ET. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Odds & lines subject to change. https://spartanswire.usatoday.com/lists/nfl-draft-projections-for-michigan-state-football-players-kenneth-walker-iii-connor-heyward-and-jalen-nailor/, to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. He easily gets separation in the short and intermediate fields and possesses enough pass-catching skills to make a roster as a fifth receiver. Vs Rutgers, at the bottom he will sell like hes going to block before releasing up field for the easy score. Michigan State. 2 receiver in 2022, finishing with 37 catches for 695. Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jalen Nailor runs an official 4.50-second 40-yard dash at the 2022 NFL Scouting Combine. He totaled 108 receptions for 1,995 yards and 28 touchdown catches for Bishop Gorman. ET start time) Friday: Defensive backs and special teams (3 p.m. 191 overall pick [via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens]. ), along with eight punt returns for 48 yards (6.0 ypr) and eight kick returns for 163 yards, for 1,720 career all-purpose yards (63.7 ypg). Story continues. Jalen Nailor. Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins throws a 47-yard touchdown completion to wide receiver Jalen Nailor. Kenneth Walker NFL draft projections Almost every mock draft with second-round projections has Walker going in the second round to either the Arizona Cardinals or Buffalo Bills. Draft lists out there for the most part have him listed at a late day three player. Theres room for Nailor to sink his hips better and quicken his releases. Vs Michigan, at the bottom he doesnt get the ball here but its a really nice route. He did well to sell blocks and then good timing to release on screens and play action plays and get behind defenders. And down the field, he can seep into blind spots, and he tracks the ball in the air exceptionally well. Hurd did not make the team. Some cosmetic factors work against the Michigan State WR, but there are tools to mold. Pro Football Network strives to passionately deliver purposeful, captivating, and exceptional football content. Vs Pittsburgh, at the top he easily wins the route and yes the ball is underthrown but he had both hands on it. Jalen 'Speedy' Nailor was a part of a one-two punch for the Michigan State offense this year, building a dynamic duo with Jayden Reed at the wide receiver position, giving Payton Thorne reliable targets to throw the ball to, and taking some stress off of star running back Kenneth Walker. No one has the most comprehensive and accurate rankings when it comes to fantasy football than the NFL Draft Bible. From now until the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. Vs Pittsburgh, from the bottom on a post route he makes a nice adjustment to make the one handed catch on a ball behind him. The Michigan State WR also struggles to work through contact at the catch point and can struggle with drops. Published: May. At Rutgers, at the bottom of the screen Nailor (8) uses quickness and a hand swipe with the inside hand to beat press and then he makes a nifty over the shoulder catch and creates after the catch. An early look at Michigan State's 2023 NFL draft prospects. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker, Jalen Nailor, Connor Heyward projections, 2022 NFL Draft: Kenneth Walker, Jalen Nailor, Connor Heyward projections. A savvy, natural pass-catcher with reliable hands and very good focus. Consistently catches the ball with his hands. Nailors deep speed demands help and often opens things up for other receivers underneath, as well as for the run game. Jalen Nailor with No. Had some struggles in contested catches Whats great about Nailors style, however, is that he has immense route-running potential, and that lends him space to avoid contested situations. As a replacement for Ronald Jones II, he would be an upgrade. Nailor was a bright spot in a Michigan State aerial attack that leaned on their running game due to their underwhelming quarterback play. Pro Football Network No. With the 191st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the Minnesota Vikings have selected Jalen Nailor, the wide receiver from Michigan State University Nailor has had his share of injury issues. Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Jalen Nailor has announced via Twitter that he is declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft. Notable prospects: RB Kenneth Walker III; WR Jalen Nailor; Walker stood on his combine performance. A player that Brian Gutekunst could potentially target on day three is Jalen Nailor. Team: San Francisco 49ers. He knows where the sideline is and keeps his feet in good position when on the boundaries. 