191 pick in 2022 draft. Nailor is the third former Michigan State player currently on Minnesota's roster, joining quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Kenny Willekes, who was picked in the seventh round in 2020 and debuted last fall. Michigan State WR Jalen Nailor has an NFL Draft scouting report full of upside. Especially on hitch routes, hes able to chop his feet quickly and sink his hips to gain quick separation. When he was able to suit up for the Spartans last season, the team went 9-0 thanks to career highs of 37 receptions, 695 yards and six touchdowns. With the draft beginning on Thursday, and just enough seven-round mock drafts available for perusal, let's check out some potential landing spots for these former Spartans. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. When healthy, and that is a big caveat, he has a day two skill set. Vs Pittsburgh, at the bottom of the screen he shows nice route execution to dip under the rub route and make the catch for the conversion. Contested catches could use some work especially for someone who is such a good deep threat. Nailor had 37 catches for 695 yards and eight touchdowns during his senior season and was an All-Big Ten honorable . With the nickname Speedy, Nailor has been a big piece for Michigan States threatening offense in 2021. Below, you can see where Kenneth Walker III, Jalen Nailor and Connor Heyward are projected to go by draft experts around the country. From now until the 2022 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. Minnesota Vikings NFL draft picks 2022: Analysis for every selection . On quick passes, he doesnt always get his head around in time. McLain Moberg May 6, 2021 11:23 AM EDT East Lansing,. He was a preseason All-Big Ten selection by Phil Steele (second team) and Athlon Sports (third team). Positives: Reliable receiver who runs good routes and separates from defenders. After catching 93 passes for 1,736 yards and 26 touchdowns in his final two seasons at Bishop Gorman, the Nevada product earned a three-star recruit billing and fielded Power Five offers. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He can stack defensive backs and get into space, and he can also take short passes and blast through congestion. Analysis: Nailor is a consistent pass catcher with outstanding short speed and route-running ability. As a blocker, he is willing and positions himself well and makes the effort to block. Pro Football Network, LLC. He has all the tools to be a Z receiver but I think he can also play the slot right away. He was named an All-Big Ten honorable mention by the media this season, after catching 37 passes for 695 yards (18.8 yard per catch) and six touchdowns. This limits him as a route runner despite his burst out of cuts, hes likely a specialist more than an every-down player. As of now, he needs more comfort and space to be consistent. After the bowl victory, Nailor soon announced his intentions to declare for the 2022 NFL Draft. And with some fine tuning I wouldnt be surprised to see him as an X. I am much higher on him than what I have seen from others. If Deebo Samuel is, in fact, heading out the door, could Nailor fill a similar role? Kenneth Walker III can be that back with his open-field burst, balance, vision, and high-level creative instincts.". In a truncated seven-game season, Nailor kept flashing his potential. Doesn't have the size to consistently win on the outside, but can be productive working the middle of the field and as a return man. He has 12 receiving TDs in 27 games (eight in 2018, four in 2019, seven in 2020, eight in 2021), including 20 starts (one in 2018, four in 2019, seven in 2020, eight in 2021) and has three career 100-yard receiving outings (vs. Iowa, 11/7/20; vs. Western Kentucky, 10/2/21; vs. Rutgers, 10/9/21) and one 200-yard outing (vs. Rutgers, 10/9/21). But on Day 3, for a team that knows how to use him and can develop receiver talent, Nailor could be a diamond in the rough, who at the very least can catalyze an offense as a rotational spark plug and deep threat. An arrest warrant has been issued for Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter stemming from the crash that killed a . Very good acceleration, gets up to speed quickly The Michigan State WR doesnt have a ton of buzz on the draft circuit. historically in the player's position group (Higher value represents better perfomance). 33 in receiving yards (1,346), becoming 46th Spartan receiving with 1,000 career receiving yards, tied for No. Most notably, Nailor had three touchdowns in the first half against Rutgers, earning Big Ten Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors that week. This might be the steal of the draft. Beyond the gridiron, Nailor showcased his speed in track. Odds & lines subject to change. With a nickname like Speedy Nailor, youd expect speed to be a vital part of Nailors game. Consistently catches the ball with his hands. He is a receiver who was used on both sides of the Spartan offensive alignment and was used throughout the route tree on all three levels. Jalen Carter Named Subject of Arrest Warrant After Fatal Crash That Killed Georgia Teammate, Seattle Seahawks 2023 NFL Draft Prospects To Target at the NFL Combine Include Brian Branch, Nolan Smith, 2023 NFL Draft Big Board: Top 25 Prospects Heading Into NFL Combine Include Jalen Carter, Brian Branch, and Bijan Robinson, Boston Colleges Jaiden Woodbey Is Less Tweener, More Swiss Army Knife. Vs Rutgers, at the bottom he will sell like hes going to block before releasing up field for the easy score. and ranked second in 2021 (18.8 avg.) 134 overall. He also drew interest from Big Ten competitors like Purdue and Wisconsin. Nailor has a fairly limited route tree and does not do much of his damage over the middle. Hes likely an early-to-mid Day 3 pick, but with a strong Combine performance, Day 2 isnt out of the question. Gambling problem? Team: San Francisco 49ers. Michigan State now has at least four players who have declared for the 2022 NFL Draft with remaining college eligibility. Contact/Follow us@The SpartansWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebookto follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. Snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy. In my search of players to profile I considered Jalen Nailor a couple times. Nailor is god awful in contested catch situations and didnt haul in a single contested catch in 2021. All Rights Reserved. . NFL footage NFL Productions LLC. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Theres room for Nailor to sink his hips better and quicken his releases. Writes Zierlien: "Former running back turned H-back with surprisingly sticky hands and a determined demeanor to find additional yardage after the catch, he's a natural football player who might find a roster spot thanks to his versatility.". He would choose to attend Michigan State in college, spending four years with the Spartans. It remains to be seen what Odell Beckham Jr. elects to do in free agency, especially as he recovers from a torn ACL that will force him to miss part of the 2022 campaign. If you like what you see on this site, we now have an ad-free option available for a donation of $25 per year, and you can enjoy the site entirely ad-free! Minnesota Vikings punter Ryan Wright throws an incomplete pass on a fake punt attempt that results in a turnover on downs. At the NFL scouting combine, Nailor posted a 4.50 40-yard dash (19th among WR), a 38-inch vertical jump (8th among WR), and a 7.03 three-cone (5th among WR). *Percentile calculated on how any given stat would rank at the NFL combine Stay updated on all the NFL Draft eligible players and where they could go in the draft. Jalen Nailor is an exciting playmaker who has 80 catches for 1,346 yards, reaching the 1,000 career yards mark in the Western Kentucky game, becoming the 46th player in MSU history to reach 1,000 career receiving yards. Thursday: Defensive linemen and linebackers (3 p.m. While he has stellar route-running upside with his burst, twitch, and hip sink, he can still expand his release package and route tree. Jalen 'Speedy' Nailor was a part of a one-two punch for the Michigan State offense this year, building a dynamic duo with Jayden Reed at the wide receiver position, giving Payton Thorne reliable targets to throw the ball to, and taking some stress off of star running back Kenneth Walker. Nailor accounted for over 30% of his teams passing output that year and earned third-team All-Big Ten honors as a result. But after just four games, hed be knocked out for the rest of the season with a broken foot. Human development and family studies major Toughness was also shown willing to go over the middle and take a big hit. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 51 in total TDs (13 (12 receiving, 1 rushing). As a pass receiver, he showed good acceleration against off coverage and can eat up space quickly. Running back Kenneth Walker III opted out of the Peach Bowl to prepare for the draft, offensive lineman Kevin Jarvis declared on Saturday, and tight end/H-back Connor Heyward has mentioned that he will not be returning to East Lansing in 2022 for his final year of eligibility, and he has also accepted an invite to the Senior Bowl. Doesnt project as an impact special teamer. Nailor got playing time in . Had some struggles in contested catches Nailor earned honorable mention All-Big Ten accolades by both the media. Nailor attended Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, where he was a part of three state championship and two national championship teams. Notable prospects: 20 on MSU career receptions/game list (2.96), No. Lacks a second gear. The highest projection for Nailor comes from CBSSports.com's Ryan Wilson, who has "Speedy" going to the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round, 134th overall. He ranked second in the Big Ten by averaging 18.8 yards per catch and earned Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors from media in 2021. These players include center Matt Allen, defensive end Drew Beesley, kicker Matt Coghlin, quarterback Anthony Russo, defensive end Drew Jordan, offensive lineman AJ Arcuri, offensive lineman Luke Campbell and defensive end Jacub Panasiuk. But the Spartans' streak will almost certainly begin anew when the 2022 draft begins Thursday with the first round and runs through Saturday. Vegas, where he was a part of three State championship and two national championship teams on! Runs through Saturday: 20 on MSU career receptions/game list ( 2.96 ) No! But after just four games, hed be knocked out for the rest of the.. Samuel is, in fact, heading out the door, could Nailor fill a similar role around time! 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