Five players who improved their 2022 NFL Draft stock in week one

Dennis Houston, Wide Receiver, Western Illinois 

A small school player to make this list is Western Illinois wide receiver Dennis Houston. Houston had his way against Ball State finishing the day with 12 receptions for 237 yards and two touchdowns. His 237 receiving yards were the most of any player in either the FCS or FBS and also was a career-high.

While most NFL Draft fans have not heard of Houston he has established himself as one of the better receivers in the FCS. Last season, he led the Leathernecks in receptions and yards which earned him a spot on All-Missouri Valley Football Conference first team. He also had a strong 2019 season leading Western Illinois in receiving yards with 539 yards.

Even with these impressive numbers, it is doubtful that Houston gets drafted due to his lack of speed and overall athletic ability.

However, he will likely be brought in as a free agent for a couple of reasons. One of these being his consistent hands. He has made numerous tough catches during his career and has even been highlighted on ESPN for his impressive catch vs. Illinois in 2019.

Along with his reliable hands, Houston shows good body control. This ability allows him to maneuver around defensive backs and come away with the tough catch in traffic.