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2022 NFL Draft: Week 0 prospects to watch around the country

By Andrew Fischer

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Hank Bachmeier #19 of the Boise State Broncos looks to pass under pressure from defensive lineman Cade Hall #92 of the San Jose State Spartans in the first half of the Mountain West Football Championship at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David J. Becker/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Hank Bachmeier #19 of the Boise State Broncos looks to pass under pressure from defensive lineman Cade Hall #92 of the San Jose State Spartans in the first half of the Mountain West Football Championship at Sam Boyd Stadium on December 19, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by David J. Becker/Getty Images) /
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2022 NFL Draft, Ben Stille
2022 NFL Draft – Nebraska DL prospect Ben Stille. Mandatory Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports /

Nebraska at Illinois 1 PM ET FOX

This game pits an embattled coach (Scott Frost) against a new but familiar coach to Big Ten fans (Bret Bielema). While neither of these teams should even sniff a chance at the Big Ten crown, they do have a couple of intriguing prospects each.

Nebraska DT Ben Stille

Blessed with elite size (6’5” 295), Ben Stille made a legitimate name for himself when he transitioned from a defensive end to a defensive tackle last season. While his raw statistics might not show it, his Pro Football Focus pass-rushing grade trailed only Christian Barmore of Alabama and Haskell Garrett of Ohio State for defensive tackles.

A sixth-year senior taking advantage of the COVID eligibility rules, Stille will have the experience and work ethic to match when he comes out as he was named a Big Ten Distinguished Scholar in 2020 and was a finalist for the Campbell Award which is known as the “Academic Heisman.”

Nebraska OLB JoJo Domann

Domann is listed on Nebraska’s media guide as an outside linebacker, but he’s more of a hybrid player in the mold of Joe Schobert and Deone Bucannon. He was even listed as a defensive back his first two seasons with the Cornhuskers.

Unique in that he can play outside linebacker and line up in the slot, JoJo Domann has proved that he can do both by his 10 passes defended and 16.5 tackles for loss combined over the past two years. NFL teams always need guys who can cover and tackle, and Domann has shown the ability to do both.

Illinois RB Chase Brown

A fascinating prospect for the modern NFL, Chase Brown has found himself on the Doak Walker Award Watch List this preseason. Brown is a compact runner at 5’11” 205 and showed some potential last year as he averaged 5.2 yards per carry on more than 100 totes.

NFL teams might like the lack of tread on his tires. Brown has only 178 carries to his name going into the 2021 season. With an underrated offensive line and a new coach who likes to run the ball, Brown has a great chance to improve his stock for the 2022 NFL Draft.

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