4. He displayed the ability to adjust to the ball well and can make the catch on less accurate throw. Jalen Nailor NFL Draft Profile Position: Wide Receiver School: Michigan State Current Year: Redshirt Junior Height: 6'0 Weight: 190 pounds Jalen Nailor Scouting Report With a nickname like "Speedy Nailor," you'd expect speed to be a vital part of Nailor's game. Nailor's biggest stats in one game occurred on Oct. 11, 2021, when he totaled a career-best 221 yards and tied a school record he had already matched with three scores . Nailor played high school football at the vaunted Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Only Colors, a Michigan State Spartans community, Michigan State wide receiver Jalen Nailor announces he is declaring for 2022 NFL Draft, BBDs 3pt Shot: AJ Hoggard Assists a Big Win for MSU over Nebraska. Uses his frame to shield away opponents. While he has stellar route-running upside with his burst, twitch, and hip sink, he can still expand his release package and route tree. He missed a significant portion of 2021 with a hand injury he suffered in the victory over Michigan. While his linear speed is his greatest asset, he has some shiftiness and agility with the ball in his hands. For better and for worse, Nailor is a long strider who can eat up ground but lacks bend and hip flexibility. Jalen Carter 2023 NFL Draft profile, scouting report Kyle Stackpole 2 min read He can stack defensive backs and get into space, and he can also take short passes and blast through congestion. Here are five things to know about Nailor: The hosting of this year's draft by Las Vegas brought things full-circle for Nailor, who was there for the weekend of the draft. He ranked second in the Big Ten by averaging 18.8 yards per catch and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors from media in 2021. After the catch he can make big plays. Nailor was the third consecutive player drafted by Minnesota from a Big Ten school, joining former Gophers defensive lineman Esezi Otomewo and Illini tackle Vederian Lowe. With Nailors ability to stretch the field vertically, the Rams could have him on their radar if they are interested in adding a wideout in the draft. He also offers solid run-blocking ability and some return experience. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports. Doesn't have the size to consistently win on the outside, but can be productive working the middle of the field and as a return man. Something was drawing me to him and Im glad I finally took a look. (37%*), 30 1/4 named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media, Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors that week, GAME THREAD: Michigan State at Nebraska - Mens Basketball, How to Watch Michigan State at Nebraska - TV, Quick Facts and Prediction, Game Preview: MSU Looks for Plains State Redemption in Nebraska, BBDs 3pt Shot: Epic Collapse Overshadows MSU Finding its Dude and Rotation - What it All Means. With the nickname "Speedy," Nailor has been a big piece for Michigan State's threatening offense in 2021. This demands some extra cushion for corners who cant match the speed, which Nailor will punish with a good ability to plant his feet and turn on curl routes. Nailor attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he was a part of three state championship and two national championship teams. Share scouting report on Twitter or Facebook, 9 1/8 The Michigan State WR sometimes cups the ball instead of clasping it. Snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy. Los Angeles Chargers: Ohio State WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But now 23 years old, Nailor didnt have much more time to wait. Nailor adds some value in the run game, where he is always in a good position (despite not being the most physical player), as well as with the ball in his hand on end-arounds. When he was able to suit up for the Spartans last season, the team went 9-0 thanks to career highs of 37 receptions, 695 yards and six touchdowns. But the 21-year-old . Injuries have cost him parts of three seasons and will be a concern. Room to improve on the intermediate level route running While he needs more consistency as a catcher, he has shown he can extend and snare the ball at the catch point. The ball can easily be jarred loose through the catch process, and in tight spaces, Nailor loses track of the ball and struggles to secure. Nailor got playing time in . Going further, Nailors catching inconsistency is exacerbated by contact. Hes assignment-sound and isnt afraid to square up and be physical. He also drew interest from Big Ten competitors like Purdue and Wisconsin. Nailors explosiveness also shows up downfield, where hes shown he can spring off the ground and elevate for passes. Follow him on Twitter @Phil_Friend. He has a 4.39 40-yard dash on record and could go on to eclipse that at the NFL 2022 NFL Combine. Hes likely an early-to-mid Day 3 pick, but with a strong Combine performance, Day 2 isnt out of the question. He landed with the Spartans in East Lansing, Michigan, and made a big impact. The most pressing issue on his tape is his catching ability. Listed at 60, 190 pounds, Nailor has decent size enough to hold up in the NFL. Michigan State's 80-year streak of having at least one player selected in the NFL draft ended in 2021, which was a bit of a surprise considering cornerback Shakur Brown was expected to go anywhere between rounds 4-7. These players include center Matt Allen, defensive end Drew Beesley, kicker Matt Coghlin, quarterback Anthony Russo, defensive end Drew Jordan, offensive lineman AJ Arcuri, offensive lineman Luke Campbell and defensive end Jacub Panasiuk. He has all the tools to be a Z receiver but I think he can also play the slot right away. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. And he might just push Leonard Fournette for touches. Writes Zierlien: "Former running back turned H-back with surprisingly sticky hands and a determined demeanor to find additional yardage after the catch, he's a natural football player who might find a roster spot thanks to his versatility.". 191 pick in 2022 draft. EAGAN, Minn. The Vikings selected Michigan State receiver Jalen 'Speedy' Nailor in the sixth round with the 191st overall pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. At Miami, hell take the swing screen and shows his acceleration getting up to speed quickly. But in an incredibly deep 2022 wide receiver class, hes another player who demands attention. The Athens-Clarke County Police Department has secured an arrest warrant for top NFL draft prospect Jalen Carter in connection with its investigation into the fatal crash in January that . His speed allows him to stack defensive backs and get separation downfield, as well as extend short passes and explode into space. NFL draft profile scouting report for Michigan State Wide Receiver, Jalen Nailor, Subscribe to NFL Draft Bible today and receive a one-year subscription to Sports Illustrated the magazine, for FREE, CLICK HERE TO VIEW NFL DRAFT PROSPECTS TO WATCH, The Mock Draft Simulator by Mock Draft Database. MSU has three players with legit chances of being picked: running back Kenneth Walker, wide receiver Jalen Nailor and tight end Connor Heyward. He has all the traits and flashed against press but can be vanilla off the line at times. Analysis: Nailor is a consistent pass catcher with outstanding short speed and route-running ability. The yardage is the most by a visiting player in a game at Rutgers, topping 207 by Larry Fitzgerald while with Pittsburgh in 2003. Balanced, savvy route runner with top field awareness, setting up and selling routes beautifully. Several others could forgo additional eligibility and enter the NFL Draft as well, including wide receiver Jayden Reed, safety Xavier Henderson and others. Injury history, Career 86 receptions, 1,454 yards, 16.9 ypr, 12 TDs; 17 carries, 163 yards, 9.6 ypc, 1 TD McLain Moberg May 6, 2021 11:23 AM EDT East Lansing,. Below, you can see where Kenneth Walker III, Jalen Nailor and Connor Heyward are projected to go by draft experts around the country. Human development and family studies major Has only average height and overall length. That. Nailor got his feet wet as a true freshman in 2018. Scouts are descending on college campuses across the country to get a rare glimpse of NFL Draft prospects site: media | arena: nfl | pageType: stories | section: | slug: 2022-nfl-draft-pro-day-schedule-and-results-tracker-with-measurements-times-for-top-prospects-draft | sport: football | route: article_single_special | 6-keys: media/spln/nfl . But on Day 3, for a team that knows how to use him and can develop receiver talent, Nailor could be a diamond in the rough, who at the very least can catalyze an offense as a rotational spark plug and deep threat. Dangerous if you miss on a press, but Nailor struggles to get off press when it lands. Hundreds of prospects ranked and updated throughout the season. Quick-footed in and out of breaks, sells routes, and stays low on exit. He showed enough promise to earn an increased role early on in 2019. Running back Kenneth Walker III opted out of the Peach Bowl to prepare for the draft, offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis declared on Saturday, and tight end/H-back Connor Heyward has mentioned that he will not be returning to East Lansing in 2022 for his final year of eligibility, and he has also accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl. Pro Football Network and The Athletic have Heyward as a seventh-round pick, 257th overall to the Cardinals and 258th to the Green Bay Packers, respectively. If you need speed, you could do worse than "Speedy Nailor." After catching 93 passes for 1,736 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Bishop Gorman, the Nevada product earned a three-star recruit billing and fielded Power Five offers. Wide receiver isnt a blatant need for Los Angeles, but Sean McVay has shown a tendency to add skill players consistently in the draft. 51 in total TDs (13 (12 receiving, 1 rushing). Washington totaled 172 receptions for 3,087 yards and 23 touchdowns in six seasons, making two Pro Bowls along the way. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. NFL Draft Projections: 2022 prospects the Las Vegas Raiders should target. *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Gambling problem? The native of Palmdale, California, headed about 240 miles northeast to Las Vegas and joined powerhouse Bishop Gorman as a sophomore. On deep throws he tracks the ball very well and is comfortable making over-the-shoulder receptions. 2021 37 receptions, 695 yards, 18.8, ypr, 6 TD, 1 carry, -3 yards, 5 KR, 81 yards, 16.2 ypr Nailor has at least one catch in 24 of 27 total career games played and MSU has an 19-8 record when Nailor is in the lineup. Nailor is the third former Michigan State player currently on Minnesota's roster, joining quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Kenny Willekes, who was picked in the seventh round in 2020 and debuted last fall. Particularly downfield, Nailor has a knack for tracking the ball, especially over his shoulder. Follow full coverage of Jalen Nailor during the 2022 NFL Draft on ESPN.com. Almost every mock draft with second-round projections has Walker going in the second round to either the Arizona Cardinals or Buffalo Bills. The Minnesota Vikings select Michigan State Spartans wide . 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