Mel Kiper gives lofty comparison for USC wide receiver Drake London ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

As is the case with LSU cornerback Derek Stingley, USC wide receiver Drake London entered the season with lofty expectations, and despite an eventual season-ending injury, London is still pinned as a potential top pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

London, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound wide receiver, was a four-star recruit in the 2019 class, via the On3 Consensus, and the Moorpark, California native committed to USC — for two sports. A multifaceted athlete in high school, London starred on both the gridiron and the basketball court, but he eventually gave up basketball to pursue his potential NFL career. Three years, 15 touchdowns and a forthcoming multi-million dollar contract later, London seems to have made the correct decision.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper is as high as can be on the USC product, likening him to one of the NFL’s most dominant wideouts.

“Jameson Williams is my top receiver, but Drake London, wide receiver from USC, drew comparisons to Mike Evans,” ESPN Kiper said. “Now, he got hurt in October, late October, ankle injury.  Had he been healthy all the way through the season, I think Drake London could’ve been [a top-five pick] but the fact the injury occurred, didn’t allow him to finish off strong.”

At 6-foot-5, 231 pounds, Evans is slightly larger than London. But on the field, the two receivers certainly match up in terms of their dominance. London went on an absolute tear this season as a junior, despite only playing in eight of USC’s 12 games. London amassed 1,084 yards and seven touchdowns in his junior season, averaging a heaping 12.3 yards per reception, and was still named a third-team All-American by the Associated Press, while picking up taps to several other All-American teams.

“But when draw comparisons, as I said, to Mike Evans and you have the talent and you have the production week-in and week-out — really, he was a mismatch against collegiate cornerbacks with his size, his physicality, that basketball ability that he brings to the football field,” Kiper added.

That production that Kiper referred to was astonishing. Playing in only seven full games (London was injured midway through his eighth game of the year), London had just one game finishing north of 100 yards — he still managed 68 and a touchdown against USC, and he needed just four catches to amass that total. In one five-game streak this season, London had 170 yards, 165 yards, 130 yards, 162 yards and 171 yards against Washington State, Oregon State, Colorado, Utah and Notre Dame, while piling on four touchdowns in the process.

London was a matchup nightmare all season, proving his ability to get open and to catch in traffic. However, against Arizona, London ultimately fractured his ankle on a touchdown catch, ending his season early. But it probably won’t hurt his draft stock come April, according to Kiper.

“I think that Drake London could’ve been that guy had it been a perfect year for him and USC in terms of quarterback play and staying injury free,” Kiper said.