Every once in a while, a Division II player makes waves once the general public gets their hands on their scouting reports, particularly for the 2022 NFL Draft. This year should be no different as several players are expected to make waves from the DII ranks in the draft. Oauchita Baptist’s Gregory Junior was a Senior Bowl invitee, Pittsburg State’s Dallis Flowers a Shrine Bowl invitee, and several others were invited to the Combine. Here are the full scouting reports from Division II for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Division II 2022 NFL Draft Scouting Reports | A-I
Here’s a look at the scouting reports for the Division II prospects ahead of the 2022 NFL Draft. Note: Players are listed alphabetically by their first name.
Brent Laing, OT | Minnesota Duluth
Positives: Small-school college right tackle who projects to guard at the next level and comes with a large upside. Possesses excellent length, stays square, and works blocks. Strong, turns defenders from the line, and plays with a nasty disposition.
Quickly sets up in pass protection, keeps his head on a swivel, and shows outstanding awareness. Sets with a wide base and easily seals defenders from the action. Bends his knees most of the time, blocks with leverage, and completely engulfs opponents from the action.
Negatives: Must be more consistent placing his hands into defenders properly. Despite his 40 time, isn’t light on his feet and rumbles around the field. Struggles redirecting to defenders on the second level.
Analysis: Laing dominated the level of competition he played at and possesses outstanding measurables. He needs to polish his game and will likely start on a practice squad, but he has future potential to make an active roster.
Chris Terrell, DL | West Alabama
Positives: Productive and hard-working small-school pass rusher who plays with good pad level, uses his hands extremely well, and possesses good change-of-direction skills. Moves well in lateral pursuit, rarely gets knocked off his feet, and plays with outstanding balance as well as body control. Chases the action hard and gives effort in all areas.
Negatives: Possesses poor speed and average quickness. Lacks bulk and gets out-positioned from the action. Has size limitations.
Analysis: Terrell was a terrific small-school defensive lineman who is equally adept at rushing the passer as well as defending the run, but he has limitations for the next level.
Christian Matthew, CB | Valdosta State
Positives: Nice-sized corner with a physical game. Quick flipping his hips in transition off the line, mixes it up with opponents throughout the route, and uses his size to defend passes. Quick up the field and gives effort defending the run. Remains disciplined with coverage assignments, communicates well with teammates in the secondary, and is effective when facing the action.
Negatives: Late reacting to receivers’ moves off the line. Sits on his backpedal, shows stiffness in his game, and must become a more secure tackler.
Analysis: Matthew is a well-traveled cornerback who started his career at Samford before moving on to Georgia Southern and finally landing at Valdosta State. He possesses the measurables and underlying skill to be a zone cornerback, though Matthew must elevate almost every aspect of his game.
Dallis Flowers, CB | Pittsburg State
Positives: Tough, confident small-school cornerback with next-level size. Plays smart football, quickly reads and diagnoses the action, and stays with assignments. Effectively gets his head back around to locate the pass in the air and positions himself against receivers to defend or intercept passes.
Possesses good hands for the interception. Sheds blocks, fires up the field, and gives effort defending the run. Shows a closing burst of speed. Outstanding return specialist who shows great vision, effectively uses blocks, and alters the momentum of games with long returns.
Negatives: Deep speed is an issue. Slow transitioning off the line and did a lot of trailing in coverage during Shrine Bowl practices.
Analysis: Flowers is a skilled small-school defensive back with terrific cover skills yet questionable speed. His greatest value at the next level could be on special teams. Flowers has a real chance to make an NFL roster as a ninth defensive back/return specialist.
D’Anthony Bell, S | West Florida
Positives: Smooth, fluid safety with excellent size. Moves well laterally, easily changes direction, and shows excellent awareness. Plays heads-up football, keeps the defender in front of him, and possesses a burst to the action. Breaks down well, uses his hands to protect himself, and stays with assignments. Efficient, takes proper angles, and flows to the action. Does not have mental lapses on the field. Often lines up over receivers and quickly flips his hips in transition.
Negatives: Gets tall in his backpedal and isn’t fluid moving in reverse. Not a stout tackler and has opponents running through his arms.
Analysis: Bell possesses the size, speed, and wherewithal to be used as a free safety or in a zone system. He comes with an upside but must polish his techniques and improve his tackling if he’s to ever make an active NFL roster.
Dareke Young, WR | Lenoir-Rhyne
Positives: Nice-sized pass catcher with dependable hands. Sells routes, uses his hands to separate from defenders, and extends to make the reception away from his frame. Immediately gets to top speed, runs sharp routes for a bigger wideout, and keeps the play in bounds after the catch. Tracks the pass in the air, adjusts to errant throws, and displays focus as well as concentration. Lays out for the difficult catch. Attacks blocking assignments and gets after opponents.
Negatives: Possesses the lower body of a running back. Plays to one speed and lacks a second gear. Does not display naturally soft hands.
Analysis: Young was a very productive small-school wide receiver who had his moments during Shrine Bowl practices. He possesses an upside and could work his way onto a roster as a fifth receiver.
