While the 2022 NFL Draft is still far off in the distance, players that will be drafted early are on the field now. Each week presents unique matchups for draft prospects and this week is no different. Here are NFL Draft prospects to watch in college football week 0 recap.
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1. Sean Rhyan, OT, UCLA Bruins
The UCLA Bruins dominated the Hawaii Warriors from start to finish. They won the game 44-10 and showed that they were the superior team. In the game, the Bruins’ offensive line dominated Hawaii and they were able to move the ball at will. They rushed for 244 yards and Rhyan looked very good over the course of the game.
This will likely be one of the few times Rhyan will have so many eyeballs on him, so it was great for him to perform well. With the Pac-12 not getting as much media coverage and other games usually clouding what is going on on the west coast, it is understandable. Rhyan played well and has a chance to be a first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft if he keeps his level of play up.
2. Travis Jones, DL, UConn Huskies
The game against Fresno State didn’t go particularly well for UConn. They were shut out 45-0 and it wasn’t a close game after the first quarter. Jones didn’t have his best game either, as he finished with just one total tackle.
In order to get his draft stock up, Jones will have to play incredibly the rest of the year. With UConn being an independent, they will play a few more games against good competition and Jones will need to step up in those contests. An interior defensive lineman isn’t always expected to produce big numbers, but he’ll have to do better than one tackle.
3. Greg Dulcich, TE, UCLA Bruins
While the offense overall didn’t have any problem with the Warriors, Dulcich didn’t get too involved. He caught one pass for 15 yards and that was it. The whole offense only passed for 148 yards and UCLA didn’t need to throw the ball to win, so the lack of production isn’t solely on him.
For a tight end that needs to improve his blocking, this game gave him plenty of reps in that regard. In terms of showing teams that he can be a receiving threat, Dulcich will have plenty of opportunity over the course of the season to do that. He’ll need better quarterback play to really show off his skill.
4. Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA Bruins
This was thought to be a game that Thompson-Robinson would put up big numbers in, but that didn’t happen. The most important thing is that his team won, though it would have been nice to put on a better showing. Thompson-Robinson rushed for 16 yards and passed for 130 yards plus a touchdown on 50 percent completion.
Over the course of the season, Thompson-Robinson needs to prove that he is a more accurate downfield passer if he wishes to play quarterback at the next level. He’ll need to do this consistently and against good competition. There is plenty of time for Thompson-Robinson to regroup and play better to improve his stock.
5. Paul Grattan, OG/C, UCLA Bruins
As mentioned, the offensive line looked really good against Hawaii. They say the game is won in the trenches and it was certainly true of this game. Not only did Rhyan play well, but Grattan did too, which is good news for the Bruins as they prepare for the remainder of their schedule.
If Rhyan and Grattan can make the offensive line a unit of strength this season, UCLA could do some pretty big things. On top of that, they both can improve their draft stock. Their physciality was great and both will be moving up draft boards if their good play continues.
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