and no touchdowns. In the top 25 showdown Saturday versus Arkansas, Wydermyer had just one catch for 18 yards in a 20-10 loss and earned just a 45.3 grade from PFF. On the season, PFF has him ranked as the 228th tight end out of 279 with a grade of 49.7. While some of the lack of production can be attributed to their starting quarterback Haynes King getting injured, Wydermyer still needs to improve his overall play if he wants to be drafted in the first round of the 2022 draft.