As we enter college football rivalry week with just a few games remaining for 2022 NFL draft prospects to add quality tape to their résumés, we wanted to look ahead at what the top players in this class still have left to prove to NFL evaluators. Do they need to showcase a trait or an improvement in their conference title game? What about prove their speed at the NFL combine in March?
We asked NFL draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay to evaluate what's left to show front-office execs and scouts from the best prospects in this class. Using their latest rankings -- McShay's Top 32 and Kiper's Big Board -- we picked 10 prospects still playing, excluding the injured stars who are likely to be first-round picks. We also excluded the quarterbacks, who still have a lot to prove as they make their case to be the first one off the board in April's draft.
They'll start with Oregon edge rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux -- their top-ranked prospect -- and end with two more talented front seven defenders. Kiper and McShay also picked prospects who are rising after Saturday's games, plus under-the-radar prospects who have caught their eyes.
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Draft risers | Under-the-radar prospects
Kiper's ranking: No. 1
McShay's ranking: No. 1
What Thibodeaux still has to prove: Can he develop more pass rush moves? Let's be real here: Thibodeaux is already a candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the eyes of many teams, and so he doesn't really have to prove much to scouts and front-office to execs. But he is so fast off the line of scrimmage that he hasn't had to build up a repertoire of moves just yet. I want to see him keep working on a spin move and using those strong hands to rip past offensive tackles. Thibodeaux won't always to be the quickest off the line, and improving his mechanics is how he can take the next step. He has six sacks and two forced fumbles this season. -- Kiper
McShay's ranking: No. 3
Kiper's ranking: No. 4
What Neal still has to prove: At 6-foot-7 and 350 pounds, Neal is a giant of a man. And he doesn't have a whole lot left to prove. He is absolutely dominant in the run game, showing great angles, power and range. Neal also has developed into a highly effective pass-blocker at the college level, but the question is whether he will be an elite blindside protector in the NFL. Tackle-needy NFL teams with an early pick will be drilling deep on his pre-draft weight fluctuation, his foot quickness in pass-pro drills and how he refines some of his technique. I think there is still some room for growth there. -- McShay
Kiper's ranking: No. 6
McShay's ranking: No. 6
What Cross still has to prove: How is he as a run-blocker? This really isn't Cross' fault, but Mike Leach's teams are so pass-happy that the offensive line doesn't get many reps in the run game. In fact, with 229 rushes this season, Mississippi State ranks 130th out of 130 FBS teams; the 129th-ranked team has 42 more rushes. The Bulldogs average only 3.0 yards per carry. Cross has been outstanding as a pass-blocker, but he is going to have to show that he can be a road grader in the run game at the next level. NFL teams will have to trust that they can coach him up to get him there. Next up for Cross is a nice test against Ole Miss and Sam Williams, who has 10.5 sacks this season. -- Kiper
McShay's ranking: No. 5
Kiper's ranking: No. 5
What Hutchinson still has to prove: I'd like to see more elite speed off the edge, in terms of both first-step explosion and acceleration turning the corner. I'm sure he will run well at the combine and in pre-draft workouts, but timed speed is very different than play speed -- and Hutchinson's play speed is good, not great. Look at former teammate Kwity Paye and current teammate David Ojabo for comparison here. Hutchinson is a more complete player than both of them but lacks their takeoff speed.
