2022 NFL Draft: 5 Big Ten players to keep an eye on in 2021
By Kyle Edmond
Keep an eye on these five players from the Big Ten for the 2022 NFL Draft
The Big Ten college football season is less than a month away. On Aug. 28, Illinois is set to host Nebraska in the first game of the 2021 NCAA football season. While the excitement and spotlight will be on college football, the day also marks a big step towards the 2022 NFL Draft.
While portfolios and profiles are already being made for thousands of potential NFL draftees, the 2021 season will be a big test for a lot of these players that will be entering the upcoming draft. As opposed to a typical season, the 2022 NFL Draft will be the first with multiple new factors to consider.
The 2021 season could be the first real test for a lot of these players. Many, especially in the Big Ten, sustained a shortened 2020 season. There’s also the added layer of an extra year of eligibility for all athletes across college sports. Whether it be a fifth-year senior trying to prove their case, or a redshirt sophomore who is a year behind their expected progression, the college athletic landscape has been altered for the next five years or so.
All these factors will make this draft process different from any before, but the scouting portion should remain relatively the same. Scouts and front office executives are looking for pieces that fit their team and fill needs moving forward. For college athletes, the goal remains the same as well. To impress.
For these five players in the Big Ten, they already have a bit of a head start in the process based on their past performances. The key now is to build on that success. As we inch closer to the 2022 NFL Draft, these five names should be on the radar of fans to keep an eye on throughout the 2021 college football season in the Big Ten Conference.