The SMU Mustangs finished the year 8-4 overall, landing in the middle of the pack in the American Athletic Conference. SMU’s scouting reports contain a number of offensive weapons and defensive prospects who could see their names called during the 2022 NFL Draft.
SMU 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Grant Calcaterra and Danny Gray highlight SMU‘s scouting reports. However, there are still a number of defensive prospects who could hear their names called during the 2022 NFL draft process.
Beau Morris, OL
Positives: Big small-area blocker who quickly sets up off the snap, stays square, and seals defenders from the action. Fires his hands into opponents, works them throughout the action, and plays with strength.
Negatives: Lacks overall agility, cannot slide in space, and gets hammered in pass protection. Ineffective blocking in motion.
Analysis: Morris was a solid three-year starter at SMU and offers nice size. Yet, he’s a marginal athlete with minimal upside.
Grant Calcaterra, TE
Positives: Athletic pass-catching tight end who made a successful return to the field after missing almost two full seasons. Natural pass catcher who displays solid tight end speed and gets down the middle of the field. Extends his hands to snatch the ball out of the air, consistently makes the reception away from his frame, and sacrifices his body to come away with the difficult catch.
Tracks the pass in the air, possesses terrific eye/hand coordination, and uses his frame to shield away defenders and protect the pass. Comes away with some impossible receptions in the middle of a crowd. Plays with outstanding body control. Gives effort blocking, bends his knees, and plays with leverage. Keeps his feet moving in pass protection and stays square.
Negatives: Has a long history of concussions. Struggles making downfield receptions in contorted positions and lacks blocking strength.
Analysis: Calcaterra is a tall, smooth tight end with reliable hands and the ability to get down the field and split the seam. He must improve his blocking strength, and more than anything else, get a clean bill of health from teams based off his past injury history. If that happens, Calcaterra could produce as a move tight end at the next level.
Want more information on Calcaterra? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Grant Calcaterra, SMU TE | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Danny Gray, WR
Positives: Explosive receiver who is starting to hit his stride. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, immediately gets to top speed, and is fast enough to beat defenders down the field. Tracks the pass in the air, displays terrific focus, and has strong hands.
Lays out for the difficult reception and gets down to scoop up low throws. Keeps the play in bounds and works to pick up yardage after the catch. Comes back to the ball, finds the opening in the defense, and adjusts to make the reception in stride. Possesses a smooth and fluid style.
Negatives: Occasionally lets passes get inside him. Does not display a second gear on the field despite his Combine 40 time.
Analysis: Gray has shown tremendous progress in his game the past two seasons, and after a solid senior year, he went on to have a good postseason. Gray was one of the better receivers during the first day of Senior Bowl practices before he suffered a minor heel injury. Then, he ran exceptionally well at the Combine. Gray possesses an upside, and while he needs to polish his game, he has enough ability to line up as a fourth receiver this season.
Want more information on Gray? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Danny Gray, SMU WR | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Delano Robinson, LB
Positives: Undersized run-and-chase linebacker with an underrated game. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and covers a lot of area on the field. Fast in lateral pursuit, quickly gets out to the sidelines, and gets depth on pass drops. Remains disciplined with assignments, quickly finds the ball handler, and fires upfield to make the tackle. Works hard on special teams.
Negatives: Undersized, easily slowed by blocks, and gets annihilated at the point of attack. Must significantly improve his ball skills.
Analysis: Robinson was a tackling machine at SMU the past three seasons and is ridiculously underrated in the scouting community. While he lacks size, Robinson has enough athleticism and wherewithal to back up on the inside of a 3-4 system that allows linebackers to run to the ball.
Hayden Howerton, OL
Positives: Versatile blocker who started five seasons at SMU. Explosive at the point, fires off the snap into blocks, and knocks defenders off the line. Keeps his head on a swivel, works well with linemates, and plays through the whistle. Starts with good knee bend and leverage.
Negatives: Lacks fluid footwork and cannot slide in space. Overextends blocking in motion. Possesses average size and marginal athleticism.
Analysis: Howerton was a tough, durable blocker on the college level but comes with minimal upside and scheme limitations.
Mike Williams, DT
Positives: Slightly undersized defensive tackle who plays big, strong football. Fires off the snap, plays with tremendous pad level, and keeps his feet moving. Explosive at the point, flashes impressive power on the inside, and knocks blockers off the line. Displays good change-of-direction skills and draws the focus of opponents.
Negatives: Must develop more moves with his hands to get off blocks. Comes with average size and minimal growth potential. Inconsistent throughout his college career.
Analysis: Williams looked like an up-and-coming prospect as a sophomore at Stanford in 2018, but his game has since leveled off. He comes off a solid senior season and has enough skill and football intangibles to get consideration as a 3-technique tackle.
Reggie Roberson Jr., WR
Positives: Explosive, game-breaking receiver whose career was consistently interrupted by injuries. Agile, plays with balance as well as body control, and displays terrific quickness. Plays to his 40 time and easily gets downfield. Tracks the ball and makes the reception at full speed. Displays eye/hand coordination, extends his hands, and looks passes into his hands.
Displays strong hands and the ability to pull the ball out of the air. Immediately turns it upfield after the catch, displays a burst of speed, and works to pick up positive yardage. Easily adjusts to errant throws and gets down to scoop up low passes. Gives effort blocking.
Negatives: Lacks height and has high throws sailing over his head. Struggles handling jams at the line of scrimmage. Easily brought down at the point by a single defender. Had his 2019 and 2020 seasons cut short by injury.
Analysis: Roberson looked like a big-time receiver prospect as a junior in 2019, but his development was hampered by consecutive knee injuries. At the top of his game, Roberson is an explosive playmaking wideout who can also return punts. He has an upside, and hopefully, Roberson can remain healthy as he did throughout the 2021 campaign.
Want more information on Roberson? Here’s our expanded scouting report and draft profile: Reggie Roberson Jr., SMU WR | NFL Draft Scouting Report
Richard Moore, LB
Positives: Hard-working linebacker who breaks down well, quickly diagnoses plays, and flows to the action laterally. Works well with teammates, quarterbacks the defense, and gives a lot of effort. Immediately locates the ball handler, fires up the field, and wraps up tackling.
Negatives: Not a big linebacker and gets caught up in the trash. Struggles in coverage. Marginal athlete.
Analysis: Moore turned in a career season as a junior for SMU but has since watched his play level off for a variety of reasons. He possesses minimal upside and will never develop into a three-down defender.
Trevor Denbow, LB/S
Positives: Linebacker-sized safety who is best defending the run. Quickly diagnoses the action, immediately picks up coverage assignments, and stays with responsibilities. Physical, fires up the field, and sells out making plays. Gives great effort against the run and gets results. Hard hitter who displays a burst to the action.
Negatives: Possesses average range. Plays to one speed. Cannot stay downfield with opponents in man coverage.
Analysis: Despite playing safety, Denbow has the size and style of a pursuit linebacker. He lacks great upside but comes with a special-teams mentality that could help him latch onto a roster.