The good news for Hutchinson is that top-tier NFL pass-rushers rarely rely on speed as their primary weapon. They have to be able to be able to threaten offensive tackles with a combination of quickness, speed, power, technique and a relentless motor. That's exactly what he has used to rack up 10 sacks and nine QB hurries through 11 games this season, despite facing a lot of extra blocking attention. -- McShay
Kiper's ranking: No. 8
McShay's ranking: No. 11
What Lloyd still has to prove: Does he have top-15 speed? What I mean here is that NFL teams are only taking off-ball linebackers in the top 15 if they have elite speed for their size. Just look at Micah Parsons in 2021, Isaiah Simmons in 2020 and Devin White and Devin Bush in 2019. White is probably the closest comp I'd make for Lloyd, and White ran an electric 4.42-second 40-yard dash at 237 pounds at the combine that year. I really want to see what the 235-pound Lloyd runs at the combine in March. He has filled the stat sheet this season, racking up 91 tackles with 18 tackles for loss, six sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble. -- Kiper
McShay's ranking: No. 7
Kiper's ranking: No. 16
What Wilson still has to prove: Wilson's best traits are his vertical speed, body control when adjusting to the ball in the air and strong hands on contested catches. Those strengths have helped him to 939 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns through 10 games. So where can he improve? Generating separation purely with his route running. Wilson is in his comfort zone when running 9 routes and back-shoulder fades down the left sideline, but I want to see a bigger catalog of the rest of the route tree -- especially those that require sharp breaks at the top of his stem. The shuttle drills are good indicators of a wide receiver's ability to get in and out of breaks and generate instant acceleration, so NFL scouts will be paying attention there at the combine. -- McShay
Kiper's ranking: No. 11
McShay's ranking: No. 15
What Williams still has to prove: Is he a one-year wonder? NFL scouts sometimes overthink things; that's what happens when you have months to pick apart prospects. And one of the things they'll be curious about is why Williams didn't do much at Ohio State before he transferred to Alabama. He had just 15 catches with the Buckeyes in 2019 and 2020. Now, the reality is that the Ohio State wide receiver room was stacked with talent, and Williams just couldn't get consistent reps behind Chris Olave, Garrett Wilson and Jaxon Smith-Njigba, all of whom could be first-round picks themselves. Transfers happen, and Williams has thrived for the Crimson Tide; he has five straight games with a 50-plus yard catch, has averaged 20.6 yards per reception overall and has 13 touchdowns. If he finishes the season how he has played the first 11 games, he is going to be a top-20 pick. He does have a challenge on Saturday, as he'll likely be matched up against Auburn's' Roger McCreary, a really good corner with first-round traits. -- Kiper
0:40
Jameson Williams hauls in a 75-yard touchdown for Alabama on the first play of the half.
McShay's ranking: No. 9
Kiper's ranking: No. 9
What Dean still has to prove: I love Dean's game. Georgia's defense leads the nation in points allowed per game (7.5), and I currently have 11 Bulldogs with draftable grades, but I said back in October that Dean is the best NFL player on this historically loaded group, and that opinion has not swayed.
I think the biggest question mark with Dean's NFL projection falls with his take-on skills. He is a sideline-to-sideline missile as a run defender, but your best chance to neutralize the slightly undersized (6-foot, 225 pounds) inside linebacker is to run directly at him behind blocks. While he has improved at getting off of blocks with his quick and explosive hands, he still occasionally struggles to get unlatched when bigger blockers are able to get into his pads. NFL evaluators will want to see if Dean can add weight and improve his strength while maintaining his agility and speed.
Ultimately, a team will draft Dean in Round 1 for his range, versatility and playmaking instincts then hope to refine his take-on skills with more coaching and weight room focus early in his NFL career. He has 50 tackles, 4.5 sacks, a pair of interceptions and a forced fumble in 11 games this season. -- McShay
Kiper's ranking: No. 10
McShay's ranking: No. 25
What Ojabo still has to prove: Can he improve his all-around game? Ojabo has been a breakout pass-rusher this season, putting up 10 sacks and five forced fumbles on the other side of potential top-five pick Aidan Hutchinson. Even if Ojabo does have one elite skill, he has to show NFL teams he can do the little things -- hold up in the run game, make plays outside of the pass rush, get his hands up and create deflections -- to help his team win. Ojabo hasn't consistently made plays in the run game this season; in fact, he only has two non-sack tackles for loss this season. That's right; he has 12 TFLs, but 10 were sacks. At 250 pounds, he has to show he can be an impact player against the run, as well. -- Kiper
0:29
David Ojabo strips the ball from Indiana QB Donaven McCulley, which leads to Michigan's 2-yard touchdown from Hassan Haskins.
