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

A look at five players who had outstanding games this Saturday and significantly improved their 2022 NFL Draft stock going into week two.

Week one of the college football season saw several standout performances on both sides of the ball from 2022 NFL Draft prospects. While some of these performances came from returning stars such as Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis we also saw some players establish themself as legitimate NFL Draft prospects.

Here is a look at five NFL prospects who had outstanding week one’s and helped improve their 2022 NFL Draft stock

Bailey Zappe, Quarterback, Western Kentucky  

To say Bailey Zappe had an impressive debut for Western Kentucky is an understatement. Zappe was able to complete 80% of his passes for 424 yards and seven touchdowns with just one interception. What makes these stats even more impressive is that he only played to the midpoint of the third quarter yet was still able to set the school record for touchdown passes in a game.

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While this was Zappe’s first game for the Hilltoppers it is far from his first impressive performance in college football. Before coming to Western Kentucky, Zappe was one of the most impressive passers in the FCS during his time with Houston Baptist. He finished his career with the Huskies by throwing for 10,004 yards and last season led college football in passing yards per game with an average of 458 yards.

In terms of where Zappe fits in as a pro prospect, he currently carries a seventh-round grade. Even though Zappe has put up outstanding production in college, shows good accuracy and shows a high football IQ, his potential is limited at the next level. This is partially due to his lack of size coming in at only 6-foot-1 one and partly due to his below-average arm strength.

Kenneth Walker, Running Back, Michigan State

Another transfer who had a big first game with his new team is Michigan State running back Kenneth Walker. Walker spent his first two seasons at Wake Forest where he saw limited playing time as backup. He finished second on the Demon Deacons in rushing yards in both 2019 and 2020 with 579 rushing yards each season.

However, in the first game of his Michigan State career, Walker has already established himself as a pro prospect. Against Northwestern on Saturday he became the first Big Ten back to rush for over 250 yards in a game since Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon did it in 2014. He also was able to account for four rushing touchdowns which is the most of Michigan State running back since 1971 when Eric Allen rushed for four touchdowns against Purdue.

When it comes to evaluating Walker as a 2022 NFL Draft prospect the first thing that stands out is his vision. Against Northwestern, Walker did a great job of finding the open hole and even cut back across the field to find green grass. He displayed good power for a smaller back as well, evident by him breaking several arm tackles against Northwestern.

The biggest concern with Walker is that he has only really had one outstanding game during his college career. NFL teams will also likely be concerned about his ability to help out in the passing game. Over the past three seasons, he has only caught six passes for a total of 47 yards. One other issue with him is that he possesses only average speed.

If Walker can keep producing at a high level he has a chance of sneaking into the third day of the 2022 NFL Draft and would be an ideal fit for a zone-based running game.

Jordan Davis, Defensive Tackle, Georgia

The highest-rated player to make this list is Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Davis showed why he is the second highest-rated defensive tackle in the 2022 NFL Draft with his performance against Clemson. He was one of the main reasons why Clemson was held to a measly two yards rushing on the night as he dominated at the point of attack all night long. He also displayed the ability to generate a pass rush with his imposing strength.

When scouting Davis the first thing that stands out is his enormous 6-foot-6 340-pound size. His size along with his impressive strength allows him to hold up extremely well as a nose tackle in Georgia’s defense. This combination also makes him one of the better if not the best run defender in the 2022 NFL Draft.

While Davis is not going to be a one-gap penetrating defensive tackle in the NFL, he does move well for someone his size. He does a good job of moving laterally when playing the run, which is a must for a nose tackle in the NFL. He also has enough speed to track down the quarterback once he has bulldozed his way into the backfield.

The NFL teams that will likely have the most interest in Davis are the teams that play a 3-4 defense and are in need of a defensive tackle. However, it is not out of the question for a 4-3 team to look at drafting Davis and playing him as a one-technique defensive tackle.

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.

Riley Moss, Cornerback, Iowa

Iowa cornerback Riley Moss might be one of the most dangerous players in college football when the ball is in his hands. So far during his career, he has returned four interceptions for touchdowns including two this past weekend against Indiana.

In his game against the Hoosiers, Moss was able to come up with a tipped pass which he returned 30 yards for his first touchdown of the game. Then right before halftime, he struck again this time doing a great job of driving on the ball to make the pick which he returned 55 yards for a touchdown.

Moss’s ability to get his hands on the ball is one of the reasons he should hear his name called next April. Over his career, he has picked off eight passes and also has broken up 18 passes. Another thing working in his favor is his size coming in at 6-foot-1 and 191 pounds which could make him the ideal fit for a cover 2 defense.

One concern that could push him to the end of the 2022 NFL Draft though is his lack of speed. He will need to run a fast 40-yard dash and show he has the quickness to play against NFL wide receivers to be anything more than a late-round draft pick.

Honorable Mention

La’akea Kaho’ohanohano-Davis, Linebacker Southern Utah

Mohamed Ibrahim, Running Back, Minnesota

Arnold Ebiketie, Defensive End, Penn State

Ryan Greenhagen, Linebacker, Fordham

Eric Barriere, Quarterback, Eastern Washington

Bo Nix, Quarterback, Auburn

George Karlaftis, Defensive End, Purdue