The 2021 college football regular season has officially come to a close, which means underclassmen all over the country will soon be declaring their intent to enter the 2022 NFL Draft.
The list of college football players below includes underclassmen who will look to enter the 2022 NFL Draft, sorted by position. Check back for more updates as we approach draft season.
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QUARTERBACK
QB MATT CORRAL, OLE MISS
2021 PFF Grade: 87.2
2022 Big Board Rank: 16
Corral lost his top playmakers from a season ago yet still rolled through SEC competition. He flashed his athleticism even more this season, racking up 713 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns.
QB sam howell, north carolina
2021 PFF Grade: 90.9
2022 Big Board Rank: 32
Howell may have taken a step back as a passer, but he proved to be a legitimate threat as a runner this season. He broke an absurd 63 tackles and ran for 1,072 yards this season.
qb carson strong, nevada
2021 PFF Grade: 89.9
2022 Big Board Rank: 41
No quarterback in this top 100 shouldered a bigger load as a passer. Strong had a six-game stretch toward the end of the season where he dropped back to pass over 50 times every game. Still, he finished with a career-high 90.3 passing grade this season.
qb kaleb eleby, western michigan
2021 PFF Grade: 74.5
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
RUNNING BACK
RB kenneth walker iii, michigan state
2021 PFF Grade: 89.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 53
RB1 checking in. Walker went from relative unknown to the best back in the country. He led all of college football with 89 broken tackles this past season, including 20 against Miami alone.
RB Breece hall, iowa state
2021 PFF Grade: 86.0
2022 Big Board Rank: 62
Iowa State may have taken a step backward, but Hall was as strong as ever in 2021. In fact, he raised his total to 74 broken tackles this season from 63 last year — on 29 fewer carries. He’s got an all-around skill set and NFL size at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds.
RB isaiah spiller, texas a&m
2021 PFF Grade: 83.1
2022 Big Board Rank: 86
Spiller is a power back but has the feet to make defenders miss, as well. He can also be a factor as a receiver, with no drops on 25 catchable targets in 2021.
RB Kyren Williams, Notre Dame
2021 PFF Grade: 81.2
2022 Big Board Rank: 90
Williams finished 2021 like a house on fire. He racked up 14 touchdowns over his final eight games and finished with 58 broken tackles on 204 carries. He’s one of the best pass-protectors in the draft class, too, despite checking in just around 200 pounds.
RB Jashaun corbin, florida state
2021 PFF Grade: 75.3
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
RB jerrion ealy, ole miss
2021 PFF Grade: 85.8
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
rb sincere mccormick, utsa
2021 PFF Grade: 82.8
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
rb Tyler allgeier, byu
2021 PFF Grade: 90.4
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
rb jerome ford, cincinnati
2021 PFF Grade: 86.2
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
rb Tyrion davis-price, lsu
2021 PFF Grade: 78.4
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
RB Tyler Goodson, Iowa
2021 PFF Grade: 70.0
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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WIDE RECEIVER
WR garrett wilson, ohio state
2021 PFF Grade: 84.1
2022 Big Board Rank: 8
The natural. Wilson simply moves differently from every other receiver in this class. He’s got such easy separation and YAC ability that his modest 6-foot, 192-pound frame is no worry. Wilson has hauled in 12 scores this year and has generated a 141.7 passer rating when targeted.
WR DRAKE LONDON, USC
2021 PFF Grade: 91.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 22
It’s a shame London’s season ended with a broken ankle after only eight games because he was on an unmatched statistical tear. He racked up 88 catches for 1,084 yards and seven scores over that span. He’s a massive 6-foot-5, 210-pounder who still leads college football with 19 contested catches.
WR TREYLON BURKS, ARKANSAS
2021 PFF Grade: 85.2
2022 Big Board Rank: 30
Burks' combination of size (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) and speed is unrivaled in the class. He racked up 1,100 yards and 11 scores this season. The true junior should be a weapon on the vertical tree in the NFL.
WR skyy moore, western michigan
2021 PFF Grade: 91.6
2022 Big Board Rank: 54
The top Group of Five receiver on the PFF board. Moore led the nation in broken tackles during the regular season with 26. He’s a tad on the shorter side at 5-foot-10, but he weighs in at a solid 195 pounds. He hauled in 90 passes for 1,255 yards and 10 scores in 2020.
WR DAVID BELL, PURDUE
2021 PFF Grade: 86.9
2022 Big Board Rank: 71
Bell was one of the most productive receivers in the country this past season, totaling 93 catches for 1,275 yards and six scores. He went for over 200 against both Iowa and Michigan State. He beat up opposing corners and was difficult to bring down after the catch, as he forced 25 missed tackles on the year.
WR JUSTYN ROSS, CLEMSON
2021 PFF Grade: 73.5
2022 Big Board Rank: 88
Ross never quite took the next step after leading the nation in yards per route run as a true freshman. He’s got a massive catch radius and tremendous ball skills to boot.
WR erik ezukanma, texas tech
2021 PFF Grade: 76.5
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
WR jalen nailor, michigan state
2021 PFF Grade: 77.0
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
WR kevin austin jr, notre dame
2021 PFF Grade: 72.4
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
WR devon williams, oregon
2021 PFF Grade: 76.2
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
TIGHT END
te jalen wydermyer, texas a&M
2021 PFF Grade: 61.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 67
Wydermyer has a massive 6-foot-5, 255-pound frame and uses that size to get open routinely. After a slow start to the season, Wydermyer finished with 40 catches for 515 yards and four scores.
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
OFFENSIVE TACKLE
OT charles cross, mississippi state
2021 PFF Grade: 86.7
2022 Big Board Rank: 9
After flashing traits in his first year as a starter in 2020, Cross became a dominant pass-protector in 2021. He went from allowing 44 pressures on 574 pass-blocking snaps last season to only 16 pressures on 719 pass-blocking snaps this year.
OT ikem ekwonu, north carolina state
2021 PFF Grade: 91.6
2022 Big Board Rank: 10
The single most dominant run-blocking tackle in the country. Ekwonu’s 18 big-time blocks in the run game this season are seven more than the next-closest Power 5 offensive lineman.
OT nicholas petit-frere, ohio state
2021 PFF Grade: 78.5
2022 Big Board Rank: 57
Petit-Frere is a smooth-moving left tackle who put up roller-coaster-type tape in 2021. Depending on the game you watch, you’d think he’s either a first-rounder or a Day 3 pick. He allowed 19 pressures against Nebraska, Penn State and Michigan but only seven in his other nine starts this season.
OT rasheed walker, penn state
2021 PFF Grade: 60.1
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
OT luke tenuta, virginia tech
2021 PFF Grade: 78.4
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE
iol kenyon green, texas a&m
2021 PFF Grade: 79.8
2022 Big Board Rank: 13
Green will not only be coveted for his absurd movement skills for a 325-pounder but also because he’s made starts at every single offensive line position except center this season. He can get the job done at either tackle or guard.
iol Dohnovan west, arizona state
2021 PFF Grade: 73.0
2022 Big Board Rank: 80
West has been starting ever since his freshman year in 2019. While he played guard last year, West starred at center this season and likely profiles best to there in the NFL.
c cam jurgens, nebraska
2021 PFF Grade: 70.8
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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EDGE DEFENDER
EDGE KAYVON THIBODEAUX, OREGON
2021 PFF Grade: 83.9
2022 Big Board Rank: 2
Thibodeaux is an explosive, long and bendy edge rusher who’s only just scratching the surface of what he could be. Thibodeaux has a 91.5 pass-rushing grade and 46 pressures this season, even with a limited set of pass-rush moves.
EDGE GEORGE KARLAFTIS, PURDUE
2021 PFF Grade: 87.2
2022 Big Board Rank: 7
Karlaftis is an ultra-consistent iron man at defensive end and has played 667 snaps in 12 games this season. At 6-foot-4 and 275 pounds, Karlaftis has the kind of inside-outside versatility that will be coveted.
EDGE David ojabo, Michigan
2021 PFF Grade: 79.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 15
If you called this breakout from Ojabo, I don’t believe you. After playing only 26 snaps in all of his Michigan career before 2021, Ojabo has broken out with an 89.3 pass-rushing grade this season.
EDGE drake jackson, usc
2021 PFF Grade: 82.2
2022 Big Board Rank: 29
Despite a late-season injury, Jackson proved earlier on that he’s taken a significant next step in his development. He’s gone from a 66.6 pass-rushing grade as a sophomore to 87.7 this season.
EDGE JERMAINE JOHNSON II, FLORIDA STATE
2021 PFF Grade: 81.1
2022 Big Board Rank: 43
Johnson transferred from Georgia so he could see the field. And he pretty much never came off at Florida State, playing a ridiculous 736 snaps this season. He’s a hard-edge-setter who has edge-rushing tools that can translate to the league.
EDGE cameron thomas, san diego state
2021 PFF Grade: 89.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 44
Thomas is a massive power end at 6-foot-5 and 270 pounds. He racked up an FBS-leading 72 pressures this season and finished sixth with 29 run stops.
EDGE NIK BONITTO, OKLAHOMA
2021 PFF Grade: 90.5
2022 Big Board Rank: 55
Bonitto may be a designated pass-rusher at the NFL level, but he’ll be a weapon in that regard from Day 1. He’s been the most productive pass-rusher on a per-snap basis over the past two seasons, earning a 93.6 pass-rushing grade in 2020 and a 92.5 pass-rush grade this season.
EDGE AMARÉ BARNO, VIRGINIA TECH
2021 PFF Grade: 72.3
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINE
DI DEMARVIN LEAL, TEXAS A&M
2021 PFF Grade: 70.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 22
Leal was a top-10 player on the preseason draft board, but sadly didn’t take the next step we were hoping for. In fact, he saw both his run defense and pass-rushing grades take steps backwards in 2021. He’s a gifted athlete for a 6-foot-4, 290 pounder, but that lack of development is worrisome.
DI Chris Hinton, MIchigan
2021 PFF Grade: 63.8
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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LINEBACKER
LB brandon smith, penn state
2021 PFF Grade: 59.7
2022 Big Board Rank: 47
Smith has special movement skills for a 6-foot-3, 241-pounder. In 2020, he played the slot role for Penn State’s defense. This year, as a traditional linebacker, he’s earned a 79.9 coverage grade.
LB BRIAN ASAMOAH, OKLAHOMA
2021 PFF Grade: 76.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 84
Asamoah has elite range for an off-ball linebacker. He moves more like a defensive back than a linebacker despite being 6-foot-1, 228 pounds. He took massive strides as a junior in 2021, too, with his overall grade going from 57.1 overall grade last year to 76.3 this year.
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
CORNERBACK
CB trent mcduffie, washington
2021 PFF Grade: 86.3
2022 Big Board Rank: 12
McDuffie has everything you could want from a high-end cornerback except length. At only 5-foot-11, McDuffie plays consistently bigger than that. He’s allowed only 16 catches from 36 targets for 11 yards with no scores and five pass breakups.
CB Ahmad gardner, cincinnati
2021 PFF Grade: 87.1
2022 Big Board Rank: 27
Gardner still hasn’t allowed a single touchdown in his career despite starting since he was a true freshman. This season, he’s taken his game to another level, as he allowed only 96 yards all year long.
CB martin emerson, mississippi state
2021 PFF Grade: 78.4
2022 Big Board Rank: 33
Emerson has ideal size for the cornerback position at the next level and was exceptional at putting caps on opposing receivers. He allowed only one 25-plus-yard catch this season.
CB mykael wright, oregon
2021 PFF Grade: 71.2
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
CB chris steele, usc
2021 PFF Grade: 66.1
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
CB isaac taylor-stuart, usc
2021 PFF Grade: 67.1
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
CB JERMAINE WALLER, VIRGINIA TECH
2021 PFF Grade: 60.7
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
SAFETY
S KYLE HAMILTON, NOTRE DAME
2021 PFF Grade: 76.1
2022 Big Board Rank: 3
At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Hamilton is a modern hybrid defender who can do whatever is asked. While he missed Notre Dame’s final five games with a minor knee injury, he came down with three picks and three pass breakups in his first seven.
S KERBY JOSEPH, ILLINOIS
2021 PFF Grade: 90.4
2022 Big Board Rank: 95
After not even seeing the field his first three years at Illinois, Joseph was a star for the Illini in 2021. He picked off five passes and broke up four more while being a reliable all-around tackler.
S verone mckinley iii, oregon
2021 PFF Grade: 64.3
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
Click here to view the PFF 2022 NFL Draft Guide
SPECIAL TEAMS
p matt araiza, san diego state
2021 PFF Grade: 83.5
2022 Big Board Rank: N/A
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