McShay's ranking: No. 12
Kiper's ranking: No. 12
What Leal still has to prove: Can he add bulk and lower-body strength without losing explosiveness? Leal plays a lot on the edge, but at 290 pounds, he is very likely to spend more time inside in the NFL. He lacks sand in the trunk and has trouble disengaging at times when offensive linemen get into his pads.
In a perfect world, Leal will show up at the combine closer to 300 pounds and excel in the vertical jump and short shuttle. The five-year average for defensive tackle vertical jumps is 28.5 inches, and any result of 33 inches or higher is considered outstanding. As for the short shuttle, 4.67 seconds is the five-year average, and 4.45 seconds or faster is excellent. Those are the benchmarks to pay attention to for Leal. -- McShay
Prospects on the rise after Week 12
Kolar had a massive game in Iowa State's 28-21 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, leading the team with 12 catches for 152 yards and a touchdown. He has been on a hot streak recently with 25 catches in the Cyclones' past three games, and he now has a career-high 53 receptions with two more games to play. Kolar has the versatility to line up in-line or flexed out, and while he lacks the speed to stretch the field vertically, he has a very good catch radius and does an outstanding job of gaining late separation and competing for the ball in the air. Kolar is currently my sixth-ranked tight end and carries a third-round grade, and I'm excited to see him at the Senior Bowl in February. If nothing else, he is solidifying his status as a Day 2 prospect in a strong 2022 tight end class. -- McShay
When Ridder is on, he looks like the best quarterback in the 2022 class. And he was nearly flawless in Saturday's 48-14 rout of SMU, going 17-of-23 for 274 yards and three touchdown passes while adding 46 rushing yards (on three carries) and another score. Ridder showed touch on vertical throws, went through his progressions to make the right reads and had a few accurate strikes while rolling out. There was also a play in which he sidestepped to avoid the rush and stepped up in the pocket to hit a receiver.
Ridder could be the first quarterback off the board if he nails the draft process. The 6-foot-4 signal-caller has the size, arm strength and running ability that teams want from their starters. The only question mark, however, has been consistent accuracy, and he has improved this season. It only takes one team to fall in love with a prospect, and Ridder has enticing intangibles and physical traits. I'd love to see Cincinnati get into the College Football Playoff, where Ridder could have a showcase game against a great opponent. -- Kiper
Under-the-radar prospects you should know
The Rams ended their season with a 45-31 loss to Colgate on Saturday, but Zakelj was impressive again. The left tackle -- making his 45th college start -- showed off his ability to pull, and he drove defenders off the ball. He is tough and nasty as a blocker. Zakelj (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) is kind of a throwback tackle in that his aggressiveness means he overextends at times, but he can improve with more time and NFL coaching.
Zakelj will be at the Senior Bowl, and it'll be critical for how NFL teams view him. He is going to be up against potential first-round picks in one-on-one pass rush drills, and he'll have to hold his own. If he can excel there, I think his tape will put him in the third-round range in April. If he struggles against better competition, he could be more of a fifth- or sixth-rounder. I'm a big fan of Zakelj's tape, though, and there's a chance he could move to guard at the next level. -- Kiper
Kuithe is a classic F tight end -- essentially a bulked-up wide receiver -- at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds. He will never be more than a decent "move" blocker in the run game and simply will not hold up even in spot duty as an in-line blocker in the NFL, but Kuithe is a pass-catcher with a big catch radius and good run-after-catch ability for his size. He spends a high percentage of snaps flexed out in the slot and has emerged as the Utes' leading receiver this season with 41 receptions. He had his best showing in the team's biggest game to date, hauling in five catches for 118 yards in the upset 38-7 blowout of Oregon on Saturday night. Kuithe doesn't get much love in what's shaping up to be a deep group of 2022 tight end prospects, but he could wind up becoming a Day 3 surprise. -- McShay
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