2022 NFL Draft update: 5 seniors generating buzz entering Week 10

Each week during the season, On3 teams up with Senior Bowl executive director Jim Nagy to identify seniors generating buzz in the scouting world for the 2022 NFL Draft.

Here are five who fall into that category for Nagy and the Senior Bowl staff entering Week 10.

Penn State LB Jesse Luketa

Nagy’s take: “Penn State free safety Jaquan Brisker and EDGE Arnold Ebiketie have gotten plenty of buzz thus far this season, but an under-the-radar name to file away as we draw closer to the pre-draft process is Jesse Luketa. The native Canadian is one of the most versatile linebackers in this year’s class. Luketa has shown good instincts from an off-the-ball stacked alignment inside, and also been productive as a standup/hand-down edge player. He is an underrated athlete who will have a role in any scheme at the next level. Depending on how he tests in the spring, we could realistically see Luketa as a top-100 player come April.”

Washington State CB Jaylen Watson

Nagy’s take: “One fast-rising prospect who really came out of nowhere this season is Jaylen Watson. The former junior college product signed with USC in 2019 but never enrolled and only played in three games last year in a COVID-shortened season, so he was greatly an unknown going into this season. NFL scouts got him at 6-foot-1¾ and 188 pounds with 32¼-inch arms last spring, and he looks even bigger than that on tape. Teams that covet long-bodied press-man corners are going to be high on Watson, and we’re getting back mainly third- to fourth-round grades from friends inside the league. Watson has the type of tools that would allow him to excel in Senior Bowl one-on-one drills and potentially solidify himself as a Day 2 prospect.”

Houston CB/KR/WR Marcus Jones

Nagy’s take: “Marcus Jones, Houston’s Swiss Army knife playmaker, was selected as our Reese’s Senior Bowl Special Teams Player of the Week after his 100-yard kickoff-return touchdown against previously unbeaten SMU. After watching the tape, we could have easily given him the same honor for his performance on defense. Jones has unique versatility to play both outside and in the slot. While some teams don’t like playing with undersized [sub-5-10] corners outside, Jones [listed at 5-8 by Houston] is a very effective off-man player because of his route recognition and excellent closing burst. He is also a savvy and feisty player from the nickel spot, and he made a handful of plays in the slot against the Mustangs. Jones has also made some plays at wide receiver for the Cougars this fall, and we would definitely showcase that two-way flexibility in Mobile. As scouts and coaches always say, ‘The more you can do . . . ’ ”

Miami (Ohio) EDGE Dominique Robinson and S Sterling Weatherford

Nagy’s take: “I have been scouting Miami (Ohio) going back to pre-Ben Roethlisberger days, and the Redhawks have a pair of legitimate Senior Bowl candidates this season. Dominique Robinson has one of the most interesting backgrounds of any player in the 2022 draft class. The former dual-threat quarterback at McKinley High in Canton, Ohio, played wide receiver his first three years in Oxford before making the unconventional move to defensive end two years ago. While he has only 2.5 sacks on the season, Robinson (6-4¾ and 253 pounds verified, with 33¼-inch arms) looks great on the hoof when you see him in person, and he has the developmental pass-rush talent that every NFL team is looking for. He is the type of prospect coaches will pick apart and scouts will love because of his upside. Similarly, Sterling Weatherford is a great-looking prospect with next-level tools. He is an easy-mover for someone his size (6-3⅞ verified, 218 pounds), and he has improved tremendously from the start of his junior season until now. Our first tape exposure on Weatherford was in 2020 versus Iowa, and he’s really cleaned up his tackling since then. With his frame, we could see many NFL teams projecting him primarily as a sub-downs linebacker. Both of these MAC standouts could make big jumps with big weeks in Mobile.”

The 2022 NFL draft will be April 28-30 in Las Vegas.

Jim Nagy has been the executive director of the Reese’s Senior Bowl, the nation’s premier college all-star game, since 2018 after 18 years as an NFL scout. For interesting feedback and information on senior NFL draft prospects throughout the year, follow Jim on Twitter. For information on the Senior Bowl, follow both Jim and the Reese’s Senior Bowl main account.