DeAndre Washington, TE | Arkansas-Monticello
Positives: Underrated pass-catching tight end who is often dismissed in scouting circles. Tracks the pass in the air, easily adjusts to errant throws, and extends to grab passes away from his frame. Consistent, reliable hands catcher who displays terrific eye/hand coordination and shows a sense of timing. Finds ways to separate and consistently comes back to the ball to offer the quarterback a target. Gives effort blocking and is effective off the line of scrimmage.
Negatives: Takes a while to get going and really doesn’t play to his reported 40 time. Rarely finishes blocks and struggles to handle linebackers.
Analysis: Washington was a terrific pass catcher on the small-school level and projects nicely as a move tight end who could be the third man on the depth chart.
Deon Mayes, CB | Adams State
Positives: Small, explosive cornerback with solid ball skills. Effective facing the action, tracks the pass in the air, and displays a nice move to the throw. Quick flipping his hips in transition, stays with receivers out of breaks, and displays ability in man coverage. Fires up the field and gives effort to stop screen passes and running plays. Instinctive, does a solid job diagnosing plays, and works hard to get involved in the action.
Negatives: Tied up by blocks and slow to shed. Really doesn’t play to his 40 time. Usually struggles making plays with his back to the ball and is late reacting.
Analysis: Mayes possesses the measurables to line up in dime packages at the next level but must brush up his game and consistently play at a high level.
Drew Seers, LB | Lindenwood
Positives: Fierce, instinctive linebacker who plays with an explosive style. Breaks down well, fires through the gaps, and sells out defending the run. Patient, disciplined, and quickly locates the ball handler. Relentless, chases the action hard, and possesses a sixth sense of what’s happening on the field. Does not bite on ball fakes, covers a lot of area going sideline to sideline, and fires to the action with a burst of speed.
Negatives: Not a big-bodied linebacker. Easily taken from the action or removed by opposing tight ends. Gets caught up in the trash.
Analysis: Seers is a hard-nosed linebacker with next-level speed who can back up on the inside of a 3-4 defense.
Gregory Junior, CB | Ouachita Baptist
Positives: Small-school corner with excellent size and speed. Quick, explosive, and keeps the action in front of him. Jams receivers at the line of scrimmage, fluidly flips his hips, and remains disciplined with assignments.
Flexible, athletic, and battles opponents throughout the route. Tracks the pass in the air and gets vertical to defend throws. Displays a lot of skill in zone, moves fluidly in every direction, and competes to break up throws. Strong.
Negatives: Must improve his backpedal. Cannot stay with receivers out of breaks. Possesses just an average burst to the ball out of his plant. Struggled during Senior Bowl practices.
Analysis: Junior possesses next-level size and has flashed ability, but he comes with an unpolished game. He was constantly beaten off the line of scrimmage during Senior Bowl practices and would be best in a zone system where he can face the action.
Henry Litwin, WR | Slippery Rock
Positives: Highly celebrated receiver who put up massive production on the small-school level. Uses his hands to separate from defenders, displays tremendous focus as well as concentration, and makes the tough catch with defenders draped on him. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target, gets up in a crowd, and displays strong hands, plucking the ball from the air.
Tracks the pass in the air, nicely times receptions, and works to pick up yardage running after the catch. Plays with balance as well as body control and uses the sidelines exceptionally well.
Negatives: Plays to his speed and shows a minimal burst. Has a limited route tree. Initially told people he was retiring at the end of the 2021 season before recently having a change of heart.
Analysis: Litwin is a nice-sized pass catcher with natural receiving skills and outstanding hands. His inability to separate through routes or with speed makes it an uphill battle for him.
Hunter Rison, WR | Grand Valley State
Positives: Michigan State transfer who flashed ability throughout his college career. Quickly releases off the line of scrimmage, displays good route discipline, and does the little things well. Plays smart football and tracks the pass in the air. Gets vertical and nicely times receptions.
Plays with body control, possesses good eye/hand coordination, and looks passes into his hands. Extends his hands to offer the quarterback a target and makes the reception away from his frame. Comes back to the ball to make himself an available target and keeps the play in bounds after the catch. Gives effort blocking downfield and gets results.
Negatives: Possesses average size and loses out in battles. Plays to one speed. Occasionally lets catchable throws slip through his hands. Possesses small hands.
Analysis: Rison has flashed ability the past several years and comes with excellent bloodlines, as his father was former NFL receiver Andre Rison. While he possesses upside, the younger Rison never was consistently productive or elevated his game.
Ian Fryday, TE | Adams State
Positives: Receiver-sized tight end with solid playing speed. Bends his knees as a blocker, stays square, and attacks assignments. Effective blocking in motion, explosive at the point, and keeps his head on a swivel. Plays faster than his 40 time, consistently extends to make the reception away from his frame, and catches the ball in stride. Relatively creative after the catch. Gives effort on coverage units and gets downfield to make plays on punts. Plays with a nasty attitude.
Negatives: Slow releasing off the line of scrimmage. Rounds off routes and floats on exit.
Analysis: Fryday was a solid small-school tight end who comes with average size, growth potential, and speed. He’s a move tight end or potential fullback at the next level who must play in a system that constantly uses him in motion.