2022 NFL Draft: Top prospects to watch in Penn State vs. Wisconsin

In this Big Ten showdown of ranked teams, we examine a couple 2022 NFL Draft prospects that could make an impact at the next level.

The Big Ten hits the ground running with multiple conference matchups to begin the year in week one. This tilt will likely have Big Ten championship implications down the line, as Wisconsin has their sights squarely set on winning the Big Ten West. This game will feature several prospects from both schools, but in this article, we’ll focus on one difference-maker from each team to watch for the 2022 NFL Draft.

#19 Penn State at #12 Wisconsin (12 PM ET FOX)

Wisconsin ILB Jack Sanborn

The Badgers play a distinctive style of football: run the ball and play solid defense. They have a long line of linebackers, offensive linemen, and running backs that have made their way to the NFL to show for it. Sanborn is the next great linebacker for Wisconsin.

He has good size (6’2” 236 pounds), and is an excellent tackler, racking up 81 solo stops over the past 2 years combined. Sanborn has shown a good nose for the ball as well as he has four career interceptions, four career passes defended, a fumble recovery, and three forced fumbles throughout his time in Madison.

This will be the inside linebacker’s senior season, and he’s been showered with preseason accolades, making the watch lists for the Butkus Award, the Bednarik Award, and the Lombardi Award. He’ll surely add upon his career marks of 13 tackles for loss and 6 sacks before hearing his name called in April for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Penn State WR Jahan Dotson

The Nittany Lions have sent several elite receivers to the NFL, and if he has a stellar senior season, Jahan Dotson could be the next one. He’s a burner who can play on the outside as well as in the slot and can skillfully return punts and kicks as well. He has adequate size (5’11” 184) but plays bigger than that by being able to go up and make difficult and contested catches.

His shiftiness and foot speed have led him to gain 17.1 yards per catch for his career, in addition to an astronomical 21.3 yards per punt return, including a touchdown last season. He can run through defenses by setting up his blocks on receiver screens in addition to simply running past defenders on deep routes.

Dotson’s penchant for making big plays (he has 26 career catches of 20 yards or more) would make him very attractive to NFL teams picking in the early to middle rounds of the 2022 NFL